A resolution urging The United States Congress and the Legislature of the State of Tennessee to pass legislation that protects the private property of its citizens from unjust "takings" under the provisions of the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution.

As of this writing, the above resolution has been placed on the agenda for consideration by the Bradley County Commission at its August 1st meeting. Similar resolutions are being proposed in communities across the nation  in response to a recent U.S. Supreme Court opinion giving broader powers to local authorities to forcibly take private property using eminent domain from one private owner and giving it to another if it is deemed the new use could increase the local tax base, provide jobs or spur economic development. Previous safeguards protecting the individual's right to retain private property have been flushed down the toilet in a Supreme Court ruling that has stirred anger and disbelief by citizens and many elected officials alike.

Those government authorities that promote restricting property rights will not be concerned with the uproar because they understand that these resolutions have no teeth unless state legislators or the U.S. Congress acts.  Also, history shows that once given powers, government authorities rarely relinquish them, in fact once enacted there is almost instant effort expended to expand the power beyond its original intention.

Most of the laws that attack the fundamental liberties of the individual gain support because they address an emergency need for change. Tax income not keeping pace with government spending is of primary concern to elected officials who have been warned by the voters not to increase taxes or else. Often  heard from Cleveland and Bradley County officials is the clarion call to look for more creative ways to raise money without public retaliation. The idea of cutting government spending never seems to progress beyond the discussion stage, always resulting in increased spending after an alternative source of money is found. Sometimes I wonder that if half the effort was expended to decrease spending as is being used to find new revenue the problem of skyrocketing budgets would be solved. Alas, local officials are trapped into out-of-control upward spiraling costs just as surely as the cell phone addict.

The latest spin on the search for more spending power is selling the family heirlooms to bolster city and county coffers. Cleveland sold so-called unused

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and tax stagnant property a few months ago to put it back on the tax rolls. It was accomplished without much media attention or fuss from the public but it was public property that was being disposed of and what actual benefit did that exercise realize for the citizen? Now, County Mayor, D. Gary Davis, is selling off Bradley Memorial Hospital and the farmers market land in order to help balance the county budget. What will he sell next to finance his runaway spending - the Bradley County Nursing Home?

Eventually, as with most irresponsible spending, there will be nothing left to sell, the culprit will leave office to a secure and public paid retirement or lucrative employment and his successors will be left with no option but to raise taxes - again. There is one simple answer though, if the cycle is to be broken - do not vote for any candidate supported by the people that got the county into this mess, and don't vote for anyone that works or has relatives working in local government - i.e, the beneficiaries of the increased spending. We will lose some good and valuable people in the shuffle but the knife will have to cut clean to make the slice. You say it can't be done? As seen on page one of this publication, the Mayor of  Spring Hill, Tennessee, Danny Leverette announced on July 18th a new city property tax rate of ZERO. That's right, Zero. Spring Hill continues to watch taxpayer dollars like a hawk and this year they came in under budget, passing the savings on to the citizens.
www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050719/ COUNTY04/507190341/1006/NEWS 
If Mayor Leverette can do it, so can Mayor D. Gary Davis and Mayor Tom Rowland.
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First responders, heroes in uniform or what?

A man who rescued a swimmer caught in swirling river currents found himself in trouble soon afterwards when he was arrested by authorities who claimed he was interfering. Dave Newman 48 of San Marcos, Texas, disobeyed repeated orders to leave the water, police said.

"I was amazed," Newman said after his release on $2000 bail. "I had a very uncomfortable night after saving that guy's life. He thanked me for it in front of the police, and then they took me to jail."

"When he came across the river, the officer stuck out his hand like he's going to help him  out of the water, and he put cuffs on him," said a bystander.

My question is, how come all these so-called first responders were not in the water with Newman doing what they are paid to do. That's right - you know the reason?
You already know what you think.

Who do they really represent?

So, it is proudly presented by the Cleveland Daily Banner, that Cleveland City Council members David May Jr. and Avery Johnson were re-elected to the board of directors of the Tennessee Municipal League - like that is a good thing for the citizens of Cleveland. The Tennessee Municipal League is a front for usurping the taxpayers efforts to ensure a fiscally responsible government and continually scuttles any effort to cut government spending and lower taxes by lobbying Nashville legislators. And who or what is behind this shadowy and sneaky little outfit - apart from sellouts like May and Johnson - public employee organizations of course. The Tennessee Municipal League's sole purpose for existence is to increase the size and cost of government for the benefit of it's members and to the detriment of the ordinary taxpaying citizen. May and Johnson are not the only ones clandestinely promoting these ideals, Cleveland City Mayor, Tom Rowland has been stabbing the citizens of Cleveland in the back for years helping his high-flying buddies at the TML.  If you call these guys and ask them what the TML stands for they will in all probability justify it as an organization of city mayors doing what is best for the city they represent. But look deeper and you will find it is primarily composed of government itself. It is understandable that public employees would want to improve their working lot and have a voice in Nashville but for local elected leaders to be proud to belong to an organization made up of their employees must be a conflict of interest. Ask May, Johnson and Rowland if they are members of any citizens lobbying group such as the National Taxpayers Union or the Tennessee Tax Revolt and you will see where there allegiance lays.
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