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I find it interesting that when I point out some of the harsh realities going on in Great Falls the same old group of usual suspects wag their fingers and scold me for being “negative” and not focusing on the “positive”.
It’s almost always the same folks doing the scolding who are partly responsible for the record of failure Great Falls has experienced recently. Failures like extreme poverty skyrocketing in the Electric City, the closing of the Nat and crumbling of our Civic Center, the shameful dishonesty and conflicts of interest engaged in by our city commissioners, and the raging, unprecedented problems of child abuse and neglect in Cascade County/Great Falls.
I know that these are uncomfortable truths, but identifying the problems and getting the truth out in the open is mandatory if we really want to fix the problems.
I know that these are uncomfortable truths, but identifying the problems and getting the truth out in the open is mandatory if we really want to fix the problems.
Let’s say you have a beloved old dog named Buck. One day you see Buck get hit by a car that ran a red light right in front of you. Buck’s hurt bad and as you’re trying to comfort your dog the driver get’s out of the car, half drunk, and tell’s you to “focus on the positive”. After all, Buck’s not dead yet.
The driver gets back in his car and drives away so you call the police and report the incident, but they tell you they’re too busy right now and that you should just “focus on the positive”. After all, they’re busy solving and preventing other crimes, so quit being so “negative”.
You take your beloved dog to the veterinarian and he ends up amputating Bucks right ear. But it’s a mistake because he meant to amputate the left ear, so he takes that one too. You’re furious and you start yelling at the vet but he looks at you all righteous and indignant and says, “Hey, focus on the positive, at least I didn’t amputate his legs!”
You take your beloved dog to the veterinarian and he ends up amputating Bucks right ear. But it’s a mistake because he meant to amputate the left ear, so he takes that one too. You’re furious and you start yelling at the vet but he looks at you all righteous and indignant and says, “Hey, focus on the positive, at least I didn’t amputate his legs!”
Two weeks later you get the vet bill and it’s $5000. You think there must be some mistake so you call the vet and the billing clerk tells you that, no there’s no mistake, remit payment forthwith. Before hanging up on you she also says, “You need to focus on the positive. That bill could have been $7000 and your dog could be missing two legs instead of two ears!”
So the next time anyone climbs their moral high horse or tries to divert attention from their own blunders and accuses me of not focusing on the positive I’ll just tell them the story about poor old Buck.
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Good story. You didn’t say if old Buck was on a leash. I’d put that in.
I don’t feel like I scold you, Rick, but I am one who thinks that you focus a bit too much on the negative.
That being said, when I read this piece, I realize there is an important distinction to be drawn and maybe, just maybe, I agree with you more than I think.
Most of the negatives you address are governmental in nature. While I am not going to suggest that everyone involved in local government is ‘bad,’ I do think we see a lot of complacency in this community. “I’ve got my $50k a year, and I’m 10 years from retirement, so who really cares…?” Where is the energy, the spark, the drive, the IDEAS? When I used to be a blogger I watched lots of City Commission meetings. Now, I think I would just fall asleep.
Where you and I part ways (or maybe we don’t) is the fact that we have a lot of people in this community who are putting it all on the line trying to make something happen. The folks who opened Enbar and created a concert series, Madill who is revitalizing the Strain Building, the Cavanaughs who opened Smoked, all these people are laying it on the line to move some money around this town. (I’m fully aware that I have overlooked HUNDREDS of other people trying to improve our economy (and theirs at the same time!).)
So, my bitch is this: there are lots of people who sit around, complaining on their computers, about how “they” need to open a Red Lobster or some such BS. Instead, “they” are busting their tails to try to make a buck. As long as you and I can agree that we have a lot of “theys,” and the number seems to be improving, then I have no complaint about a complacent, boring (and bored), cynically critical ruling class.
Gregg, good comment.
I try to be clear that my criticisms are pointed directly at our so-called leadership in Great Falls, NOT the overwhelming majority of hardworking entrepreneurs and others who toil, risk, and “put it all on the line” in spite of the lack of leadership, vision and energy on the part of our “leaders”, and in spite of the dishonest, self-serving and damaging actions of the local good ol’ boys & gals club. The heroes remain the common folk in Great Falls who are far from common. Our potential here is enormous, but unfortunately we have been and are being ill-served by the selfish, narrow minded few who slither their way into prominent public positions.
Rick Tryon said: “….narrow minded few who slither their way into prominent public positions.”
By winning elections? Perhaps the public chose these individuals because of the alternatives presented at the ballot box.
Still too spineless to use your actual name and identity I see, “Rick Whoeveryouare”. Also apparently you’re still having trouble with basic reading comprehension skills – I didn’t say anything about “the ballot box”. There are plenty of folks slithering into prominent public positions without ever being elected to anything. I suspect you might be one of them, but we’ll never know for sure because you’re too much of a coward to run your mouth under any circumstances except anonymity.
LOL. You poor little snowflake you. You see that question mark at the end of my 1st sentence? That indicates it is a question, not a statement. You keep whining about who I am (none of your business and not required here) and I’ll keep questioning things as I please.
I do love how you keep proving with your posts that you are not only unelectable but that you are petty and childish with your personal attacks. Thoughts and prayers Rick, thoughts and prayers. LOL
Hey, Rick The Gutless Troll – you have zero credibility here because you’re such a coward. I know you think you’re witty and intelligent and have valuable insights, but you’re just a meaningless little troll because no one knows who you are or what your agenda is due to your spineless anonymity.
For all anyone knows you could be some 400 pound albino cannibal sitting in a basement somewhere, or more likely you’re a snarky know-it-all 30 something living with your mom and drinking Mountain Dew while running your mouth on the internet because you can’t get a date. LOL!
Go back under your bridge little troll or get a life, your words are meaningless and will remain so until you grow up and use your real name like the rest of us adults. 🙂
I rest my case. You poor little snowflake Ricky. LOL
Since the Internet allows anyone to be anyone and/or something they are not, for all we know, this “Rick” may not even be his real name. He may not even be a “he”. Only “he” knows why “he” chooses to be who “he” is. Maybe “Rick” his is alter ego because “he” may be more like an “Arthur” or a “Nimrod”.