A friend told me this is the best idea he has heard of in a long time: “Members of Congress should be required to wear uniforms just like NASCAR drivers, so we could identify their corporate sponsors.”

That reminded me of the time I suggested all school administrators should wear signs like some semi tractor-trailer rigs display: “Call (this number) if you question my driving” or something close to that.

The drivers are out there doing a tough job under difficult circumstances and not at all embarrassed.

Of course, suggesting public school administrators wear signs listing their job title and salary was a bit different.

Not everyone was pleased to read that, and I can understand why.

The Mower County Jail and Justice Center project is the most-talked about subject anywhere.

A petition was filed by citizens and Minnesota statutes are being scrutinized.

Earlier this week, a man came into the Austin Daily Herald with his wife to announce their golden wedding anniversary.

We got to talking and he brought up the jail and justice center project. He said, “I think it’s a good thing, and we need it.”

I haven’t heard a taxpayer’s words of support for the project since I-don’t-know-when.

I thanked the man for his opinion and congratulated the couple on their wedding anniversary.

Personally, I wouldn’t believe everything you read in the newspaper about the jail and justice center project.

It’s just too confusing.

What I would like to see on the Mower County courthouse lawn are two of those thermometer signs like they use to measure how the United Way fund drive is going.

One would measure how much money is being spent on the jail and justice center project and the other would measure how much property taxes are going up.

To be fair, another one could measure what the budget estimates were and how actual expenses stack up.

Maybe another thermometer could show how crime is going up.

Let the facts speak for themselves.

Speaking of invaluable information, another friend with obviously too much time on his hands sent me this:

At five minutes and six seconds after 4 a.m. on the 8th of July this year, the time and date will be 04:05:06 07/08/09.

This will never happen again.

Another reader — Yes, more than two people read this column — sent me an article on retirement.

The article from the St. Petersburg Times appeared in the Business Section and asked readers for ideas on “How Would You Fix the Economy?”

One reader wrote:

“Dear Mr. President,

Patriotic retirement: There are about 40 million people over 50 in the workforce. Pay them $1 million apiece severance with the following stipulations:

1) They leave their jobs. Forty million job openings — Unemployment fixed.

2) They buy new American cars. Forty million cars ordered — auto industry fixed.

3) They either buy a house/pay off their mortgage — housing crisis fixed.”

And, of course, Happy Easter all!