An Ode to the Protection Racket

Political theater and an odious ode praising some local Arkansas state legislators. February 5, 2017

State Rep. Matt Pitsch, a double-dipper and big government disciple apparently thinks the Arkansas Legislators’ protection racket needs some greasing.

In today’s edition of the T.R. , Rep Pitsch politically massages himself, State Senator Jake Files, State Senator Terry Rice, Rep. George McGill, Rep. Charlotte Douglas, & Rep. Justin Boyd.

Out of the six, two are betrayers to their constituencies; that would be Sen. Files & the author, Rep. Pitsch.

When the matter of SJR8 comes to a vote, fondly called Tort Reform, pushed by Republicans for at least 10-12 years, and if passed would destroy Amendment 7 of the Constitution’s Bill of Rights which guarantees the right to trial by a jury of one’s peers, and place that right in the hands of politicians, in this case, those owned by nursing homes, hospitals, medical practices & corporations. A vote FOR SJR8 is a declaration of war against the lives of their Arkansas constituents and overtly giving the finger to our Founding Fathers.

Rep. Pitsch, a double-dipper & a champion of big government. He is employed federally by RITA and the state as a Representative. Where do you believe his allegiances lie? There is room left for his constituents. At the end of his first term he was chosen as the Speaker of the House for his second term which indicates he cut a huge number of spurious deals.

Pitsch alluded to Sen. Jake Files only in terms that Files is Chairman of the Capital’s Senate Revenue Tax Committee. “That means simply he has the opportunity to oversee every dollar the state spends.” What irony. The Senator and a companion recently bankrupted a Fort Smith city project in a cash grant awarded them in the amount of $1.08 million and other financial considerations that were awarded to them for the construction & completion of an 8 field softball complex, replete with amenities. No mention if City Manager Carl Geffken and the City Directors are going to audit Files & Webb, a must. And Files is the Official in charge of spending all state tax dollars!

Files also borrowed some $30,000 from a state lobbyist to cover a hot check and he also tapped what I believe came out of the General Improvement Fund a while back for $1 million plus directed to the nascent Marshal’s Museum (promoted as a “private endeavor”), and the list of nefarious financial ventures (multitudes of failed corporations) continues…all smelling like quid pro quo.

The question in my mind regarding Pitsch & Files, are the voting citizens in their respective districts that stupid?

The jury (non-legislator) is still out on Rice, McGill, Douglas, & Boyd’s stance on the freedom killing Republican Tort Reform bill SJR8. And of course the other two mentioned will fall into this category.

Pitsch’s column is titled, “Area Sees Vital Shift in Leadership”. Other than political massaging and an attempt at cover-up, please tell me Rep Pitsch, why do you feel it necessary to praise yourself and the other 5 in your article, particularly in view of your constituency sell-out? Smells like the proverbial protection racket.

Joe McCutchen
arkansasfreedom.net

Questions for city government

Cover-ups + incompetency = The Fix……Absent transparency February 1, 2017

Fort Smith City Manager, Mayor, City Directors, State Rep. Matt Pitsch and other principals.

City Manager Carl Geffken terminated yesterday the curious expensive contract between the city of Fort Smith and State Senator Jake Files (R) & Democrat Lee Webb pertaining to the building of a softball complex at Chaffee Crossing, which was a good thing and none too soon, but Geffken is sweeping away this mess in typical government fashion. If the board has not voted on the matter how can Geffken state the contract has been terminated?

Geffken was interviewed last evening by TV5, and over & over he would state pertaining to the termination of the contract, “we must move forward”—absent solutions. His swift evacuation poses a number of questions.

1. Is this a cover-up?

2. Why were Files & Webb awarded this contract in the first place, particularly since it represents an aggressive conflict of interest and the fact these two have never proven they could create and manage a business successfully?

3. Was there no agreement in the contract that addressed fiduciary responsibility by the two, and in case of failure (which is the case) were there no terms regarding restitution or breach of contract? No public mention of what oversight tools were in place.

4. Geffken did not bother to state or suggest what the plans were for salvaging this mess which seems to be laced with unfettered corruption.

5. Did one or more of the Board of Directors request an audit pertaining to the manner in which $1.08 million given to Files & Webb by the city for construction of the complex was spent on who, how, & when?

The above information has not been made available to the citizens and can only be described as sleazy corruption by the city of Fort Smith.
State Representative Matt Pitsch, full time federal employee of RITA and the state of Arkansas. How can Rep. Pitsch work two full-time government jobs (double-dipping—state & Fed) and represent his constituents in a dutiful manner? He can’t.

Pitsch was quoted in today’s T.R. “It’s a regional approach to transportation”. This simply means that Pitsch is an advocate for government control of transportation and the word “regional” means that in this case city government, i.e. Fort Smith, has delegated its authority (citizens) to the U.N.’s Agenda 21 and the Feds. Pitsch is also Speaker of the House and wields huge political power, and there is no evidence that he is using any of it for the benefit of his constituents & Arkansas citizens, just big government.

Also in today’s T.R. titled “Firm presents downtown plan”. Kelsey Berry of Gateway Planning stated in her selling job “Downtown should have more of a regional emphasis to support businesses & entrepreneurs.” (The word “regional” again) More questions: who is paying for the grand plan for downtown? The plan is simply a warmed-over 1960’s project for a new age Urban Renewal, where the city/taxpayers pay for refurbishing and subsidizing downtown property owners. Look no further that the Sicard/Griffin cabal.

Joe McCutchen

arkansasfreedom.net

Government Shell Games = Taxpayer Punishments

Fort Smith, AR is another DC Swamp—32 years & no results from the 1% street/sewer tax, and the tax meter is running rampantly. January 23, 2017

Another Shell Game about to be foisted on Fort Smith citizens by new City Manager (phantom/has never been introduced publicly) Carl Gefkin, the Mayor and the City Directors.

Shell Games are also known as Short-Cons because they are easy & quick to pull off. Case in point, Fort Smith City Manager & Directors.
A brief background pertaining to Fort Smith citizen’s addiction to taxes (shell games & the highest in Arkansas) must be constructed so as to understand the magnitude of the City Manager’s proposed extension of the already 32 year old Shell Game that Fort Smith has experienced, which if left up to the phantom City Manager & Directors will result in a 57 year Shell Game.

September, 1985 a 1% city street & sewer tax was passed because of an Environmental Protection Act (EPA) decree (sewers), precisely the same EPA demands that were placed a second time (Dec. 2, 2014) on the city of Fort Smith that resulted in a $300,000 fine and a $400 million sewer edict to be completed in 12 years. Of course, the $400 million, due to interest, etc. will balloon to over $500 million during the 12 year mandate.

