An Open Letter to my Fellow Conservatives

Below is a letter I recently submitted to our local newspapers. I had trouble limiting myself to just 400 words, but I hope it gets my point across. We can disagree, even vehemently, but we cannot let those disagreements tear us apart. Both our current political climate and our national news media – from established television networks and newspapers to talk radio and the blogosphere – thrive on manufactured outrage, keeping us all worked up about whatever “they” have done that “we” must fight back against. The details and even the truth are irrelevant, as long as the advertising revenue and the campaign donations keep coming. We have serious problems which require serious thought and action, and instead we have an increasingly polarized and heated climate that can only lead to violence and the disintegration of our political society. We have to think about what we’re saying when we argue and what message we’re really sending. We have to stand up not just to our opponents, but especially to our friends, and say, “This isn’t right. This has to stop.” This is my attempt to say that. I hope you’ll stand with me.

AN OPEN LETTER TO MY FELLOW CONSERVATIVES
I’m frustrated, too. Both major parties are to blame for the fiscal mess in Washington, but I’m particularly disappointed that the Republican Party – which I’ve supported my entire adult life as the party of limited government, fiscal discipline and local control – oversaw much of the past decade’s debt explosion. I understand why many of you have been so disgusted that you’ve turned to the Tea Party “movement.” I don’t always agree with their arguments or their actions, but that’s how democratic society works: concerned citizens engage each other on issues that matter, even when they disagree.

However, I cannot sit quietly by as our local Tea Party, like far too many other “conservative” groups and individuals, goes beyond political debate to inciting violence and advocating treason. The group’s booth at this year’s Boone County Fair proudly displayed and offered for sale t-shirts that proclaim “Got Ammo!” Such a threat – and it is clearly a threat – has no place in political debate, nor in civilized society. Tea Party supporters tell me they expect a civil war if the federal government does not return to what they consider “constitutional” principles, and they want to be ready. Advocating this position is advocating treason. It threatens violence to those who disagree and endorses armed resistance to government. Another big seller encourages violence by stating “Our forefathers would be shooting by now.” Tea Partiers claim to advocate “Liberty, not Tyranny;” the only forefathers who might call our government today “tyranny” are the fathers of the Confederacy, who claimed to fight for liberty while committing treason to protect slavery. The patriots of the Boston Tea Party petitioned their government and carried out peaceful protest, only resorting to violence when, in response to that protest, the Crown took away their rights to self-government by closing their courts and outlawing their democratic assemblies. Our forefathers took up arms to defend those rights, rights we enjoy today to an extent none of them could even have imagined.

Losing an election is not tyranny; it’s democracy. Compromise is not treason; it’s governance. Living in a diverse society with people whose views differ so dramatically is difficult. Freedom requires behaving responsibly, and remembering that our words have consequences. Violent and threatening rhetoric has no place in our political discourse. I want no part of it, nor of any group which condones it. We’re better than this.

Notes -- July 2011 Council Meeting

Note: These are my personal notes from the council meeting. They are NOT the official minutes, nor should they be construed as an official record of any kind.

Boone County Council
7/12/2011
Present: All Council Members present except Marcia Wilhoite, Secretary Heather Barton.
The council approved the minutes of the June meeting. Council also approved the meetings from the joint meeting with the commissioners held June 22.

President Steve Jacob convened a public hearing to consider the Cumulative Bridge Fund levy, which would otherwise be scheduled to drop by $500,000 (.0173), which is currently being diverted to the 4-H building fund. This hearing process will maintain the Cum Bridge Fund at its current rate without the $500,000 being designated specifically for 4-H, though the council could then use it for that purpose or any other by transferring it to the county’s general fund. Highway Supervisor Tom Kouns addressed the council with concerns about the level of the Cum Bridge Fund, particularly in light of the recent addition of the three bridges in the former State Road 334, which recently passed to county control. No members of the public spoke on the issue. The council approved an ordinance to maintain the fund, and closed the hearing.

RE-APPROPRIATIONS:
Re-Assessment (Lisa Garoffolo):
Requested $14,894 from printing to Form 11. After last year’s budgets were set, the line for printing and Form 11s (notice of assessment) were separated on directive from the state, so this will move money to the appropriate line. Approved.

Highway (Tom Kouns):
Requested $1000 from Uniforms to Communications to cover maintenance contract with RayCom. Approved.

ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS:
Sheriff (Ken Campbell):
Requested roughly $742 be transferred from the general to medical, training and postage funds for reimbursements. Approved.

