Recent editorials from Kentucky newspapers:
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May 18
The Daily Independent on trusting input from scientists:
In a single day, you might turn on the lights, make coffee, watch the news on a television or other electronic device. You might drive your car to a doctor and receive an injection or have blood drawn for testing. You might mow the yard, text your friend, cook dinner at home or purchase food from a drive-through or carry out. You might even step onto the porch after dark to view the moon and stars or to watch a meteor shower.
Everything we do every day is connected to science. We rely on scientists to develop medicines, surgical techniques, new technology, cooking processes and other inventions to make our lives safer and better.
Many point to biases scientists might have that would cause them to present false information as truth. Primarily, those biases are money and power. A scientist hired by a corporation could be suspected of skewing information to benefit the corporation’s bottom line. A scientist working for the government could provide results hoped for by the powers that be to further his or her career.
While those scenarios are possible, the vast majority of scientists simply search for the truth.
Truth is the foundation of science. Experiments done based on inaccurate information yield useless data.
As nonscientists, it’s difficult to determine the truth about scientific issues. We don’t have the background and education in science to know immediately what is truth. We must rely on other types of research to determine which scientists can be trusted. Much as we decide which doctor to seek treatment from, we must determine which scientists to trust by learning about their education and work history to decide if they’re qualified for the job.
Common sense also comes in handy when trying to get to the truth. After thoroughly researching an issue - or a person - one gains perspective and that allows common sense to become an important judgment tool.
It’s important to listen to the doctors fighting the coronavirus. They are trying to make our lives safer and better. Sometimes the message isn’t what we want to hear, but it is the truth, even if it is evolving daily. If our efforts are not based on the truth, we are unlikely to win the battle.
Online: https://www.dailyindependent.com
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May 18
The State Journal on a local fiscal court’s budget discussions:
In recent weeks we have detected a pattern of indecisiveness by the Franklin County Fiscal Court.
On two important discussions in the past month - temporary “hero pay” for frontline workers and approving the county’s share of the 2020-21 Kentucky Capital Development Corp. budget before a May 15 deadline - leaders have talked a lot but done nothing.
At the height of the coronavirus pandemic in mid-April, the court elected not to vote on a short-term $2 per hour pay increase for essential county employees - such as firefighters, inspectors, animal control, deputy jailers and deputy sheriffs - who are at a higher risk of exposure to COVID-19. Salaried deputy coroners would have received a $50 per week stipend.
The pay bump would have been for 10 weeks and cost the county $155,820. Following a lengthy debate over whose responsibility it was to approve the measure - the court’s or the judge-executive’s alone - leaders eventually had the item removed from the agenda.
Fast forward to May 15, the final meeting for the fiscal court to OK $115,000 in funding for KCDC’s 2020-21 fiscal year budget, of which the city and county pay an equal portion. KCDC President/CEO Terri Bradshaw informed the court that May 15 was the deadline for approval of the KCDC budget - which she presented at the March 26 fiscal court meeting - in order for her board to OK it in time for the next fiscal year.
Magistrates ignored repeated warnings from Judge-Executive Huston Wells and County Attorney Rick Sparks that delaying a vote could cause KCDC to temporarily shut its doors and possibly force the three people on the payroll - Bradshaw, executive assistant Margaret Gray and administrative intern Erin McQueen - to seek unemployment benefits in July.
It’s the same corner the court pinned the agency in last year, which led to employees working despite not being paid until later. With the current coronavirus pandemic, Bradshaw said she will not ask them to do it again. And she shouldn’t have to.
“By continuing to kick the can and pass this down to the end, this lack of action is going to have serious ramifications in this agency and this court. If there’s a problem with (the budget), then fix the problem,” Sparks told the court. We couldn’t agree more.
Sometimes the worst decisions are indecisions.
Online: https://www.state-journal.com
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