The 1% street & sewer tax that was specifically dedicated for street and sewer improvements have generated well over $600 million in the first 25 years of its existence, and the sewer tax meter is now into its 32nd year. Where did the $600+ million go? Certainly not on streets & sewers as demanded. With the $600 million spent & abused, coupled to the 2nd $400 million EPA demand will result in far more than double taxation and will be close if not surpassing $ 3/4 billion in taxes.

At the first 10 year sunset, voted on and passed, why was the word sewer and/or “drainage improvement” removed from the official tax title & now referred to simply as the 1% street tax.

Enter new City Manager, Carl Gefkin, the Shell Game “conjurer” and his 3 peas—the Mayor, the City Directors & the City Attorney.
Let the Shell Game continue—Fort Smith citizens are always ready for another tax plucking measure.

Here is their game plan. As with all City Managers, Gefkin is trained to carry out all federal mandates, acts, laws, etc. while posing as a servant of the citizens who pay his salary.

Recall, if the original 1 cent street/sewer redemption tax had been legally & appropriately used, in all likelihood the sewers would have been refurbished in first 5 years…1990. Instead, 32 years later most streets & sewers are still in a state of disrepair. (All the while the PC crowd clamors for mismanaged, ill-conceived trails, ball complexes, museums, Avenue businesses (new-age Urban Renewal) & other non-essentials. These are all being subsidized with taxpayer dollars to cronies, property owners, contractors, regionalism, 501c3’s & 4’s with no transparency in the bid process if one exists.)

Fort Smith City Manager Gefkin stated January 19, 2017, “Trying to do it in that short period (12 years) of time we’re finding out now, is not realistic. We need more time to do it”. (Is 32 years not long enough??)

I would suggest to government man Gefkin two things: Tighten the financial belt & run the city government as a business (which you may know nothing about)…cut funding for ALL non-essentials until this mandate is completed as agreed to by the current city government. Mr. Gefkin, you were well aware of the 2nd EPA mandate when you accepted the job. Furthermore, you knew that this was the same Board that negotiated the 12 year deal for reclaiming sewers and these Board Members are waist deep in incompetency, waste, & corruption in this Shell Game.

Now the bombshell! Jan. 19, 2017 introduced to the public his short time Shell Game: “Gefkin said, ‘possibly extending the decree (EPA) to 25 years or so “a shot in the dark”. This is the most dangerous & outrageous proposal entertained by City Directors that has ever come before the F.S. City Board. This would be a mandate to turn sewer improvement into a 57 year project, no end in sight and getting this Board & future Boards hundreds of millions of dollars to carry out ill-advised projects.

WHERE DID THE $600 MILLION GO AND WHERE & TO WHOM WILL THE FUTURE MONEY GO? QUI BONO???

A quotation by Robert Yates, one of our Founders…”I can scarcely contemplate a greater calamity that could befall this country than be loaded with a debt exceeding their ability to ever discharge. If this be a just remark, it is unwise and improvident to vest in the general government a power to borrow at discretion, without any limitation or restriction”.

Joe McCutchen
arkansasfreedom.net

Has Political Correctness finally peaked?

A true ongoing narrative regarding Talladega College located in historic downtown Talladega, AL. January 13, 2017

Last evening on Lou Dobbs on Fox Business News was the appearance of Talladega College President Dr. Billy Hawkins.

Talladega College’s large marching band has been invited to perform at President Elect Donald J. Trump’s inauguration celebration.

What made Dr. Hawkins appearance so important was not that he is a black president of an all-black college, but of all things he was being assailed by black counterparts for accepting the invitation for the very excellent college’s band to appear in the presidential ceremonial activities?

His life had been threatened along with bodily harm to his family & others, an effort to get him fired, and so on.

Dr. Hawkins has steadfastly stayed the course, understanding the vast array of experiences that the marching band would and will experience—chances of a lifetime!

Mr. Dobbs indicated for those interested where they can make a donation to this very worthy endeavor. What a grand educational experience. Dr. Hawkins vowed to continue his efforts on behalf of the college students.

After a brief conversation between Barbara & I , it was our decision to be a part of this exciting effort to send the very talented youngsters to DC.

After my 7:00AM full body MRI this morning & returning home, I asked Barbara how much had been collected in the students’ behalf—she exclaimed $323,000 ! The beauty of this amount is the fact that the president & students only needed $75,000—enough left over for scholarships and/or a new professor that could educate in meaningful course work.

Is this not a beautiful ongoing story about mankind and volunteer meaningful civility? Especially in the wake of decades of sickening politically correct propaganda/accusations/smears of racism, bigotry, anti-Semitism, xenophobia, ad infinitum.

A true ongoing narrative regarding Talladega College located in historic downtown Talladega, AL. January 13, 2017

Last evening on Lou Dobbs on Fox Business News was the appearance of Talladega College President Dr. Billy Hawkins.

Talladega College’s large marching band has been invited to perform at President Elect Donald J. Trump’s inauguration celebration.

What made Dr. Hawkins appearance so important was not that he is a black president of an all-black college, but of all things he was being assailed by black counterparts for accepting the invitation for the very excellent college’s band to appear in the presidential ceremonial activities?

His life had been threatened along with bodily harm to his family & others, an effort to get him fired, and so on.

Dr. Hawkins has steadfastly stayed the course, understanding the vast array of experiences that the marching band would and will experience—chances of a lifetime!

Mr. Dobbs indicated for those interested where they can make a donation to this very worthy endeavor. What a grand educational experience. Dr. Hawkins vowed to continue his efforts on behalf of the college students.

After a brief conversation between Barbara & I , it was our decision to be a part of this exciting effort to send the very talented youngsters to DC.

After my 7:00AM full body MRI this morning & returning home, I asked Barbara how much had been collected in the students’ behalf—she exclaimed $323,000 ! The beauty of this amount is the fact that the president & students only needed $75,000—enough left over for scholarships and/or a new professor that could educate in meaningful course work.

Is this not a beautiful ongoing story about mankind and volunteer meaningful civility? Especially in the wake of decades of sickening politically correct propaganda/accusations/smears of racism, bigotry, anti-Semitism, xenophobia, ad infinitum.

By the way I will be planting my two confederate battle flags in the front yard for my love & admiration of General R.E. Lee, his father Lighthorse Harry Lee & grandfathers Francis Henry Lee & Francis Lightfoot Lee who were members & signers of the Declaration of Independence (descendents of the “Distressed Cavaliers”), and contributed so much to the birth & substance of America.