Commissioners (Jeff Wolfe):
Requested $6554 for Boone County Trails from a federal grant. Approved.

Jail Maintenance (none present):
Requested $36 for reimbursement from damage caused by an inmate. Approved.

Highway (Tom Kouns):
Requested $67,214 for reimbursement from the federal grant funding the extension of 146th St. Approved.
Also requested $50,000 for Gas & Oil to fund the summer road maintenance program. Approved.

NEW BUSINESS:
Cindy Murphy of the Boone County Health Department asked for creation of a new unappropriated fund to house monies from the “Trust Account” for the county’s portion of the Tobacco Master Settlement. This had previously been in the department’s general budget, but the state now requires the monies go into their own fund with more accountability. The council moved to create the fund.

The council considered a hiring freeze policy which had been recommended by the personnel committee at the joint council/commissioners meeting in June. The policy as written is nearly identical to the proposal discussed last fall by the council, with the addition of a requirement that no offer of employment could be extended without the approval of the Council. MUCH discussion followed, with several elected officials and department heads objecting to various aspects of the proposal. In the end, Attorney Clutter advised that revisiting the document and policy before enacting it would be wise, and the several department heads asked – again – that they be allowed further input. As a result, the personnel committee will be holding another meeting to discuss this policy recommendation specifically. Department heads and elected officials were invited to attend and also asked to submit concerns and proposals to committee chair Brent Wheat before the meeting so they could be circulated and evaluated in preparation for the meeting.

Highway Supervisor Tom Kouns asked for guidance in submitting his budget proposals regarding CCD fund requests and the federally-mandated radio upgrade.

Dax Norton of the Boone County Economic Development Corporation gave his monthly update, including inviting the council to attend tomorrow’s fund analysis meeting. Norton observed that national economic climate seems to be losing momentum, but Boone County continues to do well attracting business investment, particularly in the Lebanon Business Park.

Auditor Melody Price gave the council a financial update. Several positive items surfaced recently, including a continuing increase in tax collections, particularly from the Food & Beverage Tax. The state also recently allowed the county to transfer more than $575,000 from the excess levy fund to the general fund, which had a significant positive impact on our operating balance.

OLD BUSINESS:
Attorney Clutter advised the council that the Sheridan School Board has submitted paperwork for a referendum this fall. Previously the council had to certify any such referendums, but a change in state statute now makes that notice to the council advisory only.

PUBLIC COMMENT:
Jane Myers of the Lebanon Library Board (as the Council’s appointee) and Director Kay Martin addressed the council on the library’s expanding services and usage. Among other things, the library will be housing the Boone County Learning Network for the coming year.

Fair Board President Jim Love addressed the council on the improvements made to the fairgrounds, in part through the county’s contributions, as well as planned improvements. The county also contributes to the fairgrounds’ maintenance fund, and Love asked that those contributions continue.

Tom Kouns reminded the council that the Cum Bridge Fund balance of $5.1M does not reflect commitments for bridge repairs already made. Actual non-committed funds available is just over $2M.

Dax Norton urged the council to drive around Lebanon, Zionsville and Anson to visit the multiple economic development projects underway. Norton also reported on his recent trip to Meijer corporate headquarters in Michigan, where he and others from the EDC met with Meijer officials to encourage them to build their planned store in Anson.

Meeting adjourned at 10:35.

Next regularly-scheduled council meeting will be 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, August 9, in the Courthouse Annex, Lebanon.

Agenda July Council Meeting

BOONE COUNTY COUNCIL
BUSINESS AGENDA FOR JULY 12, 2011
LOCATION: CONNIE LAMAR MEETING ROOM, ROOM 105
116 W Washington St
Lebanon, IN 46052


Call meeting to order – 8:30 a.m.

Approval of June 2011 Minutes

Re-Appropriation Requests: Re-assessment, Highway

Additional Requests: Sheriff, Commissioners, Jail Maintenance, Highway

New Business: Cindy Murphy, Director-Boone Co Health Dept – New Fund
Hiring Freeze/Replacing Employees
Tom Kouns, Highway Superintendent – Budget Questions
Dax Norton, Director Boone EDC - Update
Melody Price, Auditor - Financial Update

Old Business: Cum Bridge Rate

Public Comment:

Document Signing: Re-Appropriations, Additionals, June
2011 Council Minutes

Adjournment


This agenda is subject to change.