This New Year, we want to hear even more voices from the community.
So we’re asking all Tracy residents — especially those who haven’t written to the Press before — to share their thoughts in our Voice pages.
We want to know your opinion regarding politics, schools, growth, nonprofits or any other issue that affects the Tracy-area community. And we want to share it with your neighbors.
To make it interesting, we’re offering a prize of $100 to the best letter, as determined by our editorial board.
Letters must be no longer than 300 words, signed and turned into the Tracy Press either via email at tpletters@tracypress.com or at 145 W. 10th St., Tracy, CA 95376.
Select letters will appear in the pages of the Press, and the winner will be revealed in the Feb. 5 edition.
Good luck, and happy writing.
Now, in regard to Mr. Kohn’s book, I am not in full agreement with his thesis, but I am wary of those who would attach a monetary incentive as a motivator of human integrity.
While I haven't personally read Mr. Kohn's book, if I understand you correctly (and that is also questionable) you are saying he is suggesting money as a motivator of human integrity. This is, by definition (in·teg·ri·ty [in-teg-ri-tee]noun 1.adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.) unachievable. You cannot buy integrity. A person either has it or they don't. I also agree with you that submissions to the Tracy Press should be done out of concern for a community issue and NOT because they are asking for it. If it's not a big enough subject to warrant people spontaneously submitting comments on their own, all it will do is prompt people to "go looking" for something to complain about. Lord knows they do that enough as it is! Just my 2 cents......
Any thing may serve as a reward, not just money. I make my bed well because it is my responsibility and the task of doing so is a challenge to, but, also, an expression of my character. We live in a culture where bribery is the strategy employed by all parents to get their children to behave in a particular way. “If you do this, you will get that.” I don’t take this approach. My child will say to me: “Dad, if I do this, may I do that?” But I will say, “No. You will do what is required of you to be a responsible adult. I don’t give you permission to behave poorly, and if you choose to do so, I will not defend (or make excuses for) your actions.” Children truly want to be engaged. Get rid all the life-destroying distractions. Provide them with a learning environment and don’t tell them they may smoke “recreational” marijuana with you when they are eighteen or twenty-one because they earned a G.E.D.
Only thing that scares me are taxes. On the other side of the coin, I have a lot of respect for Condeleza Rice and would vote for her in a heartbeat. She clearly articulates her position does her job in such a way that people respect her because of what she does. That is the way I vote. If it was Condeleza Rice running against Joe Biden I would vote for Condelza because I think she is a better communicator and would make a better president.