All bravos to Dr. Billy Hawkins!

Joe & Barbara McCutchen
Arkansas
arkansasfreedom.net

All bravos to Dr. Billy Hawkins!

Joe & Barbara McCutchen
Arkansas
arkansasfreedom.net

Transparency badly needed in all levels of government

Times Record: “Late Project Frustrates City” January 11, 2017

Lack of transparency from Fort Smith City Mayor & Board of Directors. Why did the Mayor & Board award the 2 professional politicians, Files & Webb, with no business credibility, along with what appears to be a list of business failures, a contract for the building, maintenance and oversight (ownership) of a 3 year ongoing project to build 8 softball fields, accompanied by nonessential amenities?

Several inquiries have been made to the Board regarding the why of awarding this program to 2 professional politicians with checkerboard business backgrounds. (Search Files/Softball on arkansasfreedom.net )

The Mayor & the Board have also shown they are not competent or has this been an example of payola, e.g. Arkansas state taxpayer money (at least a million) for the nascent Marshal’s Museum (stated by Griffin & Sicard to be funded privately) compliments of State Senator Jake Files in exchange for being awarded the 8 field softball complex? The Fort Smith city government has also dumped hundreds of thousands into the Museum without a citizen vote.

To further demonstrate the Mayor & Board’s business inabilities & incompetency, here are some examples: contract extensions with no penalties, Director Mike Lorenz said there is no stated finish date. The response from some of the Directors was frightening. Director Good stated he did not know how they could pull the plug and that is exactly what must be done. Pouring more money into this collapsed venture shows an utter lack of responsible business experience & expertise also by the Mayor & City Board. It further indicates that Files & Webb are financially deficient and when Files speaks of “in kind services” and “donations” he simply means more taxpayer dollars into this mismanaged government farce.

The curtain must be drawn, the Board cuts our losses, removes Files & Webb from the scene and pursue other routes with competent individuals, corporations, etc. who are willing and able to invest, & keep grungy politicians out of the mix. The Fort Smith City Government, with all their “feel-good”, “look-good” Agenda 21 directives are proving themselves to be colossal failures.

Observe the City Government’s fiduciary failures…look no further than the circa 25 year street & sewer fiascos, resulting in double taxation—multiple $600 million x 2 !

When are the new City Manager & Chief of Police going to be publicly introduced to Fort Smith citizens accompanied by their visions for the city?

Joe McCutchen

The Forgotten Paragons of Peace & Civility

THE HONORABLE & SENSIBLE PATHWAY FOR RESTORING PEACE AND CIVILITY. January 9, 2017

Does anyone really know the mindset of President-Elect Donald Trump? January 21, 2017 the neutral pendulum will begin to swing right or left. Citizens should be keenly aware of nuances, meaningless statements; political positions that regularly come forth from his mouth, as well as the super large issues he will be instantly confronted with. The importance is simply that the new president will hold more collective power in all the political arenas on that date than any man in the history of the world. Which way and how far will the pendulum swing?

The American government, on a perpetual basis, needs soldiers and lots of them to continue their unconstitutional, preemptive murdering and destructive psychotic pursuits.

President Elect Donald J. Trump, who I voted for with certain caveats, has reiterated multiple times that:
1. U.S. must greatly strengthen nuclear capabilities
2. Retrofit the existing U.S. military
3. Furthermore: Increase the numbers & scope of the U.S. military top down. These statements (positions) and their implementation have the capacity to destroy mankind.

Question: why the necessity for the above? Who is today’s U.S. enemy du jour? Not one foreign national government has shown an inclination for war since 1945.

The current U.S. military is the largest and best equipped in the history of the world, yet President Elect Trump wants to rebuild & build on those numbers. At least 5 countries have a nuclear capability that could destroy the globe 10X over in minutes, namely the U.S., U.K., China, Israel, & Russia. There are others. Of the 5, who presents the greatest threat to precipitate a nuclear Armageddon—in my mind, the U.S. and/or Israel.

Should President Elect Trump proceed on the psychotic misadventures for global destruction i.e. arms race, as opposed to pursuing a vigorous global peace initiative, laissez faire capitalism, and as one of the Founders stated…”no foreign entanglements”, we shall pay dearly in blood & treasure. There is an excellent chance that civilization could be wiped off the face of the earth, e.g. the U.S. forcing China & Russia into a nuclear global conflict, now occurring—U.S. military along Russian borders & naval forces in the South China Sea. These two nations will not be bullied.

Bush I & II engaged this nation into 15 years of continual murdering and destruction, aided by Barack Obama with no end in sight. The RNC (Republican National Committee) and its sitting Senators & Representatives are warmongers of the highest order and no doubt inherited their DNA from the butcher of butchers, President Abraham Lincoln, e.g. Sen. John McCain, Sen. Lindsay Graham, and in AR. neophyte war-activist Sen. Tom Cotton, & indolent Sen. John Boozman who acts only on command from the RNC to pull the levers for war, otherwise his 15 year legislative presence has been a blank slate & a disgrace.

If President Elect Trump is successful in the macro enlargement and retrofitting of the U.S. military, what are his plans for utilizing this behemoth? The U.S. currently has a military presence in 130 countries! Again, I ask why? None of these countries have shown one iota of interest in any manner to engage the U.S. militarily, while at the same time the U.S. has meddled, destroyed, & murdered millions of innocent citizens around the globe, e.g. Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya, Egypt, Iraq, Ukraine, Turkey, Yemen, Syria, Somalia, Venezuela, & Russia (posting NATO troops on the borders of countries contiguous with Russia—e.g. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Turkey, a U.S. naval armada in the South China Sea, and a recent deployment of tanks in Eastern Germany. ) Who is the aggressor?

I ask again, what does Mr. Trump plan to do with his proposal to metastasize the U.S. military? Are the troops going to languish in their barracks sitting on their bunks polishing their brass and rearranging their foot lockers? Certainly not, it is a formula for global destruction/hegemony, the only logical conclusion with which one can arrive, with another massive buildup of troops & material. Armies are assembled to destroy countries, kill, and torture, remove individual freedoms & institute multiple methods of captivity ending in slavery. The U.S. military is not assembled for peaceful engagements. (Accompanied by a national debt of $20 TRILLION & GROWING)

To the point. Paul Wolfowitz, dual Israeli/U.S. citizen, heavily involved in Bush II’s criminal adventures & author of the Wolfowitz Doctrine—“WE SHALL HAVE NO RIVALS”, and using the doctrine simply means, as he states, “ETERNAL WAR FOR ETERNAL PEACE” resulting in an insane equation for the pursuit of U.S. global dominance with the obvious need for massive numbers of young Americans, i.e. cannon fodder, to satisfy the dreams & goals of elitists, bankers, military/industrial/surveillance complex, and of course in the mid-east to do the fighting & funding for Israeli Jews.

