As those opposing the state's first proposed wind farm in Elm Springs continue making their displeasure felt, another group of equally driven protesters are pursuing their crusade to tear down the failed Lake Bella Vista dam only a few miles north in Bentonville.
Throw in those racially offended students and their footballing Tigers at the University of Missouri and one might say we appear to be living in an age of widespread disgruntlement. Lots of unhappy and offended folks for sure.
Some members of the "Friends of Little Sugar Creek" showed up at the Bentonville City Council meeting last week and left pleased to hear the matter of freeing Little Sugar Creek by finally tearing down the aged and eroded dam is expected to be on the agenda of the town's Committee of the Whole, which meets Dec. 7.
That's the committee meeting with an odd name whereby the council is able to get fully informed about all present and proposed city facilities and provide an opportunity to discuss issues concerning how the city is governed.
I view that kind of listening and interaction as a very good thing before the city decides to possibly spend $3.5 million in public funds to rebuild a dam for a shallow lake that has become the focus of debate and disagreement for about a year.
The committee gathering occurs the day before the Bentonville Council is set to reconvene and perhaps hear final public comments on the benefits of setting Little Sugar Creek free for public enjoyment or rebuilding the existing dam to maintain the chronically algae-burdened lake.
Obviously I'm of the opinion that the free-flowing stream is the most financially efficient and the wisely popular choice. The expense of maintaining another dam to contain a small lake in such a large watershed would be far more than simply removing the failed concrete plug and releasing Little Sugar Creek.
Greg Van Horn, the energized leader of Friends of Little Sugar Creek, has sounded the clarion call for members and others who want to see the creek's flow restored to attend both meetings in December.
Like many others, I can only hope the council will set everything except science, common sense and what's truly best for the community (as well as its fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers) aside in making the decision.
Amateur prognostications
OK, I'll break yet again with my self-imposed prohibition on prognosticating about national politics to offer a few thoughts on the national GOP primary race. You realize, as do members of my morning coffee group at the TownHouse Cafe in Harrison, that I'm no political pundit. Nor do I pretend to be such a know-it-all.
But I do drink coffee and I am an observer by craft. And thus far, based on common sense, here's what I've been observing.
Donald Trump initially rose quickly in the polls then leveled out and has been hovering in the low- to mid-20 percent approval every since. I suspect most Americans view him as I do, the egocentric, brash, political outsider and novice whose message and financial independence resonate powerfully with a significant number of Americans. It taps deeply into the enormous river of anger and frustration. It's Trump's "By God, here's what's going to happen!" approach that rings bells in folks, probably because his decisiveness (even if naïve) sounds like some actual leadership.
But that same soldier-slappin' George Patton-esque side to him gives people pause in asking themselves what Trump would be like dealing with or dictating to others, including staff, Congress and the rest of the world. As time goes on from here to the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, both in early February, I suspect those questions will become better formed in many hearts and minds, especially as the collective anger begins to temper a bit.
As for the other candidates, seems to me the list of finalists is clearly narrowing down by spring to Trump, Dr. Ben Carson, Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina and, believe it or not, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. That would leave six standing by the beginning of summer. Granted, Jeb Bush has enough money to get that far and beyond but, at this point anyway, his name is more a hindrance than a benefit and he's not reflecting the presidential demeanor that people are hungry to see.
Folks are just flat fed-up with the cowardly, calculated, pretentious, wholly politicized, arrogant, incompetent, self-seeking and ineffective mess that they've for years allowed to pass as leadership in Washington, D.C.
Whew! That actually felt pretty darned good! Meanwhile, when the convention arrives and smoke begins to clear, I'm far from convinced today that Trump will become the Republican nominee. If I had to bet the house to lose, at this point I'd probably put my money on Rubio or Cruz.
Guess that shows what I know (and don't), ya think?
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Mike Masterson's column appears regularly in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Email him at [email protected].
Editorial on 11/17/2015