Local: Bye bye benefits

I remember in my younger and more naive days, which really wasn’t all that long ago, I believed people only volunteered to serve for their elected capacities. In my mind they received no compensation whatsoever.
Yeah, go ahead and laugh at my childish notions all you want to. I just thought all local politicians were always doing their duty out of the goodness of their hearts from the city officials to the county officials.
Since adulthood, I have come to realize that most elected officials whether in our city, in the state or in Washington D.C., receive some sort of compensation, whether great or small. At the last Stockton Board of Aldermen meeting, I found out that sometimes, the local politicians get benefits too.
Regardless of this fact, which did surprised me, what surprised me even further was how the Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to say goodbye to their benefits to save the city some money.
Note again, that it was unanimous. I would be lying, if I said there wasn’t any discussion over the idea of keeping the benefits or at least keeping them longer to continue to benefit those currently in office, but regardless it was a unanimous vote. 
After starting my job as a full-time journalist about three years ago, I have heard countless comments about how corrupt city, county, state and federal government is and how all they do is spend our hard-earned money. That may be true for some politicians, but I think all in all it's a stereotype we get from movies and television. Of course, I could be wrong when it comes to the big leagues, but I like to believe  it's not true.
I think this move by the Board of Aldermen was a statement that counteracts that stereotype. Would I give up my health care benefits so that my neighbor wouldn't have to pay as many taxes? Honestly, I don't know the answer, but I am glad I don't have to consider it. Health care is already considered something that's important to have, but not as easy or as affordable to get.
I don't know how good the health insurance benefits were for the city officials, or where they each stand financially, but either way, giving up benefits is a move for all the city residents of Stockton.
This is the first time I've felt the need to thank specifically city officials in a column, but here it is: Thanks city officials for proving the stereotype wrong.
It's like we learned as kids, a penny saved is a penny earned.

"I want to discriminate!"

So, I meant to post this a few weeks ago, but you'll have to forgive me, as I have been very busy with my new job.

"I want to discriminate," is the statement some religious nut jobs should have recently been making. Oh wait, they were, just not in so many words.

Springfield recently passed a "non-discrimination ordinance." In a nut shell the ordinance is an addition to a previous one, adding that employers renters etc., can't discriminate based on sexual orientation as well as what was already in place, which notated non-discrimination against race, religion etc. 

I get that religious leaders who have spoken out about this are against it because they believe it demonstrates an allowance for homosexuality. A lot of these churches believe homosexuality to be a sin, because it is preached against in the bible. Accepting it politically, or otherwise, is saying that it's acceptable, but by God's definition (based on the bible), it's not.

I am a religious person, and even I have my limits to where I believe lines should be drawn in politics, morally. I would be lying if I said I felt otherwise, but this ordinance is not one of those times to speak out, in my moral opinion.

I don't care if someone is African American, gay, white, straight, jewish, atheist, southern baptist or Amish. Why should anyone not be able to get a house or get a job based on these above labels? The only reason someone should be denied a job, is if they are truly not qualified, or another candidate is better qualified. The only reason someone should be denied a house, is simply because they don't have the financial qualifications or because there is a proven record of destroying property.

Just because we don't like what someone does, doesn't mean we should decide for them that they should not be able to live down the street from us. No matter what we think or feel, we can't make people be who we want them to be. All we can do is show kindness for other people, inspite of the things that we might believe are faults. I mean, after all, isn't that what Jesus taught? To love one another? It wasn't to love someone only if we think they live their lives to deserve it.