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The China Syndrome

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard is leading a delegation to China and Japan in hopes to increase foreign investment in the city.  

While that’s nothing out of the ordinary, there’s a question as to whether the Mayor should be taking his wife along on the junket at the taxpayers’ expense, although he is reimbursing the taxpayers for her flight.

It is a fair question.  Times are tight, so we should all ask how taxpayer dollars are being spent, but I don’t think the Mayor is off-base by taking his wife on this particular trip.  

After all, she is from that part of the world and can offer insight on Asian culture, that if done right can be indispensable.

It would be one thing if this were Brazil or Australia, but this is China and Japan, so why not take someone along who can offer expertise?  

Now if the couple starts globetrotting, then we may need have a talk, probably in several languages.

But until then if Mrs. Ballard can help bring jobs to the city by reminding the delegation of cultural norms and practices, then go for it.

Posted: 11|30|08 at 10:43 am by Abdul Hakim-Shabazz
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  • Clyde
    But here's the problem. She is Filipino, not Chinese, not Japanese. Those are three very different cultures with very different cultural norms. She shouldn't be included, unless every dime is paid for with private dollars. Moreover, didn't previous Mayors use private dollars for their trips?
  • Daw-g
    As long as he's reimbursing the city accounts for his wife's trip...so what? They can go to Disney World in an effort to bring the mouse to Indy for all I care, as long as the city is reimbursed for non-essential personnel going on the trip.
  • Bemused
    Has anyone explained why the Mayor is also taking along one of the police officers who serve as his assistants, to China? Does IMPD have jurisdiction in a communist country on the other side of the world?
  • StatlernWaldorf
    It is a non-issue brought up by the DemocRATS (Oliver) to take focus off of them and the Assessor/Trustee (Center Township) issue. Nothing more, nothing less. Mrs. Ballard's presence as an Asian American can only help with this trip.
  • Greg
    Abdul, thanks again for a thoughtful post. From my own business experiences in that part of the world, he is doing exactly the right thing. In fact, I could even make the case that we should be paying her for her time. We are without doubt having the benefit of her cultural background. Mitch has already shown that visits to this area result in possible business ventures here. Now the far left will bash, but then that is what they do best. If you can't contribute to the general good, then criticize those that do.
  • Shorebreak
    While Bart is over in China courting the communists to invest in Indianapolis, maybe he could present a portfolio of Indy's abandoned properties. Let's make a deal to let the communists buy the properties and become landlords to our less fortunate citizens.
    .
    As I think about it, with China's trillions of hard dollars in their treasury, I imagine that if someone like Bart were to hold the door open to them, they would gladly waltz in.
    .
    Representative government won't be defeated by communism. When the chips are down, our sold-out leadership will sell out to them. This is case in point.
  • Taxpayer 834512
    Hey, but the good news is eating out and roof work is cheaper, while the majority of our young minds are now born into households that depend on a government check. Importing some industry is all we need, right? We're looking fat and sassy for the future, right? Thank goodness there are no fundamentals issues of right and wrong, resonable or excess, spend or sacrifice to address. I can go back to listening to the football game.
  • Flipper
    Shorebreak,
    I believe the Mayor is also going to Japan.
  • Think Again
    Am I missing something--I thought Winnie Ballard was Fillipine-American?

    Not that it matters greatly...the mayor should pay every dime of her expenses if she goes. Period. If she's helpful as a hostess or spouse that's fine. Ballard is an imposing, thoughtful guy, who can be a great ambassador for our city.

    Foreign investment is important, and past trips by mayors form central Indiana have been extremely helpful. If they're properly staffed pre- and post-trip.

    And I'm not that impressed with Ballard's staff thus far.
  • Daw-g
    >et’s make a deal to let the communists buy the properties and become landlords to our less fortunate citizens.

    Hey! Great idea! When the Chi-Coms come swooping in to be landlords to the "less fortunate", maybe I can sell them my rentals for song. I'm tired of renting to the "less fortunate" trash who wind up violating and abusing the home.
    .
  • ProspectorBill
    Wow Abdul,

    I am the least PC person I've ever met and even I find your remark painful. She's from "that part of the world" is akin to claiming "your people" know all about pancake syrup because they're on the bottle.
  • John Howard
    If only Bart Peterson's disbural of $100s of millions had been given the same critical analysis as a few thou for this trip...
  • Mauri
    Shorebreak: For your info, our current Mayors' first name is Greg not Bart. I think that Winnies' presence can be very helpful. Now, if he appoints her to the post of "asian consultant" and includes a large salary, I would consider that as political nepotism. All in all her travel with her husband will be very helpful.
  • Shorebreak
    LOL - Thanks Mauri - I meant to type "Ballard".
    .
    I read an interesting article yesterday - very timely in light of Ballards trip. It was basically about a form of imperialism where rather than invading, corporations have used the IMF to bankrupt countries and then buy out their infrastructure at pennies on the dollar. It looks like the Chinese ar acquiring us in a similar manner, with US officials courting them to invest in our country. China's been assembling a proposal to buy the big three auto makers. I guess it only makes sense that they'd want a solid foothold in states like Indiana. Go Greg?
  • Will anyone be asking this question about Michelle Obama? If not, your question is answered.
  • Think Again
    Mike, nice try, but...the tradition of First Lady of America has a long and legislated budget history.

