Pinched Nerves

In December, I began experiencing the pain of a pinched nerve in my back for the first time. When it was intense, it consumed my attention. Now that I'm feeling better, I have been thinking about lessons learned from the experience...

First, someone can be in pain and others around them may not notice. It can be good to be tough, but pain makes one edgy and if people don't see the problem they may think that your edginess is because of them and not realize that you are wincing at something other than them.

Second, a pain in one area can completely mask the pain in another area. While the pinched nerve was intense, it sometimes made me forget all about the chronic pain I have had for six years in my left shoulder (due to an injury). It made me think about how this also happens with people and with organizations at times. Our state revenue problems are very real. But the current crisis is masking long held problems (like our failure to prioritize government spending).

Third, pain can lead one to desperate choices. At first I told the doctor that I didn't want strong drugs that would interfere with driving, working, or taking care of two kids. That lasted about three days before the doc got a desperate call for something stronger and I made an appointment with a chiropractor. My doctor was kind enough to spare me the "I told you so".

Fourth, I have to admit that the experience caused me to wonder whether I am sometimes a pinched nerve to others and how I might be a better team player this coming year. That being said, there are things to learn from pinched nerves.

Which brings me to my final lesson learned. Sometimes life makes one slow down. Instead of fighting it, it can be very healthy to make the most of it. Whether individually or in the case of an organization, we can learn a lot from the things that cause us to slow down and change our perspective a bit.

Happy New Year!

May the new year bring you joy in your journey and the wisdom to gleen perspective in all that you experience.

Regards,
Kathryn Simpson

The Real Win...

Slightly modified from a comment I made on another website...

Today we will elect a new President. There will be a winner and a loser in this election. The one who lost will return to his "regular" life as a United States Senator. The one who won will begin preparation for a smooth transition of power.

And therein lies the win for the citizens of the United States of America. Whether it is President-Elect Obama come Wednesday morning or President-Elect McCain, the citizens of the United States of America will still wake to enjoy the freedoms ensured by our Constitution and Bill of Rights; free to declare who they voted for without fear of goon squads arriving at their door, free to teach their children how to respect the office of President of the United States because he was elected and will take power by the will of the people without a single gun fired in the process, free to stand amidst those who voted for either candidate with an extended arm of citizenship and pride because we are all citizens of this great nation.

Of course, we could also wake up on Wednesday morning with hate in our eyes and venom in our tongues. But what good would that serve this nation? What example does that set for the world?

On election day I vote my conscience and respect my fellow Americans to do the same. And on Wednesday, wherever the votes lead, I am grateful to be a citizen of the UNITED States of America.

Regards of the NW,
Kathryn Simpson

An Open Letter - the "SEED" Project

Port of Bremerton Commissioners,

As assertively and respectfully as possible, I urge the Port of Bremerton Commissioners to refuse the EDD Grant and end the SEED project, unless it can be accomplished without taxpayer subsidy. We are facing extraordinarily harsh economic times that will require the preservation of property tax dollars for the most necessary priorities of government... infrastructure, law and order, and public education.

If you go forward with betting even more taxpayer funds on the SEED “entrepreneurial activity” (as termed by the Berk Report), you risk the good will of the public to vote yes for real quality of life investments like schools and public services.

Current national economic conditions should be teaching us valuable lessons. We cannot afford to continue to speculate with taxpayer dollars. Speculative investment is not a priority of government. Those who want to speculate on “green” jobs can invest their own funds in the form of venture capital. I would encourage the Port to work with private investors to fund the SEED project. However, I object to any further insistence that taxpayers continue as the only investors in this highly speculative project. The Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority tried speculating with the taxpayer's money and we, the taxpayers, lost. Surely you see and understand the parallels.

Our local employers need highly educated high school graduates who have the math, English, and communication skills to grow into a trade or to attend college and return for engineering positions. To attract employees to relocate or remain here, our local employers need to be able to market a high quality of life in Kitsap County, through parks, recreation, and public safety. Every tax dollar that goes towards subsidizing SEED is a tax dollar unavailable for the priorities of government.

Page 45 of the Berk Report is quite clear:

“Establishing an incubator in a location with relatively low levels of immediate research and entrepreneurial activity is a catalytic, market-making venture and so the plan absolutely comes withuncertainties and risks…”

I implore the Port of Bremerton Commissioners to vote NO to further speculative investment of tax dollars in SEED. We have not seen private investment in SEED after three years. We have not seen any commitment of private industry to SEED. It is time to cut our taxpayer losses. We face deficits in the county budget and in the state budget ($3.2 billion and growing). Please give taxpayers some relief and good will. Please focus Port of Bremerton activities on growing jobs that don’t need subsidies from taxpayers.