All Americans during the last 4 decades have been recipients of daily fuselages of indoctrination, propagandizing, conditioning, and directives, to institute emotional behaviors that is producing an overweening emotional admiration for war and the military, and at the same time citizens hardly realizing our republic has been embroiled in a continuing 15 year war that engages in super criminal acts.

The above methods are being used at every public event (free & paid) at public institutions (public schools, universities & entertainment venues) & always with an accompanying display of force: enormous flags, cannons, fireworks, military presence, flyovers, music—highly successful maudlin spectacles which produce the desired enlistments, none of which should be a part of private citizen’s entertainment & academic interests, nor should citizens be subjected to a bellicose environment at any time.

Therefore: who will you say is violating the cannons of civility? Put another way, who do you believe deserves the title of “global enemy”?

The whole of America, mainly due to ignorance, is betraying the principles laid down by our Founding Fathers, resulting in the U.S. becoming a belligerent historical wasteland.

Painfully said, the courageous U.S. fighting force is bringing our republic down by creating chaos & fear at home & abroad, not “KEEPING US SAFE” as the general officers, politicians & media bloviate daily. The U.S. has become the global enemy and unless these young people realize they are subsidizing their own demise in unconstitutional, preemptive wars and the criminal activities of American governments we will never arise from the filth and vermin to which this & past American governments have brought us.

The courageous American military are not heroes, they are tools used by elitists who foolhardily pursue their hegemonic ambitions. Some solutions for the neutralization of our despotic federal government are akin to simple syrup—simple.

Redeploy all American troops back to the confines of the USA, use the redeployed troops to lockdown all our national borders—land, sea, & air; use a substantial number of the remaining redeployed to build a wall contiguous with Mexico. Discharge all military personnel who do not provide active rolls in positively serving our nation; remove all illegal foreign nationals from roles in our military. Deport all illegals and those residing here on expired visas. The redeployment will also provide for a sleek, effective fighting force and relieve U.S. taxpayers from paying billions of dollars on foolish military excursions. If the numbers remaining are sufficiently great they should be directed to rebuilding our infrastructure. And finally, there should be instituted a 5 year moratorium on all immigration, giving our nation a chance to acculturate/assimilate the hundreds of ethnic groups who reside here legally.

Citizens, you do understand that politicians & bureaucrats are not going to resolve on their own the multiple crises we taxpayers are enduring—they created them all for their own enrichment. The coup de gras to complete the above tenants for saving our Constitutional Republic; all incumbents must be given the boot promptly, removing any chance of reenacting conscription, among other repugnant things.

Speaking of heroes, 3 individuals stand out, Edward Snowden fled to Russia, Bradley Manning federal prison, & Julian Assange house arrest Ecuadorian Embassy. They have given their all to alert/educate Americans to the magnitude of the criminal cabal located in DC—the federal government. President Elect Donald Trump, in my view, should pardon these 3 men and award with appropriate medals of honor—they may just have saved our nation.

Joe McCutchen

arkansasfreedom.net

Gaddy: “Not Fighting the War we can’t Afford to Lose”

NOT FIGHTING THE WAR WE CAN’T AFFORD TO LOSE

“It is neither wise nor realistic to round up millions of people, many with deep roots in the United States, and send them across the border.” ~ George W. Bush 2006

“According to captured al-Qaida leaders and documents, the plan is called the “American Hiroshima” and involves the multiple detonation of nuclear weapons already smuggled into the U.S. over the Mexican border with the help of the MS-13 street gang and other organized crime groups.” ~ World Net Daily

Recently, I have been going back over articles that I wrote from 10 to 20 years ago while assessing for myself if I have always been crazy and if my recent writings are inconsistent with what I wrote all those years ago.

In this pursuit, I happened upon the below article, written in May of 2004, in which I wrote on how and why our government, determined to fight a so-called war on terror thousands of miles away, could possibly be so haphazard as to leave our borders, especially our Southern border, so unprotected. I believed then, and still do, that protecting one’s borders while at war was a battle that must be won. Without a doubt, the great majority of our politicians, on both sides of the aisle, did not then, and still do not, agree with my assessment.

Recently, Donald Trump utilized similar beliefs in a campaign that produced his victory. But, at this late date, is that tantamount to closing the proverbial barn door after the horse is gone? Also, why was no one seeing this fatal flaw in military strategy back in 2004? Read my almost 13-year-old article below and form your own opinion as to its accuracy.

ON NOT FIGHTING THE WAR WE CAN’T AFFORD TO LOSE
May 31, 2004

Today, our military is present in over 130 countries. We have active wars being fought in Afghanistan and Iraq and military actions against other countries being recommended by the Neocon elements in the Bush administration. Yet, the war we cannot lose draws very little attention from most Americans and is being completely ignored by our politicians and our military. That war is the one not being fought for our Southern border.

In what will eventually prove to be one of the gravest military blunders of all time, we are leaving our Southern border almost completely unguarded as our enemies use our stupidity to destroy us financially, culturally and militarily.

While citizens of this country are subjected to humiliating searches and harassment at airports, supposedly to prevent acts of terrorism, thousands of potential terrorists simply walk across an undefended border.

While our soldiers are thousands of miles from home, attempting to impose democracy by force on a people who do not understand the concept, terrorists who could destroy their homes and their families here in America are simply walking into our country basically unopposed. Ironically, many of the bleeding heart socialist idiots in this country are providing food and water for them in the event they become thirsty and/or hungry as they negotiate the heat that is often so prevalent in our arid Southwest.

Just take the time to look at many of the Socialist representatives in our own government who want unfettered borders and are seeking criminal charges against landowners who have formed groups to protect their personal property from vandalism and theft by these illegal aliens, better known to their supporters as “victims.”

The effects on our economy generated by the millions of illegals in this country are devastating, not to mention our increased vulnerability to acts of terrorism.

