Pedaling together

From a friend I received note of a feel-good story that, upon reflection, I fear is emblematic of what concerns me most about the near future of our country.

The story: Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced what he called a "sea change" in transportation policy. On his blog, he wrote, “People across America who value bicycling should have a voice when it comes to transportation planning. This is the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized.”

Want a coke with that?

It’s a scene I’ve seen played out thousands of times.

“Y’all want something to drink?”

“Yeah, gimme a coke.”

“What kind?”

“Dr Pepper.”

What have they done now?

Not one to keep up with what’s going on in the private worlds of entertainers, athletes, politicians and other superstars, I might have been the last one here to get word about the release Tuesday of the tell-all book, “Oprah: A Biography.”