He lives in Oklahoma. His age is the least of his problems.

Man.. losing your Mayor's office to a kid. That bad, man.

Muskogee is a strange little town. I lived there for 4 months after hurricane Katrina. It's a remarkably liberal place for OK. Far more so than Tulsa. I hope the kid does alright

submitter: He can pass laws but he can't drink

Something tells me that this problem is self-rectifying.

/probably not, but it's what came to mind

I don't see how people can fall for this sh*t. He's 19. He has no experience at anything, let alone managing a 38,000 person city. Does he know how to deal with municipal codes; police order; city taxes; financial management; zoning; attracting business; school boards, etc.,...? Or does he plan to learn as he goes?

There are positions in which the advisers and counsel to the office are available and at the ready to guide people through. A mayor of a city with that population doesn't have the resources. He might want the press, the vanity of the position on a resume, but ultimately- he has no idea what the hell he's doing.

Running for office is easy, maybe even fun sometimes; but the execution of that office is important, and shouldn't be treated like a f*cking MySpace hierarchy of friends.

I think his platform was probably "too young to be corrupt-yet"

CtrlAltDelete: I don't see how people can fall for this sh*t. He's 19. He has no experience at anything, let alone managing a 38,000 person city. Does he know how to deal with municipal codes; police order; city taxes; financial management; zoning; attracting business; school boards, etc.,...? Or does he plan to learn as he goes?

well, if he was the most qualified person seeking the job...

corgic: Muskogee is a strange little town. I lived there for 4 months after hurricane Katrina. It's a remarkably liberal place for OK. Far more so than Tulsa. I hope the kid does alright

Yes, contrary to popular belief, they actually DO smoke marijuana there.

He's taking the jobs people who know better won't do.

Dread Pirate Slasher: Yes, contrary to popular belief, they actually DO smoke marijuana there.

That is true. And Willie plays there every year.

I wonder what he's majoring in in college...

I guess the sheriff won't arrest the mayor for drinking. I think he's found a great way to solve that problem.

He's welcome to have some beer at my house ... so long as he sleeps over.

/I meant that in an entirely platonic way.
//Really!

CtrlAltDelete: I don't see how people can fall for this sh*t. He's 19. He has no experience at anything, let alone managing a 38,000 person city. Does he know how to deal with municipal codes; police order; city taxes; financial management; zoning; attracting business; school boards, etc.,...? Or does he plan to learn as he goes?

What experience can you have being a mayor prior to doing it? Maybe running a business, but even that is a poor direct substitute. As long as he played lots of SimCity I think he's fine.

I support him one-hundred percent. The new generation is poised to fix the mistakes of the old and this is a good first step. I myself, only 18, am working as a political advisor for a state representative's election campaign.

/PAOC for Iowa 3

Any legally mandated age limit over 18, aside from the Constitutional ages specified for Senator, Rep., Pres/VP, and SCOTUS justice, should be struck down as a violation of the equal protection clause.

Shaggy_C: What experience can you have being a mayor prior to doing it? Maybe running a business, but even that is a poor direct substitute. As long as he played lots of SimCity I think he's fine.

I think holding other offices such as county commissioner, school board or town trustee to see the inner-workings and necessity of the job for a couple terms could provide such experience. But that's just me. I would rather have someone who knows what they're doing, rather than simply disagree with how things have been done.

Falcc: I support him one-hundred percent. The new generation is poised to fix the mistakes of the old and this is a good first step. I myself, only 18, am working as a political advisor for a state representative's election campaign.

I giggle at crap like this, bucause it's exactly how I felt when I was 18. Good for you, Falcc. You should be full of piss and vinegar at that age. However, you are not going to "fix the mistakes of the old". You're going to discover that what you thought were mistakes weren't really mistakes after all, for the most part.

You'll also discover that negotiation and compromise are what makes the world go around. And in compromising, you'll find that you give up a bit of your idealism, but you get shiat accomplished. But keep on striving. Us "old guys" know how you feel. But you'll grow out of it when you mature and learn.

The OK mayor - I bet there's a recall in a year.

Why do you think he wanted to become Mayor? Cops will be too afraid to cite him for underage drinking.

How many 19 year olds don't drink?

CtrlAltDelete: I don't see how people can fall for this sh*t. He's 19. [snip]
Running for office is easy, maybe even fun sometimes; but the execution of that office is important, and shouldn't be treated like a f*cking MySpace hierarchy of friends.

And what, you're implying that if he'd been 40 somehow everything would have been different? That maybe a 40-year-old wouldn't have pandered to his "hierarchy of friends" in the business community or the local courthouse? Or that perhaps when you're 19 you're less intelligent and can't figure out what's going on as fast as when you're 40?

Mayor of some hick town in OK is not running the county. If it's like around here, it's not much more than an honorary post; the City Council does most of the heavy lifting. He'll get the sense knocked into him fast and will spend the rest of the time meekly signing his name and turning the council meetings over to the treasurer-secretary. Who knows? He might even do a good job.