Our citizens are being forced by this inane policy to endure a virtual crime wave, perpetrated by illegal aliens who in many cases cannot even be deported, thanks to our wonderful bureaucratic criminals at immigration and naturalization!
In many of our large cities, the local governments have actually created safe zones for these criminals to operate by making it a matter of policy not to report crimes committed by these illegals to federal authorities. In Los Angeles, 95 percent of all outstanding warrants for homicide (which total 1,200 to 1,500) name illegal aliens. Up to two-thirds of all fugitive felony warrants (17,000) are for illegal aliens.
A confidential California Department of Justice study reported in 1995 that 60 percent of the 20,000-strong 18th Street Gang in Southern California are aliens; police officers say the proportion is actually much greater. The bloody gang collaborates with the Mexican Mafia, the dominant force in California prisons, on complex drug-distribution schemes, extortion, and drive-by assassinations, and commits an assault or robbery every day in L.A. County. The gang has grown dramatically over the last two decades by recruiting recently arrived youngsters, most of them illegal, from Central America and Mexico.

Our government continually turns a blind eye to this invasion. Many believe that is because the politicians see all the illegals as future voters. This idea carries some merit considering Dubya’s proposal that all be granted immunity. That would immediately qualify most for at least some form of government give away and certainly get them on the rolls as voters when they go for their driver’s license.

There are those who would say these potential voters would not help the republicans because almost all would vote democratic. Considering the socialistic programs now being championed by the republicans, that argument just does not hold water anymore.

In addition, there is the politically correct element that makes it racist to say anything about anyone regardless of whether what they are doing is illegal or not. Political correctness is being used and supported by the government to destroy our culture as a nation. This has been one of the main strategies of socialism since its beginning. I firmly believe that this obvious open-border policy by those in power is nothing more than a continuation of the push for One-World-Socialist-Government by both parties and the power cabal that controls them.

The government is able to generate sympathy for these illegals by saying “they are just trying to build a better life.” Perhaps this is why we seldom see the plastic heads on TV relate to us the news of a Mexican Diplomat smuggling Arabs into the U.S.
Our government tells us only 19 Arabs perpetrated all the horrors of 9/11. Considering our highly flawed immigration policies allowed most of the 19 to be here without having to negotiate our Southern border, and our law enforcement officials failed to follow up on a myriad of warnings, can we take a chance on believing the Arabs who used this corrupt Mexican diplomat to infiltrate our country are here just to better themselves?
How convenient it is that folks of Middle Eastern ancestry are using our Southern border. How many of us could actually tell an Arab from a Mexican national without hearing them speak?
Without exception, all of the people I speak with who support wholeheartedly Bush’s illegal war with Iraq are dumbfounded when asked, “If this war is to stop terrorism, then why does Bush do nothing to stop the free flow of potential terrorists into this country across our Southern border?”. The total absurdity of the concept does not seem to dampen their support in the least. Why would you allow the government to take your children 6000 miles and put them in harm’s way and do nothing to protect their homes and families here in the US?
Bush’s failure to protect this country’s Southern border by allowing an unfettered flow of potential terrorists into the country is proof positive the war in Iraq has nothing to do with stopping terrorism or “keeping us safe.” Once that façade is stripped away, like all the other lies for war; why does anyone support this fool and his administration?

With our military stretched so thin meddling in other countries and very few of them left at home, what would happen if some foreign military force invaded across our Southern border? Is the mad rush by our government to disarm its citizens a part of the overall plan to make such an incursion relatively easy? (Think “New World Order”)

The very quickest we could have a fighting force back in this country, equipment and all, would be two weeks at best. How much damage could a dedicated force inflict in that time frame? Anyone who believes that Mexico would not allow their country to be used as the staging ground for such an event should take the time to read the speeches Vicente Fox has delivered in other countries. Besides, don’t most Mexicans believe that Texas, California and other states of the Southwest were stolen from them anyway?

The Mexican military has made hundreds of forays into this country (new link) in the past few years. Probing for weaknesses or just an accident?
I have talked personally with several citizens of the Tohono O’odham village of San Pedro, some twenty-five miles west of Tucson, Arizona who were held hostage by Mexican soldiers with Humvees, night vision and automatic weapons for two days. All the Mexican troops would say is that they were “looking for someone.” Since the village is some 50 miles north of the Mexico/US border, I’m sure they were not simply lost.
So, here we have it: Bush is fighting a war, killing our sons and daughters and thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians so he can “stop terrorism”. In the meantime, thousands of potential terrorists are simply walking into this country across a virtually unprotected border. Once they get here, socialists in our government are working overtime to make sure they have food and water and are able to steal anything else they want with impunity. In fact, the government is attempting to make criminals of any who would attempt to stop them.

Those who are not terrorists, per se, become a burden on the overtaxed working citizens of this country or slip into a life of crime where they enjoy immunity from prosecution and expulsion to satisfy the politically correct element in our society.

There are millions here now. The government wants nothing to do with curbing the flow of millions more. Still, untold legions of Americans support our “war on terrorism” thousands of miles away.

A thinking man would have to say as a country, WE ARE TOAST.

IN RIGHTFUL REBEL LIBERTY

Mike Gaddy…”Lessons unlearned & unintended consequences”

LESSONS UNLEARNED AND UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES

“Without reflection, we go blindly on our way, creating more unintended consequences, and failing to achieve anything useful.” ~ Margaret J. Wheatley

Janus, the Roman god who has faces on both sides of his head in order to look forward as well as backward is the symbol for January, and as we are on the threshold of a new year, would it not be proper for us to look to the past for lessons for the future?

Over the course of several decades, I have learned firsthand the hazards of being knowledgeable of history and trying to relay that knowledge to others to avoid the admonishment so eloquently stated by George Santayana that those who fail to learn from history are destined to repeat its mistakes. Such a venture would certainly qualify as an effort in futility. People, especially those on the right of the political spectrum, become most agitated and angry when one draws back the curtain revealing their historical ignorance and unwillingness to learn those historical lessons.

In early 2000, a so-called “conservative think-tank” formulated a plan that has led to continual war, rampant mass immigration and acts of terror all over the globe. The big problem is, the Neocons (read Republicans) who operated and funded this think-tank not only influenced their own political party but made their totally failed plan the hallmark of the current Democrat administration. Not only that but following through with the principles of the Hegelian Dialectic, they have made the majority of Americans believe the way to cure the problem created with their policies is to apply more of what caused the problem in the first place.

A quick perusal of any social media site will show a great many Americans believe the way to stop terrorism and mass immigration is to continue doing what caused it in the first place.

Back in 2003, because of the massive false hype for the invasion of Iraq, I wrote an article on the above-referenced think-tank which is known as the Project For The New American Century. (PNAC) In the title for that article, I claimed PNAC’s plan was the death certificate for our Republic. I stand by my prognostication. I ask you, the reader, to review this article and compare it with where we are today.

