rodsullivan.org
SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
March 27, 2015
Sullivan’s
Salvos 3/31/15
In this edition:
*Mental Health Update
*Did You Know?
*Mental Health Update
It
is probably time that I offer up a Mental Health/Disability Services (MH/DS)
update. As you may know, the MH/DS system has been in a state of flux for a few
years. I’ll try to let you know where things stand now.
First,
some background. The history I’m about to give is specific to Iowa; each state
does things differently. Up until the early 1990s, counties funded all MH/DS
services through local property taxes. Starting in the early ’90s, Iowa began
to rely much more heavily on Medicaid (otherwise known as Title 19) to fund
services. Other states had begun doing this almost a decade earlier – Iowa was very
late to the game.
Why
utilize Medicaid services? The reasoning is simple; Medicaid services are
funded primarily by the federal government. There is a “local match”, which
varies depending upon the relative wealth of your state. So in the early ‘90s,
Iowa began enrolling every eligible person in Medicaid, and assigned counties
to pick up the local match.
This
had an extremely positive impact for people with disabilities. Many more people
became eligible for services, and many more people received them. Additionally,
Medicaid picked up the health insurance for these folks, providing coverage
where little had been available. So the ‘90s were good times for people with
disabilities.
The
‘90s were TOO good for people with disabilities if you asked the Iowa Farm
Bureau. They saw the roles of people served tripling and quadrupling, and
became very concerned about their future property taxes. This led the Iowa
Legislature to pass a 1996 property tax relief act known as Senate File 69,
which limited the amount of property taxes going into MH/DS funding. The idea
was that counties would be capped at a hard dollar amount, and the state would
pay for any growth in the system.
Unfortunately,
this promise only lasted two years. After 1998, the state began to renege on
this promise. Meanwhile, the MH/DS levies changed depending on which county you
were in. In some western Iowa counties they were losing both population and
taxable valuation. In those same places, people with disabilities often moved
to more urban areas, where they had greater access to services, medical care,
transportation, etc. In those counties, the MH/DS levy went up every year in
order to generate that same capped dollar amount.
Johnson
County was the opposite. Population skyrocketed, and taxable valuations went
up. People with disabilities moved here in droves. So in Johnson County, the
levy rate required to generate our capped amount went down every year. Soon,
Johnson County could not meet the demand for services. Because of this, the
State had to step in and prop us up financially. Statewide, county budgets were
under pressure, and services varied wildly depending upon the county in which
you lived.
Let’s
fast forward to a couple years ago. The Iowa Legislature and Department of
Human Services decided to undertake a huge MH/DS redesign. (One of the key
architects was Johnson County State Senator Joe Bolkcom.)
Under
redesign, counties were forced to merge into MH/DS regions. These regions were
charged with pooling their property tax dollars, and providing equivalent
services to every county in the region. In exchange, the State would pick up
the local match – the nonfederal share – of all Medicaid services. This came along
at the same time as the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare), which made
Medicaid available to many more people. The State also continued to prop Johnson
County up financially due to our low levy rate.
So,
Johnson County needed to create a region. There was a bit of discussion about being
our own region, but DHS made it quite clear that only Polk County would be
allowed to go it alone. DHS wasn’t alone in feeling this way; our own
Legislative delegation also wanted us in a region.
I
mention this, because you will still hear people say that Johnson County should
have gone it alone. I am 100% certain that this was NEVER an option. Had we not
chosen our own partner counties, DHS would have done it for us.
And
it gets worse! DHS wanted Linn County to anchor a group of counties to its
north; they wanted Johnson County to anchor a group of counties to our south.
The problem is, the counties to our south are MUCH more anti-government and
anti-services. I am convinced that the people we serve would have been harmed
by Johnson County playing games and getting assigned to a region to our south.
So
– you may hear people say that we had other options. I am firmly convinced that
any other options would have been MUCH WORSE for the people we serve.
The
way things did play out were interesting. Iowa County came calling right away.
95% of the Iowa County MH/DS budget was spent in Johnson County anyway. Benton
County had a very similar relationship with Linn County. Meanwhile, Linn and
Johnson Counties had worked together well on previous issues.
So
we moved forward with a group of 4 contiguous counties. Jones County wanted in,
and that made sense. Then, suddenly, we heard from Dubuque County. While we
were not familiar with Dubuque County, they did bring a history of similar
politics to the table, in addition to a variety of resources. We let Dubuque
in. Finally, in a last second move, Buchanan and Bremer Counties requested to
join. After some deliberation, we let both in. That gave us a 9 county region,
home to about 600,000 people, making us the most populous of Iowa’s 15 regions.
We
soon created an intergovernmental agreement, and officially set up a governing
board of one Supervisor from each county. (I am the Johnson County appointee to
the regional board.) Each county then began the process of pooling our MH/DS
funds. Jones County was selected as the fiscal agent for the region, meaning
that for a small fee, they collect the dues and pay the bills.
All
things considered, I feel our region has worked pretty well. The Supervisors
have created a framework, staff have worked well together, and advocates have
kept everybody honest.
Meanwhile,
the fact that the State and ACA have picked up much of the cost of services has
freed up money to do things that were only dreams just a few years ago. The
region is relatively flush right now, and ready to spend on long overdue
services.
Within
the next month, we will have jail diversion programs in all 9 counties. That
will be coupled with mobile crisis response. We will have telepsychiatry
available at our rural hospitals. We will have crisis phone, text, and chat
services. We will have crisis stabilization beds in each of the more populous
counties. Family psychoeducation will be available. All this, plus our previous
menu of services. This will amount to the biggest expansion of services since
Medicaid came into play in the ‘90s. We are poised to usher in the best era for
MH/DS services in quite some time!
While
I am excited by what the future holds, there are still a few issues to watch:
First,
Iowa must maintain its’ commitment to the Medicaid program. States have great
latitude in terms of what they do with Medicaid programs. We must keep ours
broadly available. Should Iowa make more folks ineligible for services, those
same people will fall to regional funding. That will impact our ability to
expand services.
Secondly,
Iowa has committed to a system of managed care for Medicaid services. I don’t
know about you, but when I think of managed care, I think of bureaucrats
denying services to sick people in order to increase corporate profits. I hope
Iowa can prove me wrong.
Finally, the State must help regions establish a long-range plan
for funding. Remember how I was talking about the differences in levy rates?
And how the State has been propping up Johnson County of late? Well, the State
money is gone this year. The regions must figure it out on our own.
Some counties in our region have per capita rates that are double
Johnson County’s rate. (We are still frozen at those 1996 rates.) If nothing
changes, those counties would pay double what Johnson County pays. This is
obviously unfair, and needs to be corrected. Johnson County should pay a bit
more, while other counties pay a bit less.
This
is another area in which you are going to hear complaining. No Supervisor wants
to be the one who raises taxes, right? Thing is, almost every individual who
has run for Supervisor since 1996 has said that she/he would raise taxes to pay
for MH/DS services if only the State would allow it. Just check the record –
everybody who has been elected has said this! Well, be careful what you wish
for - the State just may allow it.
Personally,
I don’t fear this. There is nothing we do that is more important than providing
services to our MH/DS population. If we have to raise taxes a bit to do so, I
am OK with that. Yes, the State screwed counties for 15+ years. They probably
will again. But we still need to provide services.
Some
Supervisors are going to try to play elaborate games with this. Make the State
raise the taxes. Give the region taxing authority and make them raise the
taxes. Basically, do ANYTHING but ask us to raise our property taxes.
Personally,
I am not so afraid of raising taxes for MH/DS services. Like all my peers, I
have spent years stating that I’d raise taxes for this purpose if given the
opportunity. I don’t need political cover. I don’t need to blame anybody. I am willing
to raise taxes for the people that need it. Let’s just get this done.
So,
that is where the MH/DS system sits today. Please let me know if you have any
questions!
*DID YOU KNOW?
For more information on our MH/DS region, visit the regional website at:
http://www.ecriowa.us.
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
"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.
If you do NOT
want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type
"unsubscribe" in the subject line.
If you know
anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail
me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.
As always,
feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to
serving you!
---Rod
March 21, 2015
Sullivan’s
Salvos 3/24/15
In this edition:
*RIP Terry Cunningham
*Time To Legalize Marijuana!
*Did You Know?
