I see that Gov. Heineman chose the Chimney Rock design for the upcoming Nebraska state quarter.
Great. Not only does it represent people passing through on their way to somewhere else; not only is it a total stereotype; it's also drawn so that the covered wagon is going the wrong way. So it's not only a cliche, it's embarrassing!
Gov. Heineman had a chance to do something truly impressive and select the Standing Bear design--he had a chance to show the rest of the country something about Nebraska that they probably didn't know, but should--but he copped out to his western Congressional 3rd District constituency, and foisted a worn out stereotype on us all. He denied that politics influenced his decision. The only reason he'd have to take the initiative to deny that, however, is if it were true in the first place.
Not that the westward migration was not important. We all know it was. But why settle for the story everyone knows when one could do something truly edifying and enlightening?
If it is true that people get the government they deserve, we are being punished, big time.
Further confirmation: the Bellevue City Planning Commission just denied the request of a local restaurant to relocate 1 block east of its present location. "That's Amore," a delightful pizza and pasta restaurant, and a great success in its 18 months of operation [They have a pizza called "The Pick of the Prince," with alfredo sauce, fresh basil and spinach, ham and feta cheese, that is heavenly--Ed.], right now is located in a little strip mall. Its back door is less than 50 feet away from the back side of a local Baptist church, which means the restaurant cannot have a liquor license under state laws and regulations.
The members of the church said they had no problem with That's Amore getting a liquor license. There is no provision for exemption from the 50' requirement under the law, however. The restauranteurs wanted the license to be able to serve wine with pasta and beer with pizza, not so they could foist a lot of drunks on the city. So moving just far enough away from the church to comply with the 50' limit seemed an obvious solution. But by moving 1 block east of its present location, That's Amore would be moving to a place with "inadequate parking" and closer to a residential area that would not like the added traffic flow and hassle the restaurant would bring.
The powers that be in this city are constantly whining about the need to revitalize Bellevue's historic "Olde Towne" business district . . . but every time a successful business wants to grow/expand/increase its success, the Planning Commission shoots it down.
What's up with that? Bellevue now has an official population of nearly 46,000, and it's still being run like a podunk town of 500 by an exceedingly parochial Planning Commission that wouldn't know a good idea if it bit them on their butts.
Willie is still in the world: what fools these mortals be!
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