(Please note: I have emphasized in bold some things that are most relevant)
Project For The New American Century:
The Death Certificate For Our Republic

By Michael Gaddy (Originally published on 03/03/03)

I, like many other supporters of the Constitution, have been asking since the 2000 election; exactly what drives the foreign policy of the Bush Administration. The answer is revealed in the doctrines of the Policy for the New American Century, (PNAC)
Neil Mackay, in the Scotland Sunday Herald, reveals the master plan now driving this administration.

“A SECRET blueprint for US global domination reveals that President Bush and his cabinet were planning a premeditated attack on Iraq to secure ‘regime change’ even before he took power in January 2001.

The blueprint, uncovered by the Sunday Herald, for the creation of a ‘global Pax Americana’ was drawn up for Dick Cheney (now vice- president), Donald Rumsfeld (defense secretary), Paul Wolfowitz (Rumsfeld’s deputy), George W Bush’s younger brother Jeb and Lewis Libby (Cheney’s chief of staff). The document, entitled Rebuilding America’s Defenses: Strategies, Forces And Resources For A New Century, was written in September 2000 by the neo-conservative think-tank Project for the New American Century (PNAC).”

This plan can be found here in PDF format.

The plan put forth by PNAC reveals, regardless of whether Saddam Hussein was in power in Iraq, an attack there was preordained. Maybe this can explain why the powers that be and their lap-dog media continue the war beat no matter how many times this administration is caught prevaricating about Iraq.

Inside the document prepared by PNAC is the following: “The United States has for decades sought to play a more permanent role in Gulf regional security. While the unresolved conflict with Iraq provides the immediate justification, the need for a substantial American force presence in the Gulf transcends the issue of the regime of Saddam Hussein.”

To facilitate their plans, our military cannot be constrained by our Constitution. The plan calls our military, “the cavalry on the new American frontier.” In other words, the new American frontier is wherever our government says it is. If this is not a game plan of empire, I have never seen one.

The thoughts brought forth in this document should scare the bejeezus out of anyone who calls him or herself an American.
The PNAC plan:

Supports a “blueprint for maintaining global US preeminence, precluding the rise of a great power rival, and shaping the international security order in line with American principles and interests.”

This “American grand strategy” must be advanced for “as far into the future as possible,” the report says. It also calls for the US to “fight and decisively win multiple, simultaneous major theatre wars” as a “core mission.”
1. Refers to key allies such as the UK as “the most effective and efficient means of exercising American global leadership.”
2. Describes peacekeeping missions as “demanding American political leadership rather than that of the United Nations.”
3. Reveals worries in the administration that Europe could rival the USA.
4. Says “even should Saddam pass from the scene” bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait will remain permanently — despite domestic opposition in the Gulf regimes to the stationing of US troops — as “Iran may well prove as large a threat to US interests as Iraq has.”
5. Spotlights China for “regime change” saying “it is time to increase the presence of American forces in Southeast Asia”. This, it says, may lead to “American and allied power providing the spur to the process of democratization in China”
6. Calls for the creation of “US Space Forces”, to dominate space, and the total control of cyberspace to prevent “enemies” using the Internet against the US. (How long will it be before those of us who oppose this quest for empire, become the “enemy”?)
7. Hints that, despite threatening war against Iraq for developing weapons of mass destruction, the US may consider developing biological weapons — which the nation has banned — in decades to come. It says: “New methods of attack — electronic, ‘non-lethal’, biological — will be more widely available … combat likely will take place in new dimensions, in space, cyberspace, and perhaps the world of microbes … advanced forms of biological warfare that can ‘target’ specific genotypes may transform biological warfare from the realm of terror to a politically useful tool.”
8. Pinpoints North Korea, Libya, Syria and Iran as dangerous regimes and says their existence justifies the creation of a “worldwide command-and-control system.”

Our European allies know of this plan. Perhaps that is why the administration’s plan for “regime change” is meeting such opposition there.
Tam Dalyell, father of the House of Commons in the UK, and one of the leading British voices against war with Iraq said: “This is garbage from right-wing think-tanks stuffed with chicken-hawks — men who have never seen the horror of war but are in love with the idea of war.

Men like Cheney, who were draft-dodgers in the Vietnam War. This is a blueprint for US world domination — a new world order of their making. These are the thought processes of fantasist Americans who want to control the world. I am appalled that a British Labour Prime Minister should have got into bed with a crew which has this moral standing.”

Ironically, the policies of PNAC were first brought forth in Papa George’s administration, but it was not well received and the would-be world controllers backed off for the time being. Scott McConnell of the American Conservative magazine says; “In the final year of the first Bush administration, Paul Wolfowitz penned a memo under the aegis of then Secretary of Defense Cheney, calling for the United States to ramp up its defense spending in order to deter any other country from “even aspiring to a larger regional or global role.” China, Russia, Germany, and Japan were to be intimidated from seeking more power in their own regions. After the Wolfowitz draft was leaked to the press, it received widespread ridicule, and the Bush I diplomats rushed to reassure allies that Wolfowitz’s views did not truly reflect American foreign policy.

But, during the 1990s, these did become the views of the neoconservatives, packaged under the slogan “benevolent global hegemony” touted by William Kristol and Robert Kagan. The positions of the neoconservative foreign policy team in exile were fleshed out in a PNAC book, Present Dangers, which called for the U.S. to “shape the international environment to its own advantage” by being “at once a European power, an Asian power, a Middle Eastern power, and of course a Western Hemisphere power” and to “act as if instability in important regions of the world … affect[s] us with almost the same immediacy as if [it] was occurring on our own doorstep.” In practice, this meant assertive risk-taking virtually everywhere. Jonathan Clarke, reviewing the volume in the National Interest, wrote, “If the book’s recommendations were implemented all at once, the U.S. would risk unilaterally fighting a five-front war, while simultaneously urging Israel to abandon the peace process in favor of a new no-holds-barred confrontation with the Palestinians.” This book has become the blueprint for the foreign policy of George W. Bush.”

The most alarming part of this document is the proposals for our military. Those of us who believe that we maintain a military for defense are in for a real shock. When this plan is implemented there will have to be a name change in our government. We will no longer have a department of defense; it will have to be changed to the department of offense.

Does anyone really believe we can accomplish the outlined military goals with an “all volunteer” force? Or will we once again be required to subject our young people to a draft so they can be made indentured servants to a government so as to “fight for freedom?” Don’t forget Secretary of Offense, Donald Rumsfeld, recently praised our “all volunteer’ military as being one where everyone is there by choice, yet days later froze all lengths of service for the U.S. Marines and all forces in Korea until further notice. (stop-loss)

This plan for world domination, written in 2000, called for raising our outlay on military spending to 3.8 percent of our GNP from the then level of 3.5. With the last increase in military spending by this administration, we reached the exact figure of 3.8!
The steps of this plan, which are being followed to the letter by George W. Bush, (and then by Obama for the past 8 years) will lead to the end of what little is left of our Republic and a disaster for us as a nation on the world stage. History is resplendent with the tragedies of nations that sought empire and failed. We will be no different.

