Gaal Keeps Forgetting, He's on the City Council

City Council Member Chris Gaal weighs in on a topic that he has absolutely no jurisdiction over in his elected capacity. In the April 15th Herald Times article, headlined “Gaal takes on Bush on Social Security” all I could think of when I read the headline is, dream on! It appears several of our democrat city council members seem to be overly preoccupied with national and world affairs over issues that need their attention right here in their own back yard. It has been interesting to watch them spread their political ire while making their case for whatever position they’re taking on any given day by quoting some obscure self serving resource, usually from some ultra-liberal left wing organization. This article was based on information gathered from the “Institute for America’s Future”, and supported by none other than Milton Fisk, a recent partner in crime to the “Living Wage Ordinance”. This organization is quoted as wanting to“ challenge those who suggest that nothing can be done and expose the conservative agenda that has made things worse”. Gaal and Fisk evidently got so worked up about this issue they decided to hold a local press conference to get their names in the paper in support of the status quo, bankrupting the Social Security Administration.

Although the names of these organizations are creative most lack any real credibility. It’s a shame there isn’t an “Institute for Articles of Journalistic Relevance”, a resource that certainly could be put too good use at the HT. The information provided in their press conference was no more accurate than any other offerings from opponents of Social Security reform. They infused exaggerated numbers that were used simply as means of inciting their supporters and to demonize any type of support for reform. What everyone should know by now is the Social Security Administration has been borrowed from for years and if something is not done soon it is going to collapse within. President Bush is pitching several ideas although no definitive plan is in place. Rather than working toward a solution the democrats have offered nothing in the way of alternatives other than to suggest everything should be left alone. This once again shows it’s easier to promise, postpone and spread fear of change than it is to actually do something. Churchill was quoted as saying “It’s better to do something than do nothing while waiting to do everything”, how appropriate in this case.