I was disturbed by some local news spread throughout our daily paper today.

Consider...

Another short-sighted idea floated by the city council to keep their budget in check follows with complaints by the council that the media doesn't cut them any breaks for their ineptitude in public relations.

I mean, can anyone tell me why Des Moines has such big budget problems?

It's not a rhetorical question; I don't think most of us know the reasons. And I don't see a proactive effort by the city to help citizens understand the big picture.

Man, even Clive is rubbing shit in Des Moines' face. *Clive* -- the little suburb that could... host a lot of meatmarket bars and a slew of beige houses.

Anyway, I guess today was another reminder to me that, without cooperation, everybody's going to lose.

And this applies as narrowly or as broadly as you want to take it... community, state, nation and world.