All allies will be repulsed in our desire to dominate the world. It is happening already. Our European allies have gone from those with headlines on 9/11 that proclaimed “We are all Americans now,” to disgust with our leaders, our foreign policy and its intended goal of world domination. Sure, we will be able to buy some allies, just as we have Turkey, but we must be aware we have only purchased the support of the government. The people of the world will never support a foreign power that seeks to make everyone victims of its democratization and moral superiority.

When we subdue Iraq, will the oil resources be given to the citizens? I think not. A puppet government will be installed and the oil resources will be channeled to US interests, just as poppy production is being done in Afghanistan. Why else would a supposed “leader” of a country require 24/7 protection by US Special Forces soldiers from his own citizens?

We call what we seek to impose on the world, “democracy.” What majority of citizens in Afghanistan elected Hamid Karzai to be head of the country? Could it be coincidence Karzai was a former Unocal employee? Is it also coincidence the plan for the oil line across Afghanistan is now being implemented? Could the Taliban have become military opponents of the United States simply because they refused this same pipeline deal with Unocal after being wined and dined in Texas back when Dubya was governor in 1997?

What will it take for the majority of citizens in this country to realize we are becoming that which we fought so hard to oppose 50+ years ago? By continuing to implement this policy set forth by Cheney, Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, Perle and Bush, do we not become the same as the Soviet Union whom we fought so hard to defeat, costing us tens of thousands of lives and trillions of dollars? One need only to compare the proposed ideologies of our new neoconservative leaders with those of Leon Trotsky!

Another thing this plan for world domination will bring us here at home is terrorism too intense to be imagined. When we have separated ourselves from the other people of this planet by our quest for domination, by what other means will they be able to retaliate? Does the thought of Rome being invaded by the Barbarians bring forth any visions? If they invade across our Southern Border, they will be assisted by our government’s policies rather than opposed?

What will become of those here in this country who seek to remain loyal to the Constitution? Will we not become just as much an opposing force to those who seek world domination as those in other countries who do not wish to become American subjects?
How much more of our personal resources will be required to accomplish world domination? How many more of our freedoms?

IN RIGHTFUL REBEL LIBERTY

Senator Tom Cotton being groomed by AIPAC?

Vdare—Paul Nachman—Joe McCutchen December 18, 2016

Paul Nachman’s narrative and its companion plea written on Dec.. 9, 2016 & Dec. 12. 2016 appears on vdare.com under the title “On immigration, will Tom Cotton succeed Jeff Sessions as “America’s Senator”?

Senator Jeff Sessions has been tried & true for many years on the issue of illegal immigration, while Senator Tom Cotton has been AWOL. Senator Sessions, over this same period has shown courage, dedication & tenacity in keeping the controversial immigration issue alive. Many thanks to Senator Sessions. For the many uninformed American citizens who are constantly barraged by politicians & media that our immigration system is broken. Wrong, near perfect immigration laws have been on the books for years, just unenforced—e.g. 8 USC, Section 1324a, 1324c, 1325, & E-Verify.

Senator Cotton: As Mr. Nachman rightly states, Senator Cotton is well credentialed, Harvard twice, the bastion of political correctness & Cultural Marxism, coupled to the neoconservative Claremont Institute he attended & a meritorious stint In Bush II’s illegal 15 year and continuing war of murder & destruction commonly known as the faux “War on Terror”.

So what is really behind Nachman’s pleading, begging Arkansans and the rest of America for Cotton to become “America’s Senator”?
I would be remiss if I did not reproduce a statement re: Tom Cotton made by Nachman in the opening of his narrative: “He grew up on a farm in Arkansas and then—despite being the lowest of the low, i.e. “a white male from flyover country”. Mr. Nachman, is this your perception or are you conveying the thought that’s what DC elitists think of Arkansans and their whiteness, which by the way I am very proud of & refuse to be P.C.ed by the Jewish Frankfurt School.

What Mr. Nachman did not say or does not know, Cotton grew up a mile outside the sanctuary hamlet of Dardanelle, AR where there are more illegal Mexicans & OTM’s than there are American citizens, compliments of Catholic Charities (taxpayer subsidized) and Arkansas based Tyson Foods, America’s premier employer of illegals, and former Gov. Mike Huckabee who installed the unconstitutional (Article I, Section 10) Little Rock Mexican Consulate! The 7 decade illegal environment is what Senator Cotton grew up in which provided him with an experience of living among illegals and should clearly demark his position as constitutional or unconstitutional referencing illegal immigration, tepid in any case. Some other users of illegals in Arkansas & nationally are Wal-Mart, Simmons, Arvest, etc. –money & lots of it, accompanied by massive amounts of political influence here & nationally. Does Mr. Nachman believe Senator Cotton would bow-up against these globalist Arkansas giants?

Nachman alleges in a murky way that some outfit named “Powerline” was responsible for Cotton’s entry into the Arkansas 2012 4th Congressional political fray—surely he jests—see above.

More sunshine on Cotton. Cotton was elected to the U.S. Congress and was sworn in Jan. 3, 2013. Literally 14 days after his swearing in ceremony the story was leaked he was now campaigning for the U.S. Senate seat held by Sen. Mark Pryor and it was verified approximately 2 weeks later. By that act he betrayed his constituents in the 4th Congressional District, e.g. Little Rock, Hot Springs & the rest of the folks residing in that District were without congressional representation for 2 years.

Obviously the Congressman is in a big hurry—to get what & where? Within 2 years he went from a DC lawyer, to a congressman, & ultimately the U.S. senate.

Cotton’s political travels in this short span should have elicited some kind of political furor from Arkansas citizens—no public response from the 4th District citizenry, just emotional fervor for Republican Senator Cotton, absent cognition.
In addition to the aforementioned Arkansas political powers & drivers, who else might be politically pulling the strings of the young Senator?

That being asked will be answered later. Jews have long been identified as the group that fuels mass immigration, legal & illegal, the big push commencing in the 1920’s. Jews, in their various efforts to dilute America’s Founding Stock, ownership, and influence have created a plethora of minority organizations, e.g. the NAACP, Maldef, Lulac, La Raza, & a host of others to fracture America to create dissonance while they continue funding these groups. After Jews created the NAACP it was years before a black was invited to sit on the official board. For precise information on Jewish ownership & domination of the United States log on arkansasfreedom.net & search “Are we there?” It specifically I.D.s the attackers. Unfortunately, due to American apathy, Jews have been wildly successful in their drive for ownership and control of our once preeminent republic.