But why you think that 19 is in some way more stupid or feckless than the average 40 year old who runs for mayor I can't imagine. Most of the middle-aged people I know have convinced me the reverse is true.

CtrlAltDelete: I don't see how people can fall for this sh*t. He's 19. He has no experience at anything.

I dunno. We keep electing the same douche-bags to Congress each year. So age and wisdom do not always go hand-in-hand

Rodeodoc: Falcc: I support him one-hundred percent. The new generation is poised to fix the mistakes of the old and this is a good first step. I myself, only 18, am working as a political advisor for a state representative's election campaign.

I giggle at crap like this, bucause it's exactly how I felt when I was 18. Good for you, Falcc. You should be full of piss and vinegar at that age. However, you are not going to "fix the mistakes of the old". You're going to discover that what you thought were mistakes weren't really mistakes after all, for the most part.

You'll also discover that negotiation and compromise are what makes the world go around. And in compromising, you'll find that you give up a bit of your idealism, but you get shiat accomplished. But keep on striving. Us "old guys" know how you feel. But you'll grow out of it when you mature and learn.

The OK mayor - I bet there's a recall in a year.

Hey, whatever you say grandpa. Heh, I keed.

But seriously, while I realize that progress isn't as simple as I'd like to believe it is, being young and full of idealism as I am, at this point there really aren't a lot of other options than TRYING to change things. I'm not saying Baby Boomers are the root cause of all the latest evils of the world, but it's clear that a lot of short term planning has superceded the long term for a long time in this country. On a national level, a state level, and even a city level governments have been knee-jerking and pandering. Political discourse is at an all time low-level, literacy's free-falling, inflation's rising, our global relationships are turning sour, everything's shot to hell. You, as a generation, certainly aren't going to fix it. Sure, social security is pissing away my future but doesn't that check look tempting?

Now, you're free to say generation Y has just as many screw ups as the boomers, but we've also seen that their attention span is too short for them to vote. So we've got that going for us. Weeding out the ranks a bit.

Also, negotiation and compromise haven't exactly been the order of the day lately. I'd say we're swinging back that way, however, as a new group of voters seems to be showing age is not the best indicator of maturity.

That's not to say you aren't neccisarily right, but I'm too young to be as cynical as I am, much less more so. I'm evening it out with some enthusiasm

Gyrfalcon: And what, you're implying that if he'd been 40 somehow everything would have been different? That maybe a 40-year-old wouldn't have pandered to his "hierarchy of friends" in the business community or the local courthouse? Or that perhaps when you're 19 you're less intelligent and can't figure out what's going on as fast as when you're 40?

Mayor of some hick town in OK is not running the county. If it's like around here, it's not much more than an honorary post; the City Council does most of the heavy lifting. He'll get the sense knocked into him fast and will spend the rest of the time meekly signing his name and turning the council meetings over to the treasurer-secretary. Who knows? He might even do a good job.

But why you think that 19 is in some way more stupid or feckless than the average 40 year old who runs for mayor I can't imagine. Most of the middle-aged people I know have convinced me the reverse is true.

I concede that there are probably many 40 year olds that may be just as bad if not worse in their knowledge of local government who run and get elected.

I'm saying this:

Let's say there is a city in transition; a city that has the land and the opportunity to import business and growth. There are already a few factories in this city with thousands of total workers. There are other towns with tax incentives and the networking capable of moving a business from one town to another. Is this 19 year old mayor going to understand the complexity of such a situation or will it have to be taught to him? Will he understand the consequences of development; the increase of a tax base and its benefit to local infrastructure and schools? Will he know how to pull it off?

People's jobs are on the line. The sustainment of emergency services isn't easy. Making sure fire, EMS and police have the resources they need is difficult. It's one thing if it's a small, less than 800 population town and the mayor's job is nothing but rubberstamping the decisions of a town board; but this is a 38,000 person city. A city with families and jobs.

He is now in a position to either improve the city or f*ck things up for a lot of people.

So imagine yourself at 19 and ask yourself if you would be qualified, honestly, at that age to take on such a responsibility; and not just to take it on for a greater good- but rather to request it from a constituency as a paid gig. You have to convince them you can do it. If you honestly don't think you can do it and you try to convince others you can, that's some hefty dishonesty that can carry some serious consequences beyond embarrassment.

They voted him in, so if/when he farks things up, it's their own damn fault.

CtrlAltDelete: Does he know how to deal with municipal codes; police order; city taxes; financial management; zoning; attracting business; school boards, etc.,...? Or does he plan to learn as he goes?

There are positions in which the advisers and counsel to the office are available and at the ready to guide people through. A mayor of a city with that population doesn't have the resources. He might want the press, the vanity of the position on a resume, but ultimately- he has no idea what the hell he's doing.

