Some outside-the-box ideas to consider

OK, the problem here in Iowa is none of our policy makers ever thinks outside the box. So I'll be the first Iowan to start the process. You may get a laugh out of these proposals, but are they more ridiculous than what has been going on around here lately?

First, let's start a new form of gambling, where the legal tender will be returnable bottles and cans. Older Iowans love gambling and I see an awful lot of them picking up returnables in ditches throughout Iowa. So we turn Westdale Mall into a returnables casino. Then everybody can go there and smoke.

Second, let's locate the city offices and the county offices on top of Mount Trashmore. We can use the methane to run them both off the grid. We can build it to look like a huge medieval European castle, all dark and imposing. Then we can give those Hollywood types lots of our tax money to come here to make films and buy new fancy cars.

Plus, as an added bonus, the powers that be will feel safer all up in their fortress away from us peasants.

What's that you say? You're afraid that might cost lots of tax money? I'm sure that I-Jobs and federal energy grants and state urban development and federal urban development and FEMA, well, you get the point.

Brad Shoemaker

Cedar Rapids