Politics and Education is good “bidness”                                                              May 31, 2009

“Elected and appointed officials see pay stall” according to Fort Smith Times Record.  Not from my vantage point. 

It is an accepted fact that all governments are bloated.  The city of Fort Smith is no exception.  The city’s population is some 80,000, but may not be accurate due to the thousands of illegals present. The city has 900 full time employees, plus a undisclosed number of part-time employees. The 900 full-time employees factors out to be 1 city employee for every 89 citizens.

A Times Record article dealing with salaries alluded to the fact that the city pinched pennies in early 2008 while the private sector SEEMED to be enjoying normal pay raises—not so, regarding the private sector. But in late Fall the 2009 budget made its debut, private-sector employers conducting massive lay-offs.  Examining these 2 quotes the city Board of Directors, in the midst of a recession/depression, awarded 2 ½ % pay raises to city employees and it is observed that there were no city lay-offs of any magnitude.  Why raises and no layoffs in city government when the free enterprise producers are being removed from the job force…you know, the ones who prop up this dysfunctional government tent?

Looking briefly at the Arkansas State government, Gov. Mike Beebe created 2,044 new state government positions between Jan. 12, 2009 to Jan 22, 2009.  

It is noted that Mayor Baker is given a $400 per month car allowance and has an administrative assistant.  Personnel costs for his 2-person office total $78,780 with operating costs of $166,300; the mayor’s overall budget is $245,080, plus a $10,000 yr salary—obscene.  

The 5/31/09 edition of the Times Record reports Mayor Baker touting a continuation of a 1% sales tax for continued “wet weather improvements” which is a proper government function.  In that same time frame, the Mayor and the Board approved an $8,000 grant to a Pro-Am Bowling Tournament, along with a $4,500 grant to help pay transportation and lodging costs for non-city personnel to participate in an All-American City Award to be held in Tampa, FL.  It is this type of unseemly conduct that makes it difficult to support city government.  The $12,500 in terms of city government is not serious money, but coupled with a plethora of other non-government functions, it rapidly becomes very serious money.

Finance Director Kara Bushkuhl indicated the 2009 budget is devoid of a hiring freeze (why not?) and seemed to say government employees’ salaries should be predicated on the private sector (in a pig’s eye).   These folks seem to forget that it is the private sector which generates the funds that keep these governments tents burgeoning while private sectors do not enjoy the protection rackets that government employees have.

Turning to the “education” morass.  Educantists enjoy the most blatant protection racket of all the government cabals and is a colossal failure.  One only has to look to the AEA and the NEA unions and the fact that 50% of all high school graduates need remedial tutoring before higher education acceptance. Note also the dropout rate for Blacks and Hispanics in government schools—over 50%.   City, county, state and federal governments continue to pour billions into physical facilities while diluting academics. The colleges of education are short on academics and long on indoctrination, i.e. revision and fanning the flames of multi-culturalism.

It is noted that Superintendent Benny Gooden enjoys a $214,131 salary per year, plus the use of a car—obscene.  

Gooden said, in trying to justify his absurd salary, that “his job description covers several dimensions—responsibility for nearly 14,000 students, and oversight of 1800 regular employees—also obscene.

Gooden goes on to say his job is interacting with every government agency….that guarantees education failure.

What Superintendent Gooden fails to state is that he has 4 assistant superintendents…count them…FOUR, and a plethora of Dept. heads and principals.

Fast forwarding to the Univ. of Ark. at Fort Smith, which has developed into a bureaucrat’s dream.  For example: an overview of Chancellor Paul Beren’s resume indicates his career up until this time was low level bureaucracies.  Arriving in Fort Smith as UASF Chancellor—Beren hit the jackpot at $261,029 per year.  A breakdown of the total compensation shows a base salary of $177,000, benefits totaling $40,618, plus allowances for housing, a car, and membership dues compensation totaling $261, 029. 

The above numbers do not take into account Beren’s worldwide odysseys in pursuit of Globalism, which occur on a regular basis—guess who pays.  Another puzzling example is the very expensive electronic billboards around town…what potential student is influenced by a billboard?

All governments are expanding at a horrific rate while U.S. producers are dropping like flies. Another example: the City Administrator, the Mayor  & Directors are formulating a scheme to add on another tax, i.e. the “restaurant tax”.  The tax, at least part of it, would be directed to salvage the near defunct city auditorium.    

Observe: the funding of non-essentials, and there are multitudinous, e.g. increasing the numbers of city employees, and the peripheral expenses required to initiate and maintain these expansionary measures.  while at the same time the Mayor, Directors and City Administrator are formulating the scheme to add on yet another tax, i.e. the “restaurant tax”.  What a great idea when restaurants are struggling to stay in business and the customers are struggling to afford eating out!  Another brilliant nail in the coffin.

City Administrator Kelly comes forth with another blockbuster statement, “if passed the tax would be optional”….translation—if you don’t eat in a Ft. Smith restaurant you won’t have to pay the tax.

I would suggest the Fort Smith City Government engage in only traditional city government functions.  Should the case arise, there would be plenty of funds available for subsidizing the struggling City Auditorium.

Citizens with a short memory, the Ft. Smith Convention Center cost approximately $33 million, the exact same price that Bud Walton Arena cost, while the City of Hot Springs Center cost about $17 million…care to compare?  And then there is the Lee Creek fiasco, and the beat goes on.

Members of city government; are you familiar with the 8 points of “Sustainable Development”, if not please acquaint yourself.   . http://www.newswithviews.com/Shaw/michael9.htm     Sustainable Development is dedicated to destroying individual rights and free enterprise.  The city of Fort Smith is actively engaged in at least ½ of the 8 point agenda such as   “Public/Private Partnerships” (Fascism) which eliminates free enterprise.

You gentlemen, knowingly or unknowingly are swallowing the Marxist bait. 

Mayor & City Officials stