SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
September 1, 2016
Sullivan’s
Salvos 9/6/16
In this edition:
*”Kinnick House”
*LGD and Ph.D.
*More on Education
*Did You Know?
*”Kinnick House”
You
have probably heard about the controversy caused by the “Kinnick House”
proposed for Lusk Avenue in Manville Heights. If not, a quick background: Lusk
Avenue is a one block long street that dead-ends at some majestic, 100+ years
old oaks. The street is just across Highway 6 from the VA Hospital; in other
words, close to UI athletic venues. It is in this spot, on a small residential
lot, that a man from Decorah proposes building his “Kinnick House”.
Yes,
the house is supposed to look like a replica of Kinnick Stadium. The gentleman
who proposes the building claims that he and his wife will visit “several times
a year” but that it will often sit vacant. At over 7,000 square feet with a
commercial kitchen and multiple bathrooms, it is hard to imagine this structure
simply being used as a residential home.
Here
is my take: Iowa City is going to get sued either way. Why not stand up for the
neighborhood? Rather than forcing neighbors to sue, force the guy who wants to
ruin their neighborhood to sue. Make him prove to a jury that this is just a
residence.
It
is way too easy for the City to say, “There is nothing we can do.” I do not
believe that. This is not simply a matter of aesthetics; this is a clear
attempt to subvert the zoning code. There is a compelling reason to say no. I’d
rather see the Council take a stand for their constituents and lose doing the
right thing.
*LGD and Ph. D.
I
often get questions about Supervisor Lisa Green Douglass, the newest member of
the Board. People always ask how she is doing.
The
answer is she is doing fine! The job of Supervisor requires learning a lot
about a wide variety of topics. No one gets it all immediately. But Lisa is a
quick study.
And
that is one thing that really stands out about Lisa (affectionately becoming
known as LGD) - her intelligence. She is one smart cookie! That actually got me
thinking… is this the first time Johnson County has had a Supervisor with a
Ph.D.? Have we even had a Supervisor with a Master’s Degree?
I
can hear the naysayers already… why does a County Supervisor need a Master’s
Degree? We don’t NEED one. But that is not the point. Johnson County is one of
the most educated counties in the world. (We rank #20 in the US, with 24% of
the population having a Master’s Degree or greater education.) I simply find it
interesting that we have not had many Supervisors with advanced degrees.
State
Senator Joe Bolkcom has a Master’s Degree, and had it when he served as a
County Supervisor in the 1990s. Bolkcom’s former colleague Jonathon Jordahl
actually has multiple Master’s Degrees. Former Supervisor Janet Shipton has led
a remarkable life; I’m not certain if she has an advanced degree or not.
Beyond
that…I cannot find anyone! I think LGD is our first Ph.D.! Please correct me if
you know otherwise.
*More on Education
We
are in the midst of a big political campaign, and Iowa City/Coralville is a
very politically active area. I often hear people in this area make comments
about lower income white voters and their affinity for Donald Trump. “Why?”
they ask.
To
be honest, there are probably 5-6 legitimate answers to the question, “Why?” We
will talk about more as the campaign progresses. But there is one particular
dynamic I want to focus on today, and that is education.
I just wrote
about this in Salvos, but it bears repeating:
“Almost without fail, they will emphasize the need for more
education as a cure for economic inequality.
I
understand this notion. I am certainly pro-education. But statistics prove that
education alone is NOT the answer to economic inequality. Here is why:
The
American workforce has never been better educated. The American workforce has
never been more productive. Yet inequality has never been worse.
In
1940, less than 50% of Americans finished high school. That number has
gradually increased, and while there have been some ups and downs, the rate hit
an all-time high of 82% in 2015.
Similarly,
the percentage of college grads was 4.6% in 1940. It was 7.7% in 1960, 17% in
1980, and 30% in 2010. (Source: US Census Bureau.)
So
– American workers ARE better educated. They are doing what they have been
asked to do. They are getting better educated. They are upholding their end of
the bargain; it is the corporations who have let us down.
I
understand why we are attracted to the myth that education is the key to all
our problems. There are plenty of anecdotal instances of a poor kid using
education to rise to the top. Larry Ellison, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Clinton, and
Barack and Michelle Obama are all examples of poor/middle class kids using
education to better their position. It makes for a great rags-to-riches story.
It also puts all the responsibility on the individual.
But any statistician will tell you –
these high-profile stories are just anecdotes. These are just data points. For
most people, education is hard to attain, especially an elite education. And
even once you have gotten an education, it serves as no guarantee. Just look at
my earlier statistics. The myth sounds good, and feels good – but it is a myth.
We
will not solve inequality by focusing on workers. They are doing what they need
to do. We need to focus on the corporations that have done so much to keep our
workers down.”
The
people of Iowa City and Coralville are extremely well educated. That is a very
good thing! But it must not lead to a viewpoint that education is everything!
Hillary
Clinton and the members of the Democratic Party keep encouraging more and
better education. Again, this is a good thing. But it will not solve all our
problems.
Many
American workers may not have advanced educations, but they are not stupid.
Workers need a lifeline. Trump offers them rhetoric. Democrats need to offer
them something real, not just mountains of student debt.
*DID YOU KNOW? 52% of the population of Johnson County has a Bachelor’s Degree
or higher. That ranks #17 in the US. (Source: US Census Bureau.)
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
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---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 9:55 PM
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