I understand that I have made quite a few enemies with my Tammy's Take. I must confess to my readers that I get pleasure from the very fact that I have cause certain individuals some discomfort. It is my belief that our government and those who have been elected, need to have an eye kept honed in on their decisions and actions, this helps the elected official and appointed government individuals to remain loyal to their constituency, although I must conclude that even with elected officials in the sights of concerned citizens, this is a constant confrontation between the two opposing groups, those who want open government verses those who want closed government.
I have always been in involved in activism, not because I believe that elected officials are all sinister and all will with hold pertinent information from the public, but I do believe that there are instances where elected officials are lets say, less that forthright with the public, less than candid with the news media and just plain sneaky with their decisions, and would rather not be bothered with the public at large. It is easier for the elected officials can carry on business as usual with out having the bothersome questions from the taxpayer/citizens.
For example when I was researching the REDCO boondoggle at the dismay of the Rainier City Administrator and others, I found a written document that stated that the monies collected from USG when it came on line, could be used to pay on the debt owed to USG or the monies could be used at the discretion by the county for other activities, I questioned the verbiage of the document, explaining that the debt should be paid off before doing other projects, and after I brought this to light in a public meeting, the commissioners agreed with me and the verbiage was change. Saving the taxpayers of the county hundreds of thousands of dollars, to the dismay of REDCO.
I expect all elected officials to be loyal to the common populace who have put their faith in these people by electing them to office. I do not expect, nor do I condone any elected official who has no loyalty, to the ordinary person, an elected official who has become a whore to the wealthy or to greedy corporations is not worth spit, and should be voted out of office in an instant. In order to maintain a certain amount of integrity among our ever so easily swayed officials, it at times requires strong willed, outspoken, and diligent persons who are not afraid of public reproach.
The dysfunction that is running rampant in our government can only be stopped if the common person gets involved and demands that issues be decide fairly by the rules and regulations that shall be mandated to all. No exceptions for the rich and privileged. Government agencies shall be run correctly and efficiently. It is not business as usual. Nor should the people of this nation allow business as usual. For the past 7 years we have allowed the Bush administration to corrode our way of life, assault the constitution, and demoralize our nation, wage us into an unjust war, for the sake of a few greedy people, and their corporations. There are some instances in our own local government, such as, not enforcing the Depletion Fee Ordinance, not mandating the Health District to do as the ballot measure was so written. Continuing to charge the taxpayers ungodly amounts in taxes to bail out REDCO, giving out of town contractors jobs that local people could of done, subsidizing corporations by giving away the farm right at the gate. Picking and choosing whom to enforce regulations on, just to name a few.
Some people call me to aggressive, to blunt, to opinionated, and to involved or to passionate over issues in this county. My questions to those of you, that think poorly of me, where are you at meetings? Why haven't I heard you speak for or against issues? These questions are easily answered, it is easier to call other people names rather than getting involved, deep down you really wish that you could speak out on issues, so instead you chastise others who do. I say to hell with your opinion of me. I have been criticized time and time again over my lack of proper sentence structure, so what, I may spell terrible, I may have horrendous punctuation, but at least I have the courage to stand up for issues that I believe in. Courage is something that my critics obviously lack. You are more concerned of what other people think of you instead of standing up for what you believe in.
I will continue to speak out, and stand up for what I believe is right, feel free to criticize me all you want, I relish the idea of a good lively debate, you can eve make it personal as many of you have, I enjoy a good tussle. When you get angry at my writings I have actually won! You have gotten involved in the decision making of our government.