being lost not improved. True, we are building more public facilities and supposedly making them more citizen friendly and we do have more retail outlets and restaurants, but are they really the key to a better quality of life? The more public facilities we construct the more we have to pay to maintain and staff them, which places an added burden on the individual at tax time. The more people we encourage to settle here the more we are regulated and the more stressed social services become, which requires even more money to fix. Note that growth never eases the tax burden so why is it necessary or good?

It is my opinion that we have lost our balance and are staggering toward the same quality of life citizens in every major city in the nation are fleeing from. Wouldn't being highly selective in our growth policy be more prudent than dragging companies in simply because the money they spend or the business they do will benefit some special interest. What ever becomes of the high paying jobs they are supposed to create? Why do we need them?

As owner beneficiaries of this beautiful county we need to take personal responsibility for its future. To not rely on non-elected committees with their own selfish agendas to steer us on the right path. You may respond that we elect the people that appoint the committees so we get what we deserve. That is partially true but most of the problems tearing our community apart are caused by non-elected special interest groups and organizations pressurizing elected officials behind the scenes.

If one of our leaders tells you that rapid growth is necessary for the good of the community, ask him or her who exactly benefits and how. You may be surprised if he gives you an honest answer. The chances are he won't.

That's what I think. What do you think?

NOW we have insecurity

Like the Energizer battery a government job goes on and on and on. Former Bradley County Sheriff Dan Gilley seems to be endowed with Energizer qualities. It was announced last month that in spite of his humiliating vote of no confidence by the people of Bradley County, the Director of the Tennessee Department of Homeland Security, David Mitchell, decided to reward him with the job of Regional Advisor for Southeast Tennessee.

Lets recap on Gilley's track record as related to his trustworthiness while in office, to see if  Mitchell's choice for the job was in the best interest of the citizenry of Southeast Tennessee.

Could he be relied on to be truthful and open with the people of the region in the event of an emergency?

While in office as sheriff, it was impossible for Bradley County Commissioners to receive answers to many questions concerning a wide variety of  issues from budget and employment to use of drug fund money. This editor could get no information at all from him even though it is required by law. He was unapproachable. Gilley was caught lying about the number of employees required to staff the new Bradley County Justice Center, which almost cost the taxpayer millions of extra dollars. He suggested at a county budget retreat that there were plans in place to use the National Guard Armory building on Dalton Pike as an internment camp in the event of an emergency. What was more of a concern was that he seemed excited when he warned that the rights and freedoms guaranteed under the US Constitution would be rescinded and curfews would be imposed.

It is my opinion that as sheriff, Gilley was out of control and I can imagine how he would react given absolute power over the people of this area in the event of Marshall Law being declared.

How Mitchell could have exposed citizens to this kind of tyrannical thinking is beyond belief for a country which prides itself on the supreme authority of the Constitution and it is even more worrying that maybe Mitchell himself is of the same mindset.

Citizens of Bradley County and Southeast Tennessee.... don't say you have not been warned.

That's what I think. What do you think?
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