Today’s editorial in the Fort Smith Times Record is a diatribe on why term limits should be extended in the case of county judges, sheriffs, J.P.’s, treasurers, assessors, circuit clerks, county clerks, coroner’s, surveyors, and constables from a 2 to 4 year term.   The feeble excuses given for the extension of their terms, “It would allow county officials to be more efficient”, “they can plan for long term budgeting”, and finally “it would allow the aforementioned to learn the ins & outs of their positions without having to focus on reelection bids”.  

Translation: learning the ins & outs of their positions is the real enemy of voters.  The longer they hold office, it’s not about efficiency in planning, it’s about manipulation and giving the elected more time to salt the mines for long term office holding and self-promotion.  Definitely not a good thing.   Observe.

So what was omitted in the editorial?

The last AR. General Assembly crafted a bill dealing with ethics, a more rigorous bill than currently exists.  The bill is to be voted on by the citizens in the next general election. So what’s the problem with a bill that increases the penalties for ethical and criminal violations?  Of course, nothing.  It is comical that laws must be passed in an attempt to keep elected officials honest and ethically bound.  Carrying that thought a step further indicates that elected officials are all potential crooks in one form or another.

So again, what’s wrong with the proposed stricter ethics bill? Nothing until one discovers what is attached at the end of the ethics proposal.   Politicians, in their deception by the add-on, have negated any pretense of being ethical and this ploy has been used many, many times against the unsuspecting voter.

Attached at the end of the proposed ethics bill is a rider that would extend term limits for the ethically challenged Arkansas legislature.  The Arkansas legislators fully understand that voters will not read the proposed ethics bill and in all likelihood will vote for it unanimously not understanding what is attached to end of the bill, i.e. AN EXTENSION OF TERM LIMITS.

It is understood that citizens wanted term limits, the reason we now have them.  So what elected state legislators in Sebastian County voted without citizen knowledge or approval to extend term limits?

1.    Senator Jake Files, the bagman for the city’s Big Three.
2.    Rep. Stephanie Malone, presently unemployed (quit government job for fear of another FOI?) and Travelin’ Man John Boozman’s niece.
3.    Termed out Denny Altes who is encouraging his son to seek his position—the Divine Right of Kings?
4.    Senator Bruce Holland, the fella with a big hat and foot on the pedal.
5.    Certainly there are others in the area.

Citizens, keep this in mind, these ladies & gentlemen are not self-serving they are “public servants” looking out for your best interests.  Vote buying, money laundering, manipulations, etc. are in the citizens’ best interests….and of course each of you know this is a crock!

Joe McCutchen

P.S. The Republican Cavemen & Cavewomen voted to create exchanges & fund Obamacare!  Remember, these are “Conservatives”.
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