Have you ever observed an influential Jew or groups of Jews—AIPAC, AEI, ACLU, SPLC, ADL, pursue any measure that would secure U.S. Borders, institute any effort to deport, or vet the invaders—legal and illegal? AIPAC is an unlicensed, very powerful foreign national Jewish lobbying organization, i.e. Israel.

What is the link between Senator Tom Cotton & the international Jewish ruling cabal? Answer: money, power, & global hegemony.

Selective Jews (the DC junta) have formed what I believe to be a symbiotic relationship with Cotton by utilizing anecdotal/empirical data, facts, history, & conjecture. My theory is Cotton, his cozy personal relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, accompanied by his many visits to Israel, large numbers of Jewish donors and other observances, Cotton is the perfect model for the ruling Jewish class to have selected him to possibly become their candidate for POTUS in the years 2020 or 2024. Jewish interests have put far too many millions of dollars into Cottons coffers leading me to believe that the large amount of money signifies more than just legislative favors.

Jews recognize that Senator Cotton possesses all the magnets that attract voters to the booth, i.e. married, children, twice Harvard educated, middle-east decorated veteran, hungry for political power, a proponent for preemptive war, a mid-east neoconservative war monger with Iranian implications which are vital to Israel-firsters, i.e. erasing middle-east borders for Israeli expansion.

The Senator appears to be Jewish chattel.

The acid test that he is Jewish Chattel is cradled in his willingness to accept vast amounts of money from prominent Jews, most of whose allegiances are directed to Israel, quietly supports mass immigration, and knowingly or unknowingly is intimately involved in the dissolution of Western Civilization (culture) and his failure to separate himself from the Jewish nation-killing Political Correctness (the Frankfort School) & their unsavory use of minorities.

Most of the Senator’s funding comes from the very deep pockets of Jewish billionaires, not from Pacs & Foundations. Some examples: those Jews who are publicly donating money to boost immigration numbers—Bill Gates, the Koch Brothers, Michael Bloomberg, Sheldon Adelson, George Soros, Mark Zuckerberg, & Rupert Murdoch (Fox News). Some of these names will appear as donors to Cotton.

Known Jews donating directly to Cotton: American Israel Education Foundation, The Emergency Committee for Israel–$1 million to sabotage the Iran-nuclear deal; William Kristol (son of neoconservative founder & Trotskyite, Irving Kristol), Paul Singer; John Bolton (former U.N Ambassador); Cherna Moskowitz; Sheldon Adelson (Las Vegas & Macao Casino owner); Seth Klarman; Kenneth Bialkin, Elliott Abrams, Susan Kristol, Ann Kristol, & Goldman-Sachs, etc. etc. These individuals are all Israel-firsters, some dual citizens, and representing an American Jewish population that hovers around 2 1/2 % of our republic.

Again, I would say Jews are the marketers of mass immigration, legal & illegal, and in my opinion have Senator Tom Cotton securely bedded down. If you are interested in an extension of this article & the real players who dictate the tenor of business in our former preeminent republic log on to arkansasfreedom.net and search for “Are We There?”.

Senator Cotton would welcome Syrian refugees that would allow more than 10,000 over the 10,000 the President promised to shelter (no vetting)—his Religious Persecution Relief Act. Senator Cotton is an advocate of rendition and other means of torture (I describe as hard core) based on his interview and admission at CNN with anchor Wolf Blitzer.

Senator Tom Cotton, I believe is immature, and a dangerous cog In the U.S. Senate with no concerns for reigning in the out of control 3rd world invasions, i.e. well on our way to becoming a 3rd World dumping ground.

In conclusion I will simply say Senator Cotton has visions of grandeur & has been genetically endowed with the Napoleonic Complex.

Joe McCutchen

City Capitulation

They capitulated as we knew they would. That would be Directors Lau, Good, Lorenz, Settle, & Hutchings. Congrats to Directress Pennartz & Director Catsavis. December 8, 2016

The above pertains to the Board breaking a contractual agreement with Frontier Engineering for construction of a trail.
The original contract called for $156,000 taxpayer dollars and the aforementioned Board members voted to break it by allowing an increase of $50,853.00. Parks Director Doug Reinert and new man on the block City Manager Carl Geffken recommended the scuttling of the contract to the Board.

Reinert came forth with a litany of excuses why the taxpayers should cough up an extra $50,000 + , i.e. delays, additional man hours, day by day, week by week, long hours documenting, and a host of other nebulous reasons.

The contract was flawed by both parties and proved to be another example of Ft. Smith government incompetency. Pertaining to the Trail, Reinert came forth stating “we cannot let this crown jewel fail”.

Reinert, the City Manager, and the 5 Board members, let me explain to you what the “Crown Jewel’s” quotation really is.

First, circa 25-30 years ago citizens passed a 1 % sales tax strictly dedicated for sewers & streets and during that period the tax generated over $600 million dollars. The $600 million was misapplied, misspent, and perhaps criminal conduct. Now the taxpaying citizens of Fort Smith are beneficiaries of a $300,000 EPA fine, accompanied by another $600 million EPA edict to pay for sewer improvements over the next 12 years. With inflation, etc., the $600 million could easily balloon to somewhere south of a Billion dollars, paying twice for sewers and receiving no substantive street improvements and/or sewers. Additionally, a shortage in Fire & Police pensions, a massive increase in water, sanitation, etc. consumer bills, spending millions on downtown privately owned Urban Renewal projects, the nascent Marshal’s Museum (ultimately, citizens will inherit the bills), the failed Convention Center, paying tuition costs for city employees, proposing to give them a 1% cost of living increase, homeless shelters, ad infinitum.

Director Good scoffed at only a 1% city employee raise. Mr. Good, the financial status of this city due to you and the remaining Board of Directors & past Boards’ incompetency; employees deserve no pay raise of any kind. By the way Directors, detail the procedure used in purchasing equipment, particularly rolling stock.

It should be noted that the 5 Directors that voted for the $50,000 giveaway have all been involved at various times in the wanton spending of the first $600 million.

Those reading this, next time you have an occasion to look into a mirror, ask yourself who is responsible for the incompetency and unbridled spending that the Fort Smith city government is involved in on a day to day basis. Same for all governments. They have far too much money that they can lay their self-serving hands on.

Joe McCutchen

arkansasfreedom.net

Expose, Rebuke, Return