All governments will have their way—be damned with, “we the people” & the Constitution—the Constitution is supposed to be the government but is filled with so-called Public Servants who unfortunately & in actuality are self-servers. July 22, 2015

Incumbency breeds arrogance, corruption, crime, and force, but you would never know that by the institutionalized ignorance of the voting public’s record on incumbency and double down re: bureaucrats. Actually, there is no difference between a bureaucrat and a politician; I note this for I.D. purposes only.

Before the matter of this screed, is it ironic; is it coincidental; or some other reason that former City Manager Ray Gosack and the Director of Finance Kara Bushkul resigned within days of one another other? Did their hasty departures have any bearing on the $1/2 billion EPA mandate, the $300,000 EPA fine, or the shortage of the Police & Fire Pension Fund, the 30 year $600 million misapplication of monies specifically dedicated to streets & sewers? Note the current pitiful condition of streets & sewers.

Now, back to the topic at hand: examples of government having its way—be damned with the people.

I. The cowardly, deceptive Issue 3, initiated, orchestrated & passed in the Arkansas General Assembly principally by Republican legislators that extended term limits under the guise of an “Ethics” bill. What a disgusting collection of palookas.

II. This same bunch, the Ark. Gen. Assembly, this year in another cowardly deceptive maneuver insured we the people would be burdened with Obamacare until the state/nation collapses under the financial weight of such stupidity, but not limited to.

III. Fluoride—Sodium fluoride is a drug/medication/poison that requires a physician’s prescription for human use. Additionally, mass medication of the poison sodium fluoride is an existential threat to the long-term health of human beings. What is the authority for the Governor, the legislature, and the F.S. city government to practice medicine without a license? This is only a thumbnail description of fluoride.

The Delta Dental insurance company and the Ark. State Assembly of 2011 passed an illegal, unconstitutional legislation. When any legislation is passed that is unconstitutional or poses a threat to the quality of life of a citizen in any manner, they are in no way obligated to adhere to any part or the whole of the legislation. On this chord public officials swear to uphold the Constitution.

Law is a weapon, law holds only value to those who create it to extort and control.

Fort Smith city voters, as has been reported many times, turned down the issue of fluoridation twice, in the 1970’s and 1992 but have contemptuously failed to resonate with the current F.S. City Board of Directors.

Former Fort Smith Manager Ray Gosack, the Board of Directors, & the Mayor cut a contract with Burns & McDonnell for $249,000 for fluoride engineering services and a $1.5 million with Goodwin & Goodwin for fluoride feed services. These exorbitant expenses came after Delta Dental Insurance bribed, coerced or made a quid pro quo deal that sent $2 million to the Board of Directors…all in the face of the glaring alleged financial deficiencies in the city of Fort Smith.

What was the source of the $1,749,000 that the F.S. City Board paid for the above services?

Of course, city government will bloviate that it’s Arkansas state law and they have to abide. The Board’s defense is a Constitutional lie, followed by the fact that they did not have to accept Delta Dental’s $2 million bribe.

IV. More corruption guided by Ft. Smith’s Superintendent Benny Gooden, undergirded by his compliant F.S. School Board.
Five members of the F.S. School Board, accompanied by Gooden, in a secret pre-planned meeting to produce unanimity (the fix) to purge all references to the Johnny Reb Mascot, the beautiful song Dixie, and all things Southern without any knowledge or conversation with Fort Smith citizens, more specifically those who have had a relationship with Southside High.

Then there is the matter of cost, which certainly no citizen knows and is doubtful the administration knows, but for sure it will be 6 figures at least. All the while, Gooden is pushing for a $70 million tax increase.

Incumbency breeds ownership in the minds of the occupants of any given political/public service institution. Incumbency is a political curse and in all cases “we the people” are considered nothing more than a collection of pinheads by incumbents. For instance, Gooden has been around for 30+ years and Board member Rick Wade for 20+ years. Coercion and force is the name of their game, as with all pols.
Public School Superintendent Benny Gooden and Police Chief Kevin Lindsay to name two, are wards of national and global unions and other special interests, while citizens have long since been excised from the equation. There is no “local” control.

V. Days after Fort Smith voters turned down a 5% shell for a Trail System came a clamor from 2 NGO’s (Non-governmental Organizations) and the newly hired Parks Director whining “we need more trails” and oh yes, more funding! Never do they abide by the wishes of “we the people”.

VI. Urban Renewal revisited—the downtown renovation society, that would be Sicard, Griffin, and others, have reinvented & reignited the 1960’s Urban Renewal program. Urban Renewal simply defined: taxpayers fund the redevelopment of private property in urban and downtown areas.

Are any of the aforementioned statistics relevant to the taxpaying citizens of Fort Smith or will it continue to be “business as usual”?

Joe McCutchen
P.S I recall Mayor Sanders marveling in the Times Record what a wonderful job former City Manager Ray Gosack had done.
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