*RIP Terry Cunningham
I
was saddened to learn of the passing of Terry Cunningham. Terry was a longtime
disability rights advocate, and chaired the Johnson County MH/DS Planning
Council.
While
I respected Terry’s work on those important issues, my fondest memories will
not be work related. Terry and I discovered we had similar tastes in music,
food, drink, and politics… I’m saddened to know we will not be exploring that
further.
RIP,
Terry.
*Time To Legalize Marijuana!
This
originally appeared in Salvos about one year ago, on 3-18-14. I have had a few
requests to reprint it, so it appears below in its’ entirety.
It is time to legalize marijuana. This topic has gained traction
over the past year, as Colorado and Washington legalized recreational use. We
have even been talking about it here in Johnson County, which is quite a
change!
First,
a disclaimer: I have never smoked pot. That may come as a surprise to folks who
have known me a long time, as in my younger days I never shied away from a
party. But the fact is, I have never used marijuana. I’ve been around it
plenty; I just never indulged. So I speak as a person who has seen the effects
of pot from up close, but never actually used the stuff personally.
I
also do not advocate anybody using mind-altering substances. If you choose not
to use them, you are undoubtedly better off. More power to you. At the same
time, I do not condemn folks who use responsibly. I feel that should be a
choice individuals have.
Even
my disclaimer demonstrates the change in societal attitudes. In 1992, Bill
Clinton felt the need to claim he “had never inhaled.” Since that time, people
in public life have felt more comfortable admitting to marijuana use. This
makes sense; studies show that between 35-45% of American adults have tried
marijuana.
I
should also be clear as to what I am discussing. I am fine with the
legalization of marijuana for medical use; I simply feel that is setting the
bar too low. Same goes for “decriminalization”; I see that as a good step, but
it does not go far enough. I believe strongly that hemp should be legalized, as
it has huge industrial, economic and environmental benefits. But what I am
really discussing here is making pot legal – period.
Yes,
there would be some restrictions. Children with developing brains don’t need
the stuff. You should not be able to drive if you are so high as to be
impaired. Current rules regarding smoking in public places should apply to
marijuana just as they do to tobacco. Producers, retailers, and products should
be regulated, licensed, inspected and taxed. So we are talking about a system
akin to the existing laws governing the production, sale, and use of alcohol.
People
in the world of business are supposed to run ideas through a cost/benefit
analysis. Many governments (including Johnson County) attempt to do the same.
The legalization of marijuana comes out very favorably when viewed in terms of
cost/benefit ratio.
It
can be argued that marijuana use negatively impacts many lives. There are
undoubtedly people who have underachieved because of an overuse of marijuana.
Is this a problem? Certainly.
But
weigh that versus the negative impacts on the lives of those who have been
busted. Whereas simply using the stuff might make you a bit less productive,
being caught tends to RUIN a person’s life!
Getting
busted can cost a person thousands of dollars upfront. But the REAL costs are
over the long haul. Having a criminal record dramatically impacts one’s ability
to find a good job and/or to get into a program of higher education. It breaks
families apart. It stays with them forever. Why? Why do we choose to be so
punitive in this case? Why do we choose to cost these people tens (or hundreds)
of thousands of dollars over the course of their lives?
In
addition, these laws unfairly target the poor, the young, and people of color.
There are many studies out there that show the percentage of teens and adults
who use marijuana is virtually identical regardless of race. Yet people of
color get busted at a rate EIGHT TIMES that of whites. Marijuana prohibition
has done a lot to destroy black families. These draconian laws have set African
Americans back generations.
The
ultimate cost, of course, is in human lives. While there is scant evidence that
marijuana use has directly cost many lives, we know that marijuana prohibition
has cost tens of thousands of lives. Again, I must ask – why?
That
is the personal cost, but there is also a huge societal cost. A group of over
500 top economists, including Milton Friedman, have estimated the cost of
marijuana prohibition at $20 billion annually. $20 BILLION! That means it costs
every man, woman, and child in the US $70 every year to maintain this
silliness. That total is over three times the total annual budget for the State
of Iowa. We’re talking real money here – money that could and should be put to
better use.
