Scamarama & Togetherness                                                                                  April 21, 2011

April 16, 2011 the Directors of the Fort Smith city government, save one, gathered at Lake Fort Smith for what has become wistfully known as a “Retreat”.  The “retreat” was produced by Ron Holifield, a former 15 year city manager from the Dallas area who runs a company by the name of Strategic Government Resources (taxes).  He and his wife are the principals.

Holifield, the producer of the outing designated each of the Directors as “Creators, Advancers, Refiners, Executors, & Flexors”.  For Holifield’s definition for these categories see arkansasfreedom.net

The question remains, who set this meeting up and did that individual or individuals believe the Board of Directors incapable of making the decisions for which they were elected, without government influences and indoctrination? 

Nowhere has it been pointed out what the cost of this production was, and what if anything was gained except a day at the lake and a 7 hour lecture…and who paid for lunch?

It turns out that Holifield charged $5,000 for this one-day extravaganza and used taxpayers’ building for free.  That translates to over $700 per hour.  Some of the Directors have proclaimed it was a grand experience, my question to those Directors, was their experience so grand that they would take $5,000 of their own money to pay for it?  (Remember, the easiest job in the whole world is spending other people’s money).

On the heels of this exercise in waste comes the hiring a Deputy City Administrator.  Just why do we need a Deputy City Administrator?  The city has department heads for each division and a plethora of go-fers.   What we don’t have is a detailed departmental oversight of this government by the City Directors while mismanagement is rampant, both in financing and procurement and employee’s fear of recrimination for pointing out deficiencies permeating the totality. Salaries are bloated in comparison to the private sector which generates the funds to sustain this behemoth.

Not to be outdone, County Judge Hudson and the Sebastian County Quorum Court are moving toward implementing a $1 million computer system.  No concern by the Judge re our present recession/depression.  Damn the torpedoes, let the taxes continue?    This following the murky establishment of an high-tech communication center at the old Fort Smith National Guard Armory which will allegedly be run by FEMA, the county judge, F.S. police chief and the county Sheriff…more fusion and “togetherness” with few details disseminated to the citizens, and in close proximity, a “Safe House” to be built—for what and whom?   The facility at the old N.G. building is the place where the very expensive specially made 47 work stations are to be anchored.   47 work stations for what?  An occasional tornedo?  Note the ever-expanding and militarization of law enforcement, while illegals run rampant under their collective noses out of the “shadows”.

In the J.P. discussion regarding the proposed $1 million computer system, J.P. Lisa Sellers proclaimed she was “disappointed in the spirit of animosity which was counterproductive” in their meeting, which brings to the fore one of the main purposes of these “togetherness” meetings, i.e. that is to instill the suppression of independent thought/dissenters, and indoctrination in favor of an egalitarian point of view, e.g. everyone reduced to a common politically correct denominator.

All governments are metastasizing at an alarming rate, are unmanageable and many are corrupt.  There are a number of reasons for this phenomenon, e.g. trust in elected officials, a huge mistake, citizen laziness electing the same individuals for decades allowing for the suppression of new ideas, insider trading, etc.   This has allowed the creation of ever-growing fiefdoms in each department and has given rise to vulgar over-staffing, wasteful practices, and far too much funding…which is the case of the F.S. city government.  

Arrogance, self-promotion and refusal to act in the citizen’s behalf, such as is the case of the Fort Smith city government’s refusal to allow a citywide vote on the proposed food tax, and not giving a thought to their vulgar invasions into private enterprises by government  is the disease of forced redistribution.

Past time to drain the cesspools, top down. 

Kindest regards,

Joe McCutchen