Debit system could teach values

Merry Christmas,

I believe that it is time to begin using our God-given gifts and talents to fix some of the problems we have in our community and create greater opportunity for our people. I mentioned to a brother in our church that I felt that God might have blessed me with the gift of inventions, to which he responded, “Then God must be trying to kill us because some of your ideas are dangerous (laughs). Making that helicopter out of that lawnmower engine was a bit much don’t you think? We’re still getting calls from our neighbors about downed tree limbs in their back yards (laughs).”

Let’s try this: Anybody and everybody who wants to put up money and time (must invest both) can join in and we’ll create the world’s largest water park on the lakefront, create a new ball field for the Lake County Fielders, and create a mono-rail system which goes out to Six Flags and back.

We will keep track of money invested and time invested, but we will also create a money-less debit card system for our students of all ages so they can invest also. Using a loadable card system, the students will earn points for homework, grades, chores, mentoring other students, volunteer work, etc.

Now here’s an even better part: All of the students’ computers, cellphones, video games, television, etc, will also operate off of this card system, which means they have to continue to earn points if they want to use those devices. They learn early on that there is no free ride, but also, they can invest in the new Waukegan Happy Park, via their points investment and time investments.

We can make this happen, it won’t even be that difficult, and I have millions of more ideas to float out there, but this seems like a good starter.

Robert K. Johnson

Waukegan