It
should be noted that these costs, at least in Johnson County, do NOT include
jailing. Contrary to popular belief, most inmates in the local jail are not
there on pot charges. I’ve worked with folks who review the jail log, and I’ve
never seen more than two people on any given day. (That does not mean there
have NEVER been more than two, but in reviewing a dozen days, I’ve never seen
it.) So just to be clear, legalizing marijuana would NOT obviate our jail
overcrowding. OK – back to my main point.
One
of the arguments against legalization goes like this: “Then why not legalize
every substance?” First, that is a red herring. Few folks are out there arguing
to legalize everything. The push to legalize pot is based on the cost/benefit
analysis. It is very favorable. Meth undoubtedly comes out much worse in a
similar review.
A better argument, in my opinion, is that of the slippery slope.
That reasoning claims that marijuana is a “gateway drug”, and its’ use will
lead people to harder drugs. There is a great deal of literature on this, and
there seem to be persuasive arguments on both sides. This is where I come back
once again to the idea of cost/benefit. We know that alcohol would fit the
definition of a “gateway drug”. But it is legal. Why? I think the US experience
with Prohibition proved that banning alcohol was a bad deal from a cost/benefit
analysis.
I’m tired of the timidity we see on this issue from our leaders.
We know the laws are stupid. We know they unnecessarily cost us lives and
money. There is no compelling reason to maintain the status quo. This is bad
public policy, plain and simple.
I called for Johnson County to add legalization of marijuana to
our State and Federal Legislative priorities this year. There were two votes
for it; I needed three. I’ll try again next year. Meanwhile, I urge you to make
this an issue with your elected officials at every level. The emperor has no
clothes… it is time we said so!
*DID YOU KNOW?
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
"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.
If you do NOT
want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type
"unsubscribe" in the subject line.
If you know
anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail
me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.
As always,
feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to
serving you!
---Rod
March 13, 2015
Sullivan’s
Salvos 3/17/15
In this edition:
*Saint Patrick’s Day!
*Bob Sullivan
*St. Patrick’s Day Party!
*Ready For Hillary?
*Trail Update
*Did You Know?
*Saint Patrick’s Day!
Happy St. Patty’s Day on March 17! St. Patrick’s Day is one of my
favorite days of the year. While not an “official” holiday, this day has long
been celebrated heartily by my Irish family.
The
tradition lives on… I almost always take St. Patrick’s Day off work. March 17
is a Tuesday this year, but I don’t see much on the calendar. J
Meanwhile,
I hope each and every one of you is touched by a little luck o’ the Irish!
*Bob Sullivan
March
17 holds a special place in my heart that goes beyond St. Patrick’s Day. That
was also the birthday of my late father, Bob Sullivan.
Dad
was a proud union man, Hawkeye fan, and Irishman. We were father and son, but
also best friends. I can honestly say he was probably the most fun person I
have ever known.
Unfortunately,
he left this world much too soon, and never got the chance to meet any of his
nine grandchildren. I miss him every single day, but especially on St. Patty’s
Day.
If
you knew my dad and you are reading this – send me an e-mail some time. I could
really use a little time swapping stories and reminiscing.
And,
if you are looking for an extra toast on St. Patrick’s Day, allow me to suggest
that you raise a glass to Bob Sullivan.
Happy
birthday, Dad.
*St. Patrick’s Day Party!
We
are having a St. Patrick’s Day Party on Tuesday, March 17 from 4:30-8:30pm at
our home in Iowa City.
The
party is serving as a fundraiser for Sullivan for Supervisor. That said, please
do not feel obligated to donate – you can just show up! We would request that
anyone who plans on attending please RSVP so we know what to expect. Just reply
to this email address. There is still time, but please do so ASAP!
*Ready For Hillary?
While
Republican Presidential candidates swarm our state, Iowa’s Democratic Party
activists shift restlessly in our seats.
Obviously,
the prospective campaign of Hillary Clinton looms over everything. Personally,
I do not believe it serves Iowa Democrats well to wait around for Secretary
Clinton, nor do I believe it serves Secretary Clinton well. Both would benefit
from her opening up a full-fledged campaign.
More
importantly, I wish another candidate would step into the gap. Most Democrats I
know are excited by the possibility of a primary challenge. They want some
choice! At the very least, they want to debate the issues that face our
country.
