COMMON SENSE: Changing times

Not too many showed up for the local Occupy Wall Street typerally that took place in Bay Ridge recently. It could have been theweather, or possibly the conflict with the Giants game or morelikely the generally prevailing view that Occupy Wall Street hadalready come and gone.

Frankly, besides a number of disturbing imagines of police andoccupiers fighting and a tent city in Zuccotti Park, I doubt thetwo-month-plus exercise will be remembered for much. Even those whowere originally behind it became disenchanted as downtownbusinesses were hurt, arrests rose and the tent city became oneugly mess.

From the beginning, the protestors were criticized for having noactual agenda beyond complaining that government and the financialcommunity were not responding to calls for reform.

Yet the protestors never actually put forth any specific reforms.They were proud of being an unorganized group of outsiders. Nowthey are just a minor footnote in history, hardly reaching to thelevels of past protest movements that not only were loud but alsosuccessful in bringing about change.

And of course this city and others around the country will not soeasily allow public property to be taken for the exclusive use ofprotestors again. And you can be assured that the Obamaadministration does not want another set of protests as a backdropfor his re-election come next fall.

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The 101st birthday of President Ronald Reagan is just around thecorner. During the centennial of his birth, we were reminded of themany important things he did to restore America’s faith in itselfand to assert America’s leading role internationally.

We were also treated to many stories about the man, his humor,good-natured character and strong, consistent belief in the valuesand freedoms we hold dear.

Ronald Reagan was a great president. His legacy is just nowentering into current texts used to instruct our youth about ournation’s history. Ronald Reagan’s 101st birthday and February,President’s Month, is the perfect time to talk a bit to youngpeople about a president of whom many adults have first-handmemories.

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Fort Hamilton Army Base Commander Gould as well as the localCitizen’s Committee for the fort headed by Bill Guarinello havesuggested some innovative proposals that would help protect thebase against any future attempts by the federal government to phaseit out.

Central to the effort would be the relocation of other federalsecurity-type agencies to the base. Essentially the military wouldact as a landlord to functions such as homeland security and theFBI, to name two.

The base is a super-secure location with ample grounds and support.And since some of the functions would be moved from super-expensiveprivately rented space, the taxpayers would also realize asavings.

The proposals are just that at present – proposals. Nevertheless,it is never too early to push a good idea forward.