Thank you for your consideration.

Regards,
Kathryn Simpson
Citizen within the Port District

Kitsap County Commissioner Endorsement

I had a unique opportunity a few evenings ago to have an extended conversation with Tim Matthes about the state of the county and our most pressing issues. Tim Matthes has a strong understanding of our economic condition, the needs of our citizens, and where we need to prioritize tax dollars.

Tim understands how issues affect each other and how other jurisdictions affect county issues and county citizens. Tim says it is important to prioritize the duties of county government, fund within the resources available, and exercise fiduciary responsibility, especially in difficult times.

I support Tim Matthes because he is the candidate who appreciates the need for developing our business base while still protecting our ability to fund the priorities of local government and preserving a high quality of life.

Economic development and a high quality of life are not mutually exclusive. Tim Matthes understands this. His opponent didn't earn a second term (or the seat back four years ago either) because it appeared to many (myself included) that she didn't understand the need to find win-win solutions.

In a recent Kitsap Sun article, his opponent states that she has learned a lot about "common ground" since then. Perhaps she has. However, electing her again would be quite a risk to find out.

Please vote TIM MATTHES for Kitsap County Commissioner, Position 2.

Seasons Change

The picture on the left was taken in the Spring during our adventures in Florida. Seems like centuries ago. Of course, the seasons have changed again. Yesterday I had the first frost of the season on my car windshield. The kids claim that it snowed for a few minutes at a friend's house in Manchester. The fall fog is back. Yes, indeed, seasons are changing again.

It is evident that political seasons are changing again too. Though it is a very hard season of change to read. The economy has turned bitter cold, the partisan political fever is rising mercilessly, and families are wondering whether the pending storms will wash away any hope for real change in national, state, or local politics.

The hurricane last week on Wall Street is, hopefully, behind us. But there are still storms on the horizon. Perhaps today, more than ever, we need to remember the flowers of last spring and remain hopeful that the flowers will bloom again.

Gregoire and the State Deficit

Yesterday, on the way to work, I heard the latest ad by the Gregoire campaign attempting to downplay Rossi's campaign ads about the state economy. Arggg!!! Doesn't she get it? Does she think we are ignorant?

The ad said that Dino Rossi is wrong and Washington State doesn't really have a deficit of 3.2 BILLION dollars because Washington State is required to balance it's budget each biennium.

Excuse me, Governor. But to "balance" the budget, Washington State is going to have to do one of two things... increase taxes or reduce services. So, please be honest. The 3.2 BILLION dollar deficit is real. It is a matter of deep concern to Republicans and Democrats across the state.

Defend your position on how we got here. But it is absurd to attempt to out and out mislead the public on this! We have kids to educate in our public schools, bridges that need repair, services to provide to those in need of assistance, parks to protect, and lots of other important things that will be impacted by the deficit. The first step to solving the problem is acknowledging that a problem exists.

Whether you are our governor for the next three months or the next 4 years, I expect you to step up to the issue and work in a bi-partisan manner to solve the fiscal crisis facing our State.

A New Dawn for Republicans

Until today I was going to sit out the rest of the Presidential campaign and grudgingly vote for Senator McCain in November. But this morning, Senator McCain announced his Vice Presidential running mate, Governor Sarah Palin.

Frankly, I didn't think McCain would have the courage to really address change in a VP pick. But he pleasantly surprised me.

Governor Palin is a regular person, who embodies working class America. She is a responsible Republican who stands up against corruption, even in her own political party. She is a responsible parent, who balances the needs of the community with the needs and aspirations of her family. She is a responsible American, who is willing to address tough issues and work towards what is best and right rather than what suits the desires of select special interests. She is a responsible maverick and I am a big fan those who know how to think and act independent of the political wind that whirls around them.

Governor Palin is not a Washington DC insider. She does not owe her soul to special this or special that. She is not well connected to lobbyists. She is not your average Republican. She is not the status quo.

Senator John McCain has earned my vote because he found the courage to start his change action plan now! Senator Obama says he wants change, but chose Senator Joe Biden (in the U.S. Senate since 1974). Does that speak to a real change action plan? Until today, I did not see either candidate distinguish himself as an agent of real change. That all changed this morning!

Today I see that Senator McCain understands that real leadership requires risk, that real change only occurs when there is a real catalyst to make it happen, that America deserves real changes over the status quo!

Vote McCain/Palin!