SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
October 27, 2008
Sullivan’s Salvos 10/21/08
I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority.
E. B. White (1899 - 1985)
Each generation leaves a legacy, whether they mean to or not. Some leave behind pain, waste and debt. Others leave behind things of lasting beauty.
On November 4, residents of Johnson County have an opportunity to leave a magnificent legacy by voting yes on the Conservation Bond initiative.
A quick review of the facts:
o This bond is $1 million a year for 20 years… $20 million total. There is no interest to pay; it is a levy. Once it expires, it is over. Period.
o This will cost the owner of a $200,000 home $2.26 per month; if your house assesses at less than $200,000, it will cost less. It will cost owners of ag land 21 cents per acre.
o The money is specifically for conservation and may not be used for other purposes. Annual audits will take place.
o No land will be condemned – the Conservation Board will only work with willing donors/sellers.
o Experts (Trust for Public Land, Nature Conservancy, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, etc.) agree that this $20 million in local funding will bring outside investment of between $20 and $60 million.
o This is a local initiative, undertaken by local citizens. Local citizens will have input prior to any land being purchased.
o Having more wetlands, prairies, and woodlands in Johnson County won't completely stop flooding, but it will be a positive step.
o Surveys consistently demonstrate the importance of quality of life issues to a region. Give people reasons to live and work in Johnson County and they will grow the tax base.
o Johnson County ranks #87 out of 99 Iowa counties in terms of funding for Conservation.
o The population in Johnson County has grown from 111,000 to 130,000 in just 9 years, yet very little land has been conserved over that same period.
There are many well-meaning people out there who say, “I support the environment, but this doesn’t seem like the right time.”
The answer to that harkens back to the old saying…Q: When is the best time to plant a tree? A: Twenty years ago. We can kick this can down the road for our children, when things are more expensive and more desperate, or we can show leadership and tackle this issue now.
There was no “good” time to give women the right to vote; there was no “good” time to end slavery; there was no “good” time to set aside Kent Park, City Park, Hickory Hill Park, and other local treasures. There will never be a “good” time to preserve this land. NOW is that time. The opportunity is presenting itself NOW. It simply requires voters to say yes.
What type of legacy do you want to leave? Please join me in flipping the ballot and voting yes to Our Land, Our Water, and Our Future! For more info, see the website at: http://www.landwaterfuture.org/http://www.landwaterfuture.org/
Good news from the Johnson County Medical Examiner (JCME): JCME leads the state in converting deaths outside the hospital setting to tissue donors with Iowa Donor Network (IDN). Year to date we have made 21 referrals to IDN, and of this number 14 were determined to be potential tissue donors. Out of these potential donors, 8 actually became tissue donors.
In Johnson County we pre-screen our out of hospital deaths so that our referrals only include persons who are medically eligible to donate. This pre-screening, plus active involvement with the deceased family on the part of the investigator, leads to the high conversion rate.
Talking with family about tissue donation at the time of sudden death is a sensitive, difficult and emotionally challenging topic, both for the family and the JCME investigator. During tissue donation, at least at UIHC, the items typically procured are skin, bone, connective tissue, heart valves and eyes. Without these tissues, many of the "miracles" of modern restorative surgery and medicine would be impossible.
Kudos to the JCME Office!
The City of Iowa City is holding its annual Human Rights Breakfast October 23 at 7:30 AM at hotel Vetro.
Tickets available at the Cashier at City Hall. For more information call 356-5022.
There are plenty of reasons to be frustrated by the 2008 Presidential campaign. Here is a pet peeve of mine:
Someone, somewhere, somehow implies that Barack Obama is a Muslim. Then the Obama campaign explains all over again how Senator Obama is not a Muslim, but a devout Christian.
But herein lies the problem: it is perfectly acceptable to be a Muslim! Islam is a worldwide religion over a billion people strong! Islam is not inherently evil, and 99% of Islam’s adherents are good people. Millions of Muslims are US citizens; we even have a Muslim member of the US Senate.
I would like to see both campaigns work on doing more to destigmatize Muslims. It was a Christian who perpetrated the Oklahoma City bombings. Christians perpetrated the Holocaust. Hindu radicals perpetrate bombings in India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Jews and Muslims bomb each other in the Middle East. Every major religion has had violence done in its name. This does not make all the believers bad.
Religious beliefs are frequently perverted by groups of radicals. Our challenge is to understand that these radicals do not represent the more than one billion followers of Islam.
As my own religion teaches, “Judge not, lest ye be judged.” To quote a philosopher of a different sort, I think we need to adopt the Seinfeld approach – “I am not a Muslim…Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”
DID YOU KNOW? The Sierra Club has 6,000 members in Iowa; 1,200 of those are in Johnson County.
Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com.
"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.
These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.
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As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!
---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 8:59 PM
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