Resolutions for 2009

A new year for many brings a new resolve and focus for accomplishment.

Losing weight, continuing education, being more active and spending more time with family are all common personal resolutions to make a fresh start. Collectively as a community, the Mat-Su Valley has an opportunity to identify some key areas for improvement. We’ll help get the ball rolling with a few 2009 New Year’s resolutions for the Mat-Su (in no particular order).

MEA follow-through

Substantial change at Matanuska Electric Association began in 2008 with the election of a new board that holds a radically different philosophical outlook for the electricity cooperative. Member-owners wanted change and showed it by seating the new board, and the group has begun initiating a change in management culture at MEA.

For 2009, the board needs to follow through with what it started. Holding management accountable and demanding an open, honest business operation for its member-owners is crucial to turning around an organization that has historically been tight-lipped and secretive. Don’t let up. Management should work to make the board’s vision realized, not the other way around.

Driver accountability

There are many ways anyone with a driver license can improve our increasingly accident-prone highways throughout the Mat-Su. Tougher and more consistent penalties for those who drink and drive is imperative, a subject we editorialized about last week.

What’s equally distressing is the lack of care and patience many drivers exhibit that leads to many unnecessary and tragic accidents. The Palmer-Wasilla Highway has become one of the most dangerous in the state and continues to mount fatalities. Also, this first semester of the current school year has witnessed several collisions with school buses on this stretch of highway.

Although these roads — especially the P-W Highway — are in desperate need of upgrading to handle the growing population of the Valley, nearly all of these tragedies and potential tragedies can be avoided by exercising more common sense behind the wheel.

If you’re impatient and in a hurry, behind the wheel of a speeding vehicle isn’t where anyone should be if they cannot control those urges. Excessive speed for conditions and distractions can, and should be, controlled. We all lead busy lives and depend on our cars and SUVs to get us from Point A to Point B. Fact is, we’re stuck with the roads we have for now. Drive defensively and safely in the new year.

Give Palin-mania a rest

Yes, Gov. Sarah Palin dominated local and national headlines during the presidential election, and rightfully so. But the public’s seemingly insatiable appetite for Palin-related gossip has only ballooned since voters sent her back to run Alaska.

Palin is our governor, and as such deserves to be under the watchful eye of the media and the people she represents. Palin still represents the residents of Alaska and should be scrutinized and examined in that capacity. Her policies and decisions from the state’s highest office demands accountability. She’s a public figure, and that comes with the territory. However, the tabloid nature with which many pursue and exploit our First Family has been a disgusting display of petty mean-spirited, callous vitriol from those who find some sick pleasure in kicking a bulldog when she’s down.

Appreciate what we have

The Valley’s growing and, to some extent, feeling the same economic pinch the rest of America is. But we have much to be thankful for in the Mat-Su. Overall, we’re a warm, caring community that looks out for its own and is never too busy to led a helping hand to those who need it.

Keep it up. Appreciate that we live in one of the most majestic and breathtaking environments on the planet. If you give back, keep it up in 2009. If you don’t, make this the year you add your touches to what makes the Mat-Su an amazing place to live, work and play.