Skepticism is often confused for cynicism, but the resistance that Quad City SoundBoard is running into seems to genuinely fall into the latter category.

SoundBoard, which was born roughly two years ago but has only solidified its organization over the past six or seven months, is a grassroots attempt to promote the local music scene. The group aims, said Vice President Tim Hobert, "to create a resource for the Quad Cities music community."

In an election year, it is no surprise that the dial is turned up on the political rhetoric. But this year it is different, more exaggerated perhaps, because the stakes are so high.

I would characterize the difference in terms of party hostility. Both parties' participation in name-calling, derision, and personal attacks on opponents seems at an all-time vicious high. More important, however, is the lack of even the simplest debates on issues. The underlying cause is that both parties are in indefensible positions.

Davenport could receive $1 million to help establish ferry service below Lock & Dam 15 between Davenport and Rock Island, as a component of the city’s River Vision plan. The Scott County Affordable Housing Grant Pool & Revolving Loan Fund is also poised to receive a $300,000 grant to provide support to modest-income families to buy their own homes and to support multifamily housing. Both of these projects are part of a $5.1-million grant to support eastern Iowa transportation, economic revitalization, and housing initiatives that was included in the Fiscal Year 2007 Transportation, Treasury, Judiciary, Housing, & Urban Development appropriations measure recently passed by a Senate committee. Both the House and full Senate must approve the measure before it becomes law.

Davenport's opulent "Barley Corn Hall" was built with only two years' proceeds from the notorious saloon/brothel "sin tax" in 1895. The marble plaque in the lobby immortalizes the mayor (former saloon association lawyer/lobbyist), police chief (licensed two brothels in his wife's name), and Alderman Malloy (broke the nose and ribs of a citizen who criticized the council for selling out).