Please act now, before it's to late (crime, neighborhoods)

[Magritte25]

Originally Posted by roxxy38

I was not referring to this, you misunderstood my post.

Can you clarify because if the point of your post was misunderstood I don't understand how?

[PITTSTON2SARASOTA]

When I was growing up WVIA was very important to me; but for educational programming and "shows the networks were afraid to air". I watched PBS more than the network channels. I grew up in a poor family and even when cable arrived my father would not pay for it. My point is we can use educational television, without alot of commercial bias(network TV). Many poor but otherwise smart and worthy children will at least have access to "quality" television, and excellent children's programming; even if their family does not have cable...we already drastically cut PBS funding once in the past. Long live National Geographic....LOL.

[Magritte25]

Originally Posted by PITTSTON2SARASOTA

When I was growing up WVIA was very important to me; but for educational programming and "shows the networks were afraid to air". I watched PBS more than the network channels. I grew up in a poor family and even when cable arrived my father would not pay for it. My point is we can use educational television, without alot of commercial bias(network TV). Many poor but otherwise smart and worthy children will at least have access to "quality" television, and excellent children's programming; even if their family does not have cable...we already drastically cut PBS funding once in the past. Long live National Geographic....LOL.

Exactly. I'm wondering if some people think we should cut funding to public libraries, museums, parks, and other venues that serve the community at large?

[PITTSTON2SARASOTA]

Originally Posted by Magritte25

Exactly. I'm wondering if some people think we should cut funding to public libraries, museums, parks, and other venues that serve the community at large?

Let's hope not. These public services are essential for a thriving culture and help to "even" out income disparities. The people least able to fight back are always the first ones affected by the budget chopping block...like our elderly,disabled or economically disadvantaged citizens.

[Magritte25]

Originally Posted by PITTSTON2SARASOTA

Let's hope not. These public services are essential for a thriving culture and help to "even" out income disparities. The people least able to fight back are always the first ones affected by the budget chopping block...like our elderly,disabled or economically disadvantaged citizens.

Yep...another thing that enhances the area but costs taxpayers money? Luzerne County Community College. That is a great asset to the community in so many ways.

I always have to scratch my head and wonder why it is always the programs that help the disadvantaged (whether it be elderly, mentally/physically disabled, economically disadvantaged, etc) are the first to go in budgets and also raises such ire in people. I don't get it.

[DavidWebb]

Originally Posted by KarenRice

It wasn't that hard to figure out - I clicked on the link and then saw a link that said "Help WVIA." I then surmised that this was the subject of the thread.

I didn't know it was requirement to be psychic on the NEPA board!! I wasn't the only one a little confused as to what we were supposed to see when clicking on the link. Outthebackdoor could've posted it for a show that's being featured or some other event. Next time we should all ask for your divine intervention!!

[returningtonepa???]

Originally Posted by go phillies

If you don't think those things (and worse) happen in other areas, you're delusional.

Loss of WYOU we still have 2 newscasts, and WYOU was a repeat of WBRE's news anyways----most areas have more than 2 major news stations

-Loss of ONLY Metropolitan News Chopper doesn't affect my life much, but its more a result of the economy and fuel prices than anything-----a tv chopper can be used for med emergencies and tracking criminals during a chase or getting to an important story when roads are impassable

-Impending Loss of WVIAonce again, economy-----when u lose a station that offers such a wide cultural community you are being unfair to an areas taxpayers


-No Verizon Fios Serviceand this matters, why? most of America, outside of major metro areas do not have this service-----most of america does have vios and has hadit over 5 yrs--it's cheaper and more reliable

-Judges Getting Paid to Put Kids in Prisonnow this is an embarrassment--agree

-Teachers Paying For Their Jobsonce again, an embarrassment, but probably not unique to NEPA----does NOT OCCUR ELSEWHERE

-Lack of Internal Control in Professional Settings (i.e. Debit Card Scandal, Scranton Single Tax Office Scandal, etc.) corruption, an embarrassment, but politics are corrupt everywhere-----corruption and embezzelment probably lead the country here---especially for the small area that is covered

-High Alcoholism/DUI, Smoking, Obesity (and Correspondingly) Cancer RatesAgree that its a problem, but not unique to NEPA, and I really don't care if people smoke/drink, as long as they don't blow it in my face or get behind the wheel of a car while drunk----again--large amt of smoking,big acceptance of public drunkenness seem to be on a high level here for such a small area