Running for office is easy, maybe even fun sometimes; but the execution of that office is important, and shouldn't be treated like a f*cking MySpace hierarchy of friends.



worked for him...

What's his FARK handle?

Good gravy. the dialogue between Falcc and Rodeodoc in this thread reads like a really bad community theater play.

Young'un: I've got some great ideas and a lot o' moxie!
Fogie: You got nothin', idealist whippersnapper! Get off my lawn!

Etc.

*yawn*

We're once again finding out in this election cycle that the generation gap is eternal. Those who thought they were being cutting-edge by saying crap like "don't trust anyone over 30" but are now swapping "over" for "under" are just like every generation before it.

Does it benefit the current younger generation to know that this is nothing new?

Maybe, because it may instill in them the desire to work out some philosophies and policies before they take to the streets and burn their draft cards and bras.

But maybe not, because I remember how I hated to hear empathy from the very group I was trying to subvert.

I hope the former.

They tried something like that with Egwene and now many of them regret it. Wonder which Ajah he would have picked.

This should be interesting to watch. Although people who live in NY or LA would probably basically lump any city smaller than Miami as "puny and unimportant", a city with 38,000 people is fairly large contingent to be overseeing. It isn't like he's running some town of 150 where half the people are old retired farmers and he's just got to keep a few people off lawns.

I know nothing about this town, but, I used to live in Wausau, WI, and, it is around 35-38,000 for the size of the city. And it had a lot of businesses, sizable downtown area, a UW extention school, it is it's own TV market, etc. I just think of someone 19 getting elected mayor there, and, I would have been pretty shocked I think.

/flag flying currently at city hall

il Dottore: They tried something like that with Egwene and now many of them regret it. Wonder which Ajah he would have picked.

Damn, B. That made me laugh HARD.

CtrlAltDelete: I don't see how people can fall for this sh*t. He's 19. He has no experience at anything, let alone managing a 38,000 person city. Does he know how to deal with municipal codes; police order; city taxes; financial management; zoning; attracting business; school boards, etc.,...? Or does he plan to learn as he goes?

There are positions in which the advisers and counsel to the office are available and at the ready to guide people through. A mayor of a city with that population doesn't have the resources. He might want the press, the vanity of the position on a resume, but ultimately- he has no idea what the hell he's doing.


You realize that by your argument, we should never have elected anyone mayor of anything at any time due to lack of experience. So your logical structure effectively eliminates the office of mayor entirely, making your post entirely irrelevant to the thread.

You learn as you go in the first term of an executive position, wether you're 19 or 91. That's just how it is.

CtrlAltDelete: rant...

TripSixes: CtrlAltDelete: rant...

I meant I agree %100. My puter went all crazy on me and submitted it without me.. like I'd mistakenly hit three keys at once.

Jim_Callahan:

You realize that by your argument, we should never have elected anyone mayor of anything at any time due to lack of experience. So your logical structure effectively eliminates the office of mayor entirely, making your post entirely irrelevant to the thread.

You learn as you go in the first term of an executive position, wether you're 19 or 91. That's just how it is.


Have you ever heard of business school? Program Management?

CtrlAltDelete: I don't see how people can fall for this sh*t. He's 19. He has no experience at anything, let alone managing a 38,000 person city. Does he know how to deal with municipal codes; police order; city taxes; financial management; zoning; attracting business; school boards, etc.,...? Or does he plan to learn as he goes?

There are positions in which the advisers and counsel to the office are available and at the ready to guide people through. A mayor of a city with that population doesn't have the resources. He might want the press, the vanity of the position on a resume, but ultimately- he has no idea what the hell he's doing.

Running for office is easy, maybe even fun sometimes; but the execution of that office is important, and shouldn't be treated like a f*cking MySpace hierarchy of friends.

Alexander the Great ruled a farking empire in his 20's. Give the kid a shot.

Derexan: Alexander the Great ruled a farking empire in his 20's. Give the kid a shot.

So he's going to lead an army to invade Maryland for the chicks?

Rodeodoc: Falcc: I support him one-hundred percent. The new generation is poised to fix the mistakes of the old and this is a good first step. I myself, only 18, am working as a political advisor for a state representative's election campaign.

I giggle at crap like this, bucause it's exactly how I felt when I was 18. Good for you, Falcc. You should be full of piss and vinegar at that age. However, you are not going to "fix the mistakes of the old". You're going to discover that what you thought were mistakes weren't really mistakes after all, for the most part.

You'll also discover that negotiation and compromise are what makes the world go around. And in compromising, you'll find that you give up a bit of your idealism, but you get shiat accomplished. But keep on striving. Us "old guys" know how you feel. But you'll grow out of it when you mature and learn.

The OK mayor - I bet there's a recall in a year.

Right, because politicians compromise? They've shown an unwillingness to back down from the game of namecalling and grandstanding to get things done.