Typically people who read columns like the 'cuff sometimes are treated to the author's fall-back column topic: "What to write about." When all else fails, that is a ploy which can fill inches of copy with so-called cute or funny quips as well as a long-winded confession by the stuck-for-a-topic writer. It was that way until a few minutes ago when the what-am-I-going-to-write-about was replaced with the idea to revert to that five syllable word that begins with a "c" I wrote about several weeks ago. What a sentence!
That's right, you guessed it, or remembered it, or ... well ... The "c" word is conglomeration, which I used to describe how, when a child, I was smitten with gardening fever. My folks ordered me a one-cent "conglomeration" packet of seeds, an idea dreamed up by Iowa's seed man, Henry Field. That mixture of seeds is indelibly printed in my mind.
To make a long story short - - er, this is going to be a conglomeration column, a mixture of subjects that may lead to who knows where.
To begin, let's hit politicians, high-brow or low thinking, all who seem to have answers for every question or problem facing mankind. What a conglomeration of ideas the collective group of pols can deliver. All of them solve every problem, some (problems) that don't even exist. Some of the ideas may be realistic, others so far-fetched it boggles the mind wondering where they come from. If you put all of the ideas together, would you have the perfect pol? Fat chance! No pol or group of pols can corner a perfect solution to any problem.
This just naturally brings us to the topic of "corner." See above. What corner could be more important than a motorist, whether in Gravette, or Decatur, or Gentry or out in the country. The corner is where highways, paved streets, gravel county roads or even happy trails intersect when two come together. Is that corner clear, or is it a blind spot?
This little editorial quip is for every corner property owner to check his "corner of the world" and, if it is cluttered with shrubs, tall grass, overhanging limbs, et al, please do humanity a favor and clean it up. The job you do could help prevent a possible wreck and its possible consequences.
But back to politicians; after all, they are the topic of the hour -- make that of the month, the year or even topics of possible candidates four years from now. Today's political scene is indeed unexplainable. As one candidate, not of a major party, said recently, "The two party system has failed us."
There may be a bit of truth to that, but the real problem is why or how it happens, or happened, many times: i.e., remember the 1992 presidential race when spoiler Ross Perot of his national party split the ticket, paving the way for Bill Clinton to be elected. Where would we be if that hadn't occurred? But, as they say, that's water under the bridge.
And what about this year? A so-called non-pol, along with several others split the Republican party, while a self-proclaimed socialist put a scare into the Democrat selection process.
History has proven that such splits can fracture the whole process, with other offshoots for several years. Hence, gridlock. Until the two-party system gets back on sure footing, the result can take off in possible errant directions. For instance, as this is written, a bill that would fund mosquito control is coupled with a bill to fund planned parenthood for a Caribbean wannabe state. Neither side can agree to that measure, when the logical answers would be to split the bill in two, vote on each measure separately and proceed with the result. Too simple, too common-sense for consideration since it would publicly show how each representative or senator voted on the respective measures.
Finally, would either or both of the bills face individual veto possibilities from the president? Gridlock? Yes. But we still have the best system. And those who would propose to change it are the ones who pose danger to our republic/democracy existence.
Of course the real question for today is who will be our new president come January? Will it be Hillary of whom our president said, "There has never been anyone better qualified to be our president than Hillary Clinton"? Never and anyone are mighty big words since they include all of the greatest leaders our country has produced. I guess he was thoughtful to include himself, possibly as second-most qualified?
Finally, how about Green Sixteen, the way to remember that 2016 is the year of green grass and flourishing trees. Should we back up a bit since, during the past week or so, the brown, crinkling grass of late August has taken over? A nice gentle rain would be helpful. Later, just as I was retyping (on the old Underwood) this 'cuff, it has started to sprinkle. Time will tell.
In the meantime, the huge pin oak in our front yard has been dropping leaves and acorns, the latter being helped by a covey, flock, pride, whatever ... . of squirrels. I figure, and this is my own diagnosis, the tree vegetation this year has been so heavy during our wet July, followed by the late hot, dry August, the tree has entered a survival mode, adjusting to drought conditions. Don't quote me. I probably dreamed this ... or it wandered out of the brain from something read long ago.
Enough conglomerating for this week. I'm sure you'll agree. But the "c" factor may reappear sometime, depending on the idea factor. Whatever that is.
Dodie Evans is the former owner and long-time editor of the Gravette News Herald. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 09/14/2016