Editorial: Wishful thinking

Posted 1/21/20

In the spirit of the New Year, when hope springs eternal, may a few of these wishes come true …

• That Tiverton recall its recall rules and raise the bar a bit. Never mind high crimes …

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Editorial: Wishful thinking

Posted

In the spirit of the New Year, when hope springs eternal, may a few of these wishes come true …

• That Tiverton recall its recall rules and raise the bar a bit. Never mind high crimes — mere misdemeanor would suffice. One fellow up for recall now was only on board two weeks before petitioners had had enough — of what isn’t quite clear.

• One rule that ought to be recall worthy — The one that allows demolition of ancient stone walls for solar projects with 20-year lifespans.

• That we hear not one more word from the climate change deniers for whom selfishness trumps science. Let my great-grandchildren roast — give me my fossil fuels! 

• That Westport agree that there must be an accounting and inspection for every farm animal. It’s not a voluntary thing — it’s state law. No good comes (except perhaps to a few bad actors seeking to operate off the books) when “farms” are able to exist out of sight.

• That just one time a judge throw the book at an animal abuser. ‘Continuance Without Finding’ and ‘suspended’ don’t cut it. Mahatma Ghandi: "The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.

• That Supreme Court Judge Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg enjoy good health for a good long time. "

• That we appreciate and patronize good local businesses (like the late Provender, A.S. Deams, etc.) while they last.

• That we pause to celebrate accomplishments of the past year — Fine new park at Grinnell’s Beach, lovely new home for the Watershed Alliance at Head of Westport, Westport Woods park at the Westport/Little Compton line …

• Successful completion of Westport’s new school — and may it help stem the exodus of students to other places.

• That Rhode Island finally appreciates the competitive disadvantage it provides its merchants by charging one of the nation’s highest sales taxes — especially in the East Bay where customers need only flee a mile or two to enjoy the savings offered by “Taxachusetts.” And that it re-think taxation that forces its retirees (those who didn’t work for state or towns anyway) to find friendlier places — like Massachusetts.

• A return of sportsmanship to sports: Chest thumping, mid-game team photos during a rout. Best advice yet — “Act like you’ve been in the end zone before.” Best advice (youth sports spectator category) — “If you think you know the rules better than the ref,  sign up — the league could use such wisdom.”

• That there be progress toward the Sakonnet Peace Alliance’s dream of a world with less strife. We ask this every year but the need has not diminished.

2024 by East Bay Media Group

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Meet our staff
MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.