Mark Knows It All

Today is Memorial Day. It has been gratifying over the years to see the importance of this day re-emerge in American priorities. This year in particular, with the winding down of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, it takes on special meeting as the nation remembers its fallen heroes defending our nation in a post 9/11 world. I didn’t serve in the military. My draft number was so high that ‘Tricia Nixon would have been drafted before me during the Vietnam War. Those were horrible days. We are now several generations away from the Vietnam War in which Americans suffered 45,000 casualties. Those returning from the war were scorned and spit upon. It was disgraceful. It was heartening to hear President Obama apologize for those actions today. Whether you agreed with the war or not, those returning deserved better than this nation gave them. We are also seeing the Greatest Generation, those that fought in World War II, shrink in numbers as they leave this life hopefully for a better p...

I watched a movie on the Hallmark Channel tonight. Of course I watch the Hallmark Channel.  I watch Lifetime too. I curl up on my chair with my Kleenex and Makers Mark. Can life get any better?  Haven't you heard about us compassionate conservatives?  Don't mess with us. At any rate, tonight Hallmark showed a movie about Barry Watson kissing some girl at a summer camp called Pine Lake. The movie was set somewhere in America’s northwest, fluttering a nondescript state flag because the movie was actually filmed in Canada to skirt union rules. The story line involved young Luke who is a "philanthropic entrepreneur" (is that like a white Hispanic?) who buys the summer camp of his youth from his uncle only to find it sinking, literally and figuratively, under heavy expenses and safety code violations. While walking through this muck filled dilemma in an uber picturesque setting with lots of rain, he reunites with his childhood sweetheart Zoe (wo...

Those of you who know me know that my political persuasion is somewhere between Goldwater Conservatism and Libertarianism. The government should stick to those things that it is supposed to be good at, like building roads, sewers, and water lines and national defense. I am an anti-tax guy. So why am I an advocate of public financing for the arts? Today the Mahoning Valley Power of the Arts initiative is having its Call to Action rally at the Butler Institute of America Art. The Ohio Revised Code provides for the establishment of Arts and Culture Districts in each of the counties. These districts are self taxing entities akin to Boardman Park, Mill Creek Metro Parks, and the county library. They are established by the County Commissioners when presented with a governance code, and operated by a Board of Trustees appointed by the Commissioners with certain qualifications, or the operational duties can be assigned to an existing arts organization in the county so ...