August 16, 2007
Who, exactly, was Gary Whisnant addressing in his letter in Wednesday’s Lenoir News-Topic? And what, exactly, was he trying to say?
I read every word—several times—but the best I could guess, after sorting through all the commas, was that there must be something wrong with anyone who doesn’t dance lock-step behind the “leadership” of Caldwell County’s Board of Commissioners.
Our commissioners work so hard, you know, to get everything just right—including a 22% property tax increase, which Whisnant seemed to think is just fine.
What kind of job does Whisnant have that one-fifth more in property taxes isn’t an issue? If you go outside of relatively prosperous Lenoir and talk to people, you’ll find a great deal of dissatisfaction over the quality of their lives—and the quality of their government.
What I would like to know is this. If these commissioners are so dedicated, and work so hard, why do they need all the “help” they seem to be getting from the two defeated former commissioners and a retired former county manager they’ve hired? It’s really difficult to find something that they’re doing all by themselves!
My contention is very simple. Why do these county commissioners continue to spend tax money they don’t have? Would they spend their own money in the same manner? If they do, they’re headed where they seem to be trying to send the rest of us—to the poorhouse.
What kind of logic is it that leads Mr. Whisnant to believe there’s something errant in the thinking of hard-working taxpayers who disagree with the fiscal management decisions of their elected officials? He all but called those of us who disagree with such a whopping tax increase “ignorant.”
At least, that’s what I thought he was saying through all the commas.
And why didn't he mention that he's the Caldwell County Republican Party secretary?
Whisnant’s logic reminds me of the story about the hole in the White House fence. The “official” put in charge of the repair called in three contractors—one from Florida, one from Tennessee and one from Chicago.
The Florida contractor walked around, took some measurements, did some figuring and told the government man: “That will be $900--$400 for materials, $400 for my crew’s labor and $100 for me.”
The Tennessee guy, likewise, measured and figured, then told the official: “That’ll be $700--$300 for materials, $300 for my crew and $100 for me.”
Finally, the Chicago contractor quickly told the White House aide: “That’s $2,700 and I can start right away.”
Incredulous, the government man said, “How could you give me such an inflated price so quickly and without measuring anything?”
Leaning close, the Chicago fence man whispered: “Easy. I figured $1,000 for me, $1,000 for you, and we’ll hire the Tennessee guy to do the work!”
“Done!” smiled the aide.
I’m hoping our Caldwell County Commissioners aren’t quite this bad. Yet.
Instead of trips to California, though, the commissioners need to visit Kings Creek, Sawmills, Granite Falls, etc., to see elderly people living in oppressively hot homes in scorching mid-August, because they either don’t have air conditioning or they feel they can’t afford to run their window units.
The drought is not as bad for these citizens, because their houses frequently have leaky roofs that they can’t afford to fix.
Or they could visit with folks who have to travel 100 or more miles per day, at erratically high gas prices, because there are so few good jobs here in Caldwell County. Or they could talk with people in two or three part-time jobs, because they can’t find a full-time job.
These folks might give our commissioners a new perspective on how to spend money. Learn to say “no” once in a while!
In the founding document of our country, the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson writes about how government “derives its just powers from the consent of the governed.”
That’s “us,” people! How many of you—certainly not I—actually “consent” to the kind of tax increase these commissioners have just hung on us? What’s in your wallet? Less money, I’ll bet, thanks to your commissioners.
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