    First Lady of our fair city--a completely different story.

    Not even in the same ballpark, or zip code...

    Ballard needs to pony up for her travel. It's all quite simple, really.
  • pp
    Does Mitch pony up for the first daughters (and sons-in-law) when they go on state trade missions? I honestly can't remember.
  • Think Again
    Yes, he does. So did Frank O'Bannon for Judy. This really isn't even a close call. Why are we debating it?
  • Winne, no doubt, will be an asset to our Mayor on this trip. She is beautiful, warm, and personable. She'll charm them.
  • firehammersteel
    The Mayor is very concerned that people understand he is paying for the trip. I can tell you that the airfare was $1,400 which seems reasonable for him to pay. Two things: (1) Winnie Ballard is an immigrant from an Asian nation. That is important for other Asians to see. It demonstrates the opporutnities available in this country; (2) the IMPD officer who is with the Mayor is African-American. Look at the Mayor's sign at the airport...it's multicultural. I respect him greatly for practicing what he preaches.
  • good
    Abdul-I have to agree with Clyde's comment. I think your comment of "Asian" culture, assuming in anyway the Philipino, Chinese and Japanese cultures are anymore similar than American, Mexican and Jamaican cultures, sounds very ignorant, of which you are not.

    But, if he is reimbursing for the plane ticket, then I am not sure it is that big of a deal, presumably they will stay in the same hotel room of which he would likely have by himself anyway and likely pay for food. So, probably not a big deal.
  • Bemused
    No offense #20, but unless you are the Mayor's spokesperson, how can you speak on how concerned he is? And its wonderful that the officer is black, but not germane to the original point of Why he/she is going, and at who's expense?
  • firehammersteel
    Bemused. Mrs. #20 is with him.
  • Really
    Abbie,

    Do us/we/citizens a favor. Follow up with this story on January 1, 2009. See if Bart comes through. Unfortunately, little will come of his trip other than visiting his wifes family. Bad karma.
  • Think Again
    Firehammersteel, where did any official report indicate the mayor is paying for some or all of her trip? I'm not saying it's not there, but I just didn't see it.

    Melyssa, I've met every single First Lady of our city since Mrs. Barton. They were all accessible and charming. Let me tell you how the Petersons handled a similar touchy First-Lady-fiscal-impact situation:

    Whilst performing her duties locally, as First Lady, Mrs. Peterson fell off the stage at Clowes Hall, and needed multiple surgeries and therapy to repair her badly-injured shoulder and arm/back. They insisted on personally paying for the transport to and from therapies, and asked how to reimburse the city for her security person during the hospital stay. (I believe it was determined the regular security transport was already budgeted for wherever she went anyway)

    I know of a similar situation regarding travel for the first Mrs. Goldsmith (pre-divorce), and she paid her own way on a foreign trip.

    If Ballard is not paying for his wife's trip, I don't understand it...he's been pretty impeccable on that score since he went into office. It would be uncharacteristically stupid for him to let this kind of thing go...
  • Bart Vlies
    This is a joke. And a junket.

    Actually maybe Ballard should send Winnie instead of himself. I've heard she is actually able to put together a sentence.
  • Bemused
    and once again, why does he need or how can he justify a city police officer accompanying him to a foreign land? I could care less what ethnic group the officer is, as floated earlier to somehow justify a diverse work group as fleecing the taxpayer
  • Taxpayer 834512
    Dunno Bemused. Maybe the norm is haul five guys overseas for security. Maybe zero. What's normal traveling security for a medium-size American city Mayor, trying to harpoon jobs overseas? If we're not giving the security guy a 69% raise, or finding out later that the trip cost millions more than estimated, where at least ahead of the local Somali pirates of Washington Township and Carmel.
  • Taxpayer 834512
    ...estimated, we're at....
  • John Howard
    Well, since Mayor Ballard went on TV and said it himself, that seems like a pretty official and definite that the city is not paying for her fare.

    As to the city policeman/men going with him, you DO realize the Mayor has a 24/7 security detail provided by IMPD don't you? May as well ask why the Secret Service follows the president to other countries.

    While the mayor and his wife are gone, there's probably still two officers per shift on watch at their house.
  • KC
    Give me a break people! So Mayor Ballard took his wife along on a buiness trip. Ed Treacy and Bill Oliver never had anything to say about the millions of dollars of tax credits granted to Peterson's wealthy real estate developers and political cronies while he was mayor. Prime real estate in downtown Indianapolis with no property tax payments for 10 years or more, nor was anything said about the millions in cost overruns that is a future burden for taxpayers.
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