SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
May 16, 2019
Sullivan’s Salvos 5/21/19
In this edition:
*Solon Fire Breakfast
*Foster Care and Adoption Month
*Bad Roads
*More Whining…
*Are You Rich?
*SOTA
*Did You Know?
*Solon Fire Breakfast
The Solon Firefighters will host the 56th Annual Solon Firefighter's Breakfast from 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 26 at the Solon Fire Station, 131 N. Iowa St.
The breakfast is all you can eat and the menu includes: pancakes, scrambled eggs, fried eggs, patty sausage, sliced ham, milk and coffee. Cost is free for preschool children, $4 for children 12 and younger and $6 for adults. For more information, call 624-2386.
*Foster Care and Adoption Month
May marks National Foster Care and Adoption Month. As many of you know, Melissa and I have 3 adopted children, and served as foster parents for another 50 + children. We surrendered our license last spring after 20 years.
Unfortunately, the need did not go away. In fact, it may be greater than ever. Even if you do not feel you can serve as a foster parent, help us to recruit others. We need families!
You can learn more by visiting Four Oaks Family Connections at: https://iowafosterandadoption.org.
*Bad Roads
Gravel and dirt roads in Johnson County are in bad shape. I would go so far as to say the roads are in the worst shape since 2008. We are not alone – roads are even worse along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. All of our neighboring counties are struggling with their roads. Counties from Minnesota to South Dakota to Nebraska to Missouri to Illinois are all dealing with ruined gravel roads.
So, we know the roads are bad. What will help the situation? Good weather is number one, two, and three.
I can tell you what will NOT help: Calling the Supervisors and asking if we have “ever even driven on this road.” Emailing the Supervisors and telling us that the County Engineer is incompetent. Calling the Supervisors and noting that your road is “always last” to receive maintenance. Emailing the Supervisors and explaining how the road maintenance worker in your area does not know what he is doing.
Look, I get it. The roads are bad. Do you REALLY think we don’t WANT to fix them? Do you really believe we could just wave a wand, but we are choosing not to? Is this really a conspiracy?
I will admit, if my road was in this shape, I would be pissed. But is there actually anyone to blame? Just Mother Nature. So blaming County employees and getting angry with County Supervisors does not help. We just need a combination of good weather and time.
Please try to be understanding as we work through this situation. I know it is bad. Just understand, we are doing everything we can!
*More Whining…
I guess this edition of Salvos is the edition in which you get to hear me complain! I really don’t want that to be the focus, but I feel the need to share this tidbit:
Twice in the last two weeks, I have been accused of only caring about rural residents. That is mind-boggling to me, because for YEARS I have had to deal with rural residents accusing me of only caring about urban residents.
I would love to get a few of the people who think I only cater to the rural together with a few of the people who think I only cater to the urban. You can compare notes and come up with a consistent reason for hating me!
*Are You Rich?
Are you rich? Is that a crazy question? It is easy to answer, right? You are not rich. How could I even suggest such a thing?
Except – most of us are. When you talk about income, you need to talk about income relative to everyone else. Let me explain using my household as an example.
My household income last year was about $130,000. Of the 7 billion people on planet earth, we have greater income than 6.6 billion. We are truly among the wealthiest households on earth. Only about 6% of the people on earth earn more.
When you compare us to the US only, the numbers change. We are in the top 18% or so of American households. Still pretty rich! 82% of households have less – amounting to 272 million people!
In Johnson County, we fare about the same – we have more income than 85% of all households. We have more than roughly 130,000 of the 150,000 residents of our county.
In Johnson County, 20% of the households had income between zero and $22,000. 20% were from $22,000 to $43,000. 20% were from $43,000 to $73,000. 20% were from $73,000 to $113,000. And 20% earned over $113,000. So when we talk about being “middle class”? Not if your household earns over $73,000!
Why am I laying this out? Several reasons. First, we need to have greater perspective. Secondly, we need to have more appreciation for all we have been given. Thirdly, we need to recognize that there are a lot of people out there who have it worse than we do.
There is also room for perspective on the other end of the spectrum. My income may be in the top 18% of all US households, but it is much closer to the 99thpercentile than the 1%. The statistics here are sobering:
Income inequality is the highest it has ever been. 60 people now have wealth equal to the poorest half of the people on earth.If the United States had the same income distribution it had in 1979, the bottom 80 percent of the population would have $1 trillion – or $12,000 per family – more. The top 1 percent would have $1 trillion less.
Remember when I mentioned perspective? I find the following comparison helpful in terms of understanding the difference between a million and a billion: A million seconds is 11 days. A billion seconds is 32 years!
So, if you are reading this? You are likely pretty well off. And there is a small group of people hoarding the world’s resources!
*SOTA
Nothing says Summer like the festivals produced by Summer of the Arts! I joined the SOTA Board two years ago, and have really enjoyed being a part of it all.
Here are the 2019 Festival Dates:
Friday Night Concert Series: May 17 – August 30, 2019
Iowa Arts Festival: May 31 - June 2, 2019
Free Movie Series: June 8 – August 24, 2019
Iowa City Jazz Festival: July 5 – July 7, 2019
Iowa Soul Festival: August 2&3, 2019
*DID YOU KNOW? Johnson County spends the maximum amount allowable by law on Secondary Roads.
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
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 12:16 PM
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