In
the interest of full disclosure, I have what could be perceived as an
anti-Clinton bias. I supported Tom Harkin for President in 1992. Though some
have rewritten history to claim we did not exist, I was one of several folks in
1996 who caucused “uncommitted” over sitting President Bill Clinton. And just
after the 2006 elections, I became one of the very early Obama supporters.
One
of the most frustrating things about the 2008 Caucus battle was the misogynist
vs. racist argument. Support Clinton? You are a racist. Support Obama? You are
a misogynist. While there were certainly some of those attitudes in existence,
it was all very overblown.
So
what about 2016? Yes, I’d like to see the US elect its first female President.
But at what cost? If electing the first female President means war in Iran, no
rules for Wall Street, more bad trade deals, maintaining the wage cap for
Social Security, increased use of nuclear power, unquestioning support of
Israel, and questionable ethics, then count me out.
In
addition, I continue to be troubled by Secretary Clinton’s previous votes for
the war in Iraq, against LGBT rights, for flag burning as a crime, in support
of the Patriot Act, in opposition to IDs for undocumented workers, and
supporting the death penalty.
I
firmly believe that her stances on most of these issues were opportunistic. She
was not the first political figure to base a position on poll numbers, and will
not be the last. Interestingly, as time has passed and the country’s attitude
on some of these topics has changed, so has Secretary Clinton’s position. Yet
not only does she not admit to being wrong previously; she tries to say she
never held the previous position.
I would be happy to see a debate about these issues. I believe
that reasonable people can disagree. I would not hold any one position against
a candidate, so long as I believed the candidate arrived there honestly. I can
respect the deeply held beliefs of another person. But we do not have that
here. This approach treats us as fools.
I
am “ready”, all right. Ready for a progressive Democrat to come to Iowa and
announce her/his candidacy. And I don’t think I’m alone.
*Trail Update
You have heard me speak
previously of the “missing link” in our trail system – a connection between
Solon and Ely. Once that section exists, the trail between Iowa City and Cedar
Rapids is pretty much complete.
Well, I am proud to announce that
things are moving forward! The Johnson County Conservation Board has selected
McClure Engineering Company in North Liberty to complete the Engineering and
Design phase of the Hoover Trail between Seven Sisters Road and Solon. They
will be hosting a preliminary public meeting in early April in Solon.
This is going to be great for
Solon, and great for Johnson County! We have been working on this a long time,
and it is great to see it coming to fruition. I will pass along information on
the meeting as it becomes available.
*DID YOU KNOW?
There are 33.7 million U.S. residents who are of
Irish ancestry. That number is almost nine times the population of Ireland
itself.
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
"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.
If you do NOT
want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type
"unsubscribe" in the subject line.
If you know
anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail
me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.
As always,
feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to
serving you!
---Rod
March 6, 2015
Sullivan’s
Salvos 3/10/15
In this edition:
*Prairie Preview
*Gas Tax
*Foster Care
*Bullying
*Did You Know?
*Prairie Preview
The
Burr Oak Land Trust presents the 32nd annual Prairie Preview
Thursday, March 12 at the Celebration Farm off Highway 1 north of Iowa City.
Doors
open for registration and exhibits at 6:30. Biology Professor Jim Kessler will
provide the keynote on “The Importance of Native Prairie” at 7:30 PM.
For
more information or to become a sponsor, please contact Tammy Wright at
338-7030 or info@buroaklandtrust.org.
I
love this event, so I’m sorry to say that I’ll have to miss it this year. (I’ll
be attending the Iowa State Association of Counties meeting in Des Moines.) I
hope all the attendees have a great time and learn a lot!
*Gas Tax
Iowa
just raised its gas tax by ten cents to 31 cents, effective March 1. This is
the first increase in the tax since 1989. Iowa’s tax rate on gas was quite low,
ranking number 36 in the nation.
We will talk about the
politics in a moment. First, let’s lay out some more facts. A recent industry
report cited federal data showing 27 percent of Iowa's major urban roads and
highways have pavement in poor condition, while 13 percent of rural roads are
in poor condition. In addition, the research noted more than a quarter of the
state's bridges are rated as structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.
The tax will raise an
additional $200 million or so, all of it constitutionally protected for roads
only. In Johnson County, our share will be around $800,000 annually. To give
you a sense of how far that goes, $800k would build two small bridges, or pave
just under a mile of road.
