An education in common sense

OK, now I’m really steamed.

A person can take only so much. 

Disappointment after disappointment. Eventually, something has to break.

I speak, of course, about my license plate.
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I’ve had the same “support education” license plate for a very long time. Yes, the actual plate switched out every few years, but the design hasn’t.

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And what a design! Mortarboard, diploma, and red apple with “support education” in pencil along the bottom. 

Anyone could look at that license plate and know immediately education is the theme.

So, birthday time is around the corner, time for a new plate. Turns out the old plate was discontinued, and we have this new plate which, if you take a close look, resembles education like I resemble tall, dark, and handsome.

I mean…it’s two kids leaning against a palm tree on the beach, looking at iPads. How is this related to education? What’s featured on the manatee plate? Cherry pie?

Who makes these decisions? Someone in the state government being paid with my tax dollars took a look at that design and thought, “Hmm…beach…sand…palm trees…idle children — education!” 

It’s a constant reminder that the government often lacks common sense.

I’ve long believed government agencies should have the Office of Common Sense. Every major decision should be run by the Office of Common Sense, which would be led by someone you’d meet in the Publix parking lot or at church. Common folk. You and me.

Here’s how it would work. Let’s say the state wanted to gift forest land to a developer for a golf course — I know, crazy! Just think if someone would have run that idea first by the Office of Common Sense.

“Um, you want to do what?” 

That’s a five-minute conversation at best. And only that long because common sense doesn’t come easy to people who have none. Might take a few minutes to explain it.

The education plate should have been run by the Office of Common Sense. I get that our license plates are glorified advertisements for the Free State of Florida, but must they all make it look like we’re one big beach party?

Registrations with specialty plates cost $20 more than the standard plate; my payment for this plate goes to the Citrus County Education Foundation.

Done ranting. I feel better.

— It seems our soon ex-sheriff is not taking his primary defeat in stride.

Sheriff-elect Dave Vincent copied commissioners on a letter to Sheriff Mike Prendergast requesting assistance in the transition. Prendergast, so far, has not responded.

Commissioners have taken notice. At a budget hearing Wednesday, commissioners said they are considering withholding any increase in the sheriff’s budget until AFTER Prendergast leaves office in January and Vincent is in.

Commissioners said Prendergast has been spending money “recklessly” since his defeat. There was talk of Prendergast promoting friends at work to boost their pay and wrapping sheriff’s vehicles with his name.

“I’m concerned about some of what I’m hearing,” Commissioner Ruthie Davis Schlabach said.

Commissioner Rebecca Bays said the county should “flat line” Prendergast’s budget until the new sheriff takes office.

Kudos to commissioners for jumping on this one. We definitely need a tight rein on Prendergast’s pocketbook as he’s headed out the door.

Meanwhile, I’m hearing his Tallahassee political friends are not happy with Prendergast’s refusal to be cordial or cooperate with Vincent. His childish behavior is making them look bad.

Wow. Beginning to think that the 38% primary vote for Prendergast was too high.

Have an awesome Thursday, friends.

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