Surprise (not really), another "citizen's" group has sprung up telling us all how to think. In case you don't know, each election cycle a new group pops up with the same people behind it.
This one's called Salem Residents for Truth with the website "Salem Watchdog," which makes me wonder what the "watchdog" is watching (and if he's had his shots), and if he's anything like the Fox that "guards" the henhouse. I found the site has lot's of what I'd call "interuptive truth" that was so popular during the last election - maybe I'll set the record straight about all that at some point in the future - but let's work on what's important to all of us today.
I think the most sensible way to start is being looking at facts, and seeing what we can agree on.
Now, the facts are these...if Salem has any chance of maintaining its rural character, it has to
- Maintain a strong bank account by carefully monitoring and restraining current spending as well as avoiding the community crushing full-time services and subsequent retirement costs that virtually end a communities ability to govern itself (look at the Google results here). Detroit is crumbling and California is bankrupt for this reason alone.
- Employ and wisely use good attorneys that care about the People of Salem more than they do about earning a fee and moving on.
- Understand that "growing the tax base" is a one-way ticket to "palookaville" or in less colloquial language, a never ending spiral of increased services, increased taxes, increased "tax base," until Salem looks like Canton or Westland. IT'S A FACT, THE USDA REPORTS THAT RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY REQUIRES $1.35 DOLLARS IN SERVICES FOR EVERY DOLLAR PAID IN TAXES, FARMLAND OR FORESTLAND REQUIRES 0.38 CENTS IN SERVICES FOR EVERY $1 PAID IN TAXES. Anyone think they can explain how you can "grow" a "tax base" without decimating a community? Well you can't explain it because it can't be done.
Now it is equally true and incontrovertible that people that actually live in Salem Township (unlike some folks who don't, but always want to tell us what to do) agree that they:
A.) don't want urban sprawl,
B.) don't want to pay more taxes (unless it's for a really really good reason - see A above),
C.) value their quality of life, and
D.) would prefer that those that they elect to the public trust understood A, B, and C, and made they're decisions in support of A, B, and C, which means doing 1, 2, and 3.
[However, there is one thing that we are short on, and that's a way to build our strength and solidarity as a community. Five zip codes, 4 school districts, 2 area codes, and only one "watering hole" that I can think of, the Salem post office, doesn't make it easy to know your community or even know what's going on until it's too late.]
Agreed? Good.
Keep this in mind as we go through journey that I hope will make you feel confident in your knowledge of Salem, and your government.
Comments