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Wag the Dog

Why does a dog wag its tail? Because a dog is smarter than its tail. If the tail was smarter, the tail would wag the dog! An old joke that applys to today.

Fresh Start on Wag the Dog

By Bryan Maersch
Monday, Feb 18 2008, 05:15 PM

This is fresh start, on a new blog, with a new name, that WILL NOT contain the nastiness that has been seen on FranklinNOW in the past.

 I do want to start out with an apology to Greg Kowalski of FranklinNOW, as I know he feels I have offended him in the past with references to his family or person in my past blogs under a different blog name.

  • This does not mean future blogs may not be critical of opinions stated in Greg Kowalski’s, Kevin Fischer's or any other blogs on the CommunityNOW. However  I do not intend on posting any hurtful nicknames to those with opposing views. 

  • I have learned how to credit other writers when using their writings to stress a point that I wish to communicate to readers.  Some have called it plagiarism; I call it a beginner bloggers error. I will not make that mistake again.

  • I still believe in and will blog about, the improvements the School Board needs to make to regain the trust of the Franklin Residents.  In what I write, I hope to encourage fiscally conservative individuals to run for School Board to replace the current members that do not fit these criteria.

  • I still believe the current City Council is one of the best we have had in a long time. They are not perfect, but have done much more than past administrations  and the current School Board in trying to keep our taxes in line, despite the issues we face as a growing city.

  • I still believe that Franklin has a chance to continue with its development without being dictated to by developers.  But given that developments are money making propositions, Franklin can not throw up too many roadblocks that will send the developers to other communities instead of ours.

  • I still believe that what is now the so called Civic Center does not have to be our Civic Center just because we have our City Hall and Police Center in that location.  If we have gotten ourselves into a predicament that we can not legally get ourselves out of, a plan B location should be considered.  

  • I still believe that Franklin is a basically good place to live in but has a long way to go.  That we can not waste our time with those who are trying to make us something we are not, “The North Shore” because we are better.

  • I still believe there are those that do not live here in Franklin and wish to meddle in our city’s issues. We need to ignore them because they are insignificant and don’t belong here.  I will not tolerate their nasty comments. Hence a delay in posting your comments.


So I still believe there is room for my opinion on FranklinNOW.

Thanks

Bryan Maersch

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Comments

Kevin Fischer   

So, correct me if I'm wrong, Bryan......if someone comments on your blog that I am a liar and racist and does it more than once, you will do the responsible thing and not leave such nasty, false remarks on your blog for say....oh, I don't know....several weeks???

February 18, 2008 5:27 PM

Bryan Maersch   

That is 100% correct Kevin.

Much like several of the other bloggers, I have chosen not to publish comments immediately. I feel this has led to a vicious chat room style of comment section. I know that our friend and FranklinNOW blogger Marjorie Pagel keeps control of her comments in this manor and so does NewBerlinNOW blogger Linda Richter.

February 18, 2008 5:37 PM

franklinresident   

Welcome back Bryan!

I could not agree more with the last two bullet points.

As a lifelong "FranklinResident" the last thing I want to see is Franklin becoming anything like “The North Shore”.

I also agree that people who don't live in Franklin should not be meddling in our city's issues.

February 18, 2008 5:47 PM

Janet Evans   

Good luck to you with your fresh start, Bryan.

February 18, 2008 6:06 PM

Scott Thinnes   

Hey Bryan. Welcome back.

February 18, 2008 6:21 PM

Fred Keller   

Bryan, for the record:

Are you an aide for any elected government official(s), and have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?

February 18, 2008 6:33 PM

Fred Keller   

Oh, yeah, WELCOME BACK!

February 18, 2008 6:34 PM

Cindy   

Well, let the party begin.

February 18, 2008 6:37 PM

J. Strupp   

Excellent start Bryan.  Good luck to you.  

February 18, 2008 7:31 PM

Bryan Maersch   

Fred - The commies wouldn't have me. The only aide I have provided for an elected official is Koolaide and it did not come from Jonestown.

Thanks, F.R., Janet, Scott, and Josh.

Cindy - I hope your comment means that you will behave yourself. If not I will ask you not to comment.

February 18, 2008 8:52 PM

Kevin Fischer   

Bryan, you're not an aide to an elected official.

So if you jaywalk, it is not a criminal offense. And you still keep your First Amendment Rights.

Aides to elected officials......well that's a different story. You better be cleaner than the Pope. And nicer than Barney.

Because you're not a legislative aide, you can respond to vicious attacks against you. You're lucky. Aides to elected officials are supposed to be dumped on, but not respond back.

Again, I wish you the best in your return.

February 18, 2008 9:35 PM

Steve O   

That last post isn't 100% true.  Bryan sometimes sits next to me at Technology Commission meetings and lets me know where we are on the agenda, pokes me to shut up and explains some of the more technical issues to me...  Some would call that an aide (or is it aid)?

February 18, 2008 9:57 PM

J. Strupp   

How much taxpayer money do you get paid for your services Bryan?

So if I end every comment with something like, "I wish you the best in your return", can I post any off-topic comment I want here Bryan?

I wish you the best in your return.

February 19, 2008 8:28 AM

Becky   

Kevin Fischer is really playing "the devil on your shoulder," isn't he, Bryan? :)

Don't give in - and welcome back.

February 19, 2008 8:34 AM

Bryan Maersch   

Josh - The answer is,I am an unpaid commissioner on the Technology Commission, just as Greg Kowalski is an unpaid commissioner on the Environmental Commission. You may get as off topic as you want Josh, no need to kiss up, people will perceive you by what you write.

Becky - Kevin Fischer is a friend of mine, I respect that he has opinions that are not necessarily mine. He has written about how useless Smoking Bans are and we have disagreed about that.

Kevin is much more conservative than I am, but that is the way he is and I respect his opinion. If I feel like disagreeing with him on one of his blogs, I will do so.

Kevin has also been on his best behavior even when out of city bloggers have personally attacked him and attempted to get his employment terminated. He has even shown restraint when other FranklinNOW and local bloggers still continue to discredit and attack him.  NOW is the time to stop the bickering. Rid ourselves of those that are attempting to meddle with Franklin and to tell them to stick their noses in their own business.

Thanks for the welcome back. Now lets Wag the Dog.

February 19, 2008 10:02 AM

Scott Thinnes   

Aaaannnndddd there off! I didn't even hear the starter's pistol go off.

Bryan, you may have to start putting people in separate corners of the sandbox already. Whichever corner you send me to... put the Matchbox cars over there too. I don't care about no plastic pails or plastic shovels and rakes, or even that plastic sand sifter thingy. But I want those Matchbox cars to keep me busy.

Again welcome(?) back...and GOOD LUCK!!!

February 19, 2008 10:04 AM

Becky   

My sense is that Kevin has been TOLD to show restraint. And he's chomping at the bit right here in your blog ;).

Your deference toward him is cute, though, even as he hijacks your blog, ignores your admirable intent, and once again makes it all about poor Kevin Fischer.

February 19, 2008 10:26 AM

Mr. Anonymous   

Welcome back, Bryan. I realize I am no longer a Franklin resident, so I'll keep my meddling to a minimum.

I'm very happy to have you back!

February 19, 2008 5:00 PM

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About Bryan Maersch

A former reporter for several local radio stations, Bryan is now a computer geek for a large Life Insurance Company. Bryan decided to join FranklinNOW as a blogger to provide a viewpoint from a realistic Franklin Taxpayer, Dad and Husband. DISCLAIMER: The opinions stated on this blog are those of the writer only and do not reflect or are not connected in any way to his employer.