Focus will win the day
Simple isn't the product of simpletons.
In fact, the pursuit of simple sometimes requires greater thought and discipline than does the pursuit of complex.
Why get stuck in the mud of complexities with important issues like, nationally, tax reform? Why wallow in the chaos of possibilities with statewide issues including education reform? Locally, why waste valuable time and energy juggling four hefty pins if you're North Idaho College when you can concentrate on one, get 'er done and move on?
We applaud Rep. Raul Labrador for bringing up something many people on both sides of the aisle would celebrate (and no doubt boost the approval ratings of members of both parties): Simplifying the U.S. tax code. Compared to implementing Obamacare and trying to solve all the nation's economic woes, developing a simpler, fairer tax code could be managed with just a little focus and fortitude. Here's hoping our congressman backs up his tax-code concerns with concrete actions.
Before we move on, we want to thank Rep. Labrador for making two public stops in North Idaho and meeting face to face with hundreds of his constituents. Town halls remain a very simple way for elected officials to communicate with the people who employ them, and as we're trying to illustrate, simple can be good.
Despite pushback on Idaho Core Standards, Gov. Butch Otter, Sen. John Goedde, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna and others remain focused on implementing a system intended to increase both performance and accountability in public education. The political fur is flying despite the fact that members of both parties, as well as hordes of the state's proud independents, demand better results from our education system. Idaho Core Standards won't solve all the problems, but we believe they will provide strong steps toward improving the state's last-place national ranking in sending high school graduates to college, and adequately preparing many of the others for actual jobs.
Finally, three cheers to NIC Trustees Christie Wood and Ron Nilson. Last week, Wood and Nilson helped the college, its students and its taxpayers focus on what should be its very highest priority: Expand the college's professional technical training programs and further bridge the broad gap between students and jobs. Do that, NIC, and as Wood and Nilson know, you then can focus better on other prospective construction and expansion projects - but with more goodwill from the community that supports you.
Pretty simple, isn't it?