Letter: What was I thinkin’

Like the Dierks Bentley song “What was I Thinkin’?”, when I said the State’s politicians have seen the light about the Mid-States Corridor; and, “What was I Thinkin'” when I said we were winning the Corridor fight; or, “What was I Thinkin'” when I said the people of Indiana are opposed to the Corridor project; or even, “What was I Thinkin'” when I said the Cabal was worried.

Well, I was thinking that common sense and a sense of community would be strong enough to stop and end the ill-conceived Mid-States Corridor project. I may have been too optimistic and hadn’t removed my rose colored glasses. Can Mike Braun and his cohorts defy the will of the people? I’m starting to believe he can; and, this makes me feel angry to realize that no matter what the people want, there will always be people who will tell lies and are out for only their own personal interests.

We all know people like this and we all know that Hank Menke, Mike Braun, Mark Schroeder, Ken Mulzer, Mark Messmer and others are that way, what I didn’t realize is that the Jasper City Council and the Huntingburg City Council were as well. I know, there will be some folks who say “what proof do you have?”. The only proof anyone needs is the fact that the City Councils will not vote to exit the Mid-States Corridor RDA. Why is that? Do they no longer respect (or fear) Bob Pfister, Maggie Marystone, Rob Kendall, Tom Bartelt, Jason McCoy or the Property Rights Alliance (PRA)? If this is true then “they” really don’t care what their constituents are saying.

I see the yard signs, billboards, stickers on cars, people wearing STOP THE CORRIDOR t-shirts, hats and buttons. If they can’t see all this then they are either blind or indifferent. This being said, how do we make them see and become aware? It would be helpful if they would speak out, one way or the other, at all the town halls, council meetings, Commissioners meetings, or attend PRA meetings. It would also help if we the people would press them at every opportunity at every function they attend and to constantly bombard them by text messages, e-mails, snail mail and yes, even phone calls.

We must bring pressure to bear on every local politico as well as as many of the statewide politicians. It doesn’t matter where in the state they live, the Mid-States Corridor will have an effect on them and their constituents. They must be reminded that their roads are not being repaired because INDOT is refusing to reinstate the over 300 canceled projects because they need/want the money for the boondoggle called the Mid-States Corridor.

What I’m thinkin’ now is that we must do more. We have done all we can here at home. It’s now time we go to Indianapolis and make our case to the people of the state. What better place to do that but at the Indiana State Fair. If we can make it there we will have a good chance to beat the Cabal. Let’s not waste the State Fair. It’s the perfect place to wear our t-shirts, hats and buttons. Maybe we need signs and such saying “Ask me about the Mid-States Corridor” or, “Ask me about why INDOT is not fixing YOUR roads” or even “Ask me why the Governor wants a private 4-lane highway”.

The heat must be turned up on our elected officials. They must be told that we can and will replace them with anti-Corridor people if they don’t start supporting us. They must be made to feel uncomfortable, and they must start voting to end the Mid-States Corridor and its RDA. And, they must do it now.

Jim Arvin
Rutherford Township
Martin County

 To clarify, this is not Mr. Jim Arvin of Jasper, the former CEO of Jasper Desk.