-Low Educational AttainmentI disagree, most people I went to high school with went to college, but the lack of jobs drove them away---i believe in this area either finances or poor high school prep keep the numbers down--the state tuition here is 4x that of most southern states

-Debbie Downersyou sound like quite the "Debbie Downer" about NEPA yourself anymore....hypocrisy, anyone?----he's just discovering that there is so much more outside the valley

-Higher Homicide Rate in 2009 Than Many Major U.S. CitiesThis is contained to Wilkes-Barre, the rest of the area is Mayberry compared to most comparable areas-----disagree----but again numbers of murders disproprtionate to the area covered

-Rain, Rain, RAIN!I don't think we get much more rain than anywhere else....its not the Pacific Northwest-----this area gets more rain than fla during and after a hurricane or tropical storm

-Gay-BashingNo more than anywhere else, I know and work with many out-of-the-closet gays who are not treated any differently than anyone else....maybe you were picked on high school for being gay, but lets be honest, that was high school and kids will look for any reason to pick on people, don't label the adult population as "gay bashers."---being in the closet more acceptable here

-Lack of White-Collar Opportunityagreed on this one--ditto

-Provincialism/Anti-Transplant Aurathis is due to many transplants being the criminal drug dealing type, most people here are not against transplants who are decent people who come here for the right reasons--we do but we still are not well accepted--even if you were born and raised here!

-Oppressive Taxesagreed, but I hear places like NJ are a lot worse...I do know that Philadelphia is much worse for taxes than NEPA----taxes areless in south

-Binge Drinking at Dive Bars/High School Football is "Culture" there is a bit much of the binge drinking culture here, but corner bars and high school football are some of the things that give the area some personality, its kind of refreshing in a small-town sort of way----like the corner bars but the large amt of intoxication reminds one of people still in high school mode where there is no fun without getting drunk

-Elderly Populationare you against the elderly or something? Should we ship them off to homes so we don;t have to look at them? And you look down on "gay bashers," yet you bash the elderly?----hate to tell swb but we baby boomers are getting old and we r everywhere

-Indifference to Severe Urban Sprawl IssuesI'll agree here, but look out your window, the DC area is a sprawling suburban hell----ditto

-Crumbling Infrastructureagreed--ditto

-Apathy Towards Historic Preservation, Smart Growth, Mass Transit, and Other Proper Long-Term Planning Initiativesapathy towards historic preservation? Scranton and Wilkes-Barre have done a much better job at preserving their historic architecture than most cities-----ditto

-Polluted Waterwayswe've come a long way since the old days of needing a tetanus shot if you fell in the Lackawanna River....the river these days is pretty clean and great for fishing-----the susquehanna looks as dirty as the mississippi and sometimes stinks----noticed that while driving thru pittston one nite----still wouldn't want to get wet from it

If you don't think those things (and worse) happen in other areas, you're delusional. -----


bad things do happen in other areas---but when there are more positives than negatives in an area the bad things fade into the background

pa under rendell seems to be going backwards

[PITTSTON2SARASOTA]

Originally Posted by Magritte25

Yep...another thing that enhances the area but costs taxpayers money? Luzerne County Community College. That is a great asset to the community in so many ways.

I always have to scratch my head and wonder why it is always the programs that help the disadvantaged (whether it be elderly, mentally/physically disabled, economically disadvantaged, etc) are the first to go in budgets and also raises such ire in people. I don't get it.

They "pick on" those groups because it is easier, you do not upset the majority and because they cannot fight back. A society or country is always judged and remembered by how it treated its "weakest citizens"; we are not doing too well. I think many people are against the programs you mention because they see it as "socialism"; I see it as the RIGHT thing to do.....everyone deserves to share at least somewhat, the wealth that we as one society create. You CANNOT have any rich people without a whole lot of "little people" to take advantage of. Some people are adamant about this sharing issue but as stated who really needs the other party more....rich or poor. Well you cannot have one without the other. Time to let go...time to share as one society. PS I do NOT believe in a totally socialist state by any means.....just more like Europe...LOL...

[Magritte25]

That's how I feel as well P2S. I totally agree with everything you wrote!

[KarenRice]

Originally Posted by DavidWebb

I didn't know it was requirement to be psychic on the NEPA board!! I wasn't the only one a little confused as to what we were supposed to see when clicking on the link. Outthebackdoor could've posted it for a show that's being featured or some other event. Next time we should all ask for your divine intervention!!

So problem solving involves psychic powers? LOL Give me a break. I guess you're used to being spoon fed everything and not a fan of figuring things out for yourself? ROFL