So you are not going to
see lots of big projects because of this. It really only keeps our heads above
water. But that is OK. Several cities and counties were in jeopardy of falling
so far behind that things would get dangerous. This should keep that from
happening.
For a person who drives
15,000 miles a year in a vehicle that gets 25 miles per gallon, the higher fuel
tax would cost an additional $60 annually, or an average of $5 a month. About
25% would be paid by non-Iowans just driving through.
As
for the politics – they were interesting, to say the least. The GOP was tugged
in different directions; road builders and the Farm Bureau wanted the tax,
while anti-tax groups did not. Democrats wanted the increase, but forced
Republicans to come up with at least 50% support before they would act.
When
businesses are asked what is most important to them, infrastructure polls
number two, just behind workforce. It is the second MOST important factor.
Taxes fall much further down the list, barely in the top ten. Businesses must
have good roads and bridges to succeed. Period. Our economy depends upon this.
What I find scary is the work that was required to get done
something so basic. As I just noted, our economy depends upon good
infrastructure. Yet only about half the Republicans in the Iowa House and Iowa
Senate could be convinced to vote for it. The MOST important factor for
businesses, and it can only get half the necessary votes. Scary.
I
appreciate the reasonable GOP members who helped to get this done. Speaker
Paulson, Representative Byrnes, and Senator Kapuchian, in particular, put the
needs of Iowa ahead of politics in this case.
*Foster Care
I
have mentioned foster care previously in Salvos. As you may recall, Melissa and
I have been foster parents for 17 years. During that time, we have had just
over 40 children in our home. Some stayed only a few hours; 3 kids we adopted.
All in all, it has definitely been the best thing we have ever done.
Melissa and I recently provided respite care for another foster
family. We kept a 2 year old and 7 month old for about 10 days. During this
stint, I began questioning my continued commitment to serving as a foster
parent.
I know the need is there; that is not even a question. And I want
to do my part. Foster Care numbers are actually down – nearing an all-time low.
While Iowa had about 8,000 kids in care just 7-8 years ago, the numbers now are
around 5,000. The problem is, the number of foster families has also dropped.
In fairness, I should mention a story that happened this week.
While picking the kids up at daycare, classmates of the oldest child started
yelling, “Is that your Grandpa?” I certainly felt like it!
Fact is, I’m getting old. (Melissa is still up to the task. I’m
just not as helpful as I used to be.) I think it is time for the next
generation of foster parents to step up.
Are you that person? Is your son or daughter that person? Your
neighbor? Iowa is in desperate need. I strongly encourage you to check it out!
For more information, contact Iowa KidsNet at https://www.iowakidsnet.com.
*Bullying
I recently shared this story on a
cousin's Facebook page, and I thought it might be good to share it more widely.
As our schools try to decide what to do about bullying, I remember my own story
like it was yesterday.
When I was in kindergarten, a
high school boy took a small toy from me on the school bus. (Oh, yes, I
remember who he was. I spent years thinking about what I'd do to him if I ever
got the chance. But I'm not going to embarrass him here.) I was the oldest in
my family, so I had no one to turn to. I told my mom, who called his mom. The
next day, he took something else from me. He pushed me around, and there was
nothing I could do. I had just turned 5, and he was 16, maybe 17.
I was really upset, and I'm not
sure what would have happened next, but thank God a neighbor kid named Randy
Alger stood up for me. (He was my friend's older brother.) Randy was in about
8th grade, but he was big, and he pushed the other boy against the side of the
bus and said, "What the hell do you think you are doing? Pick on someone
your own size!"
The high school boy never
bothered me again, and Randy Alger became my hero! (It didn't hurt that he was
a pudgy kid, and so was I!) But I have often wondered what would have happened
to me if Randy hadn't intervened. I still remember how helpless I felt, even
though it was 45 years ago!
If there is a moral
to my story, it is to intervene. Don't let that stuff go on. And don't assume
the person being bullied can fight back.
*DID YOU KNOW?
Over 3.2 million students are victims of bullying every year.
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
"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.
If you do NOT
want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type
"unsubscribe" in the subject line.
If you know
anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail
me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.
As always,
feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to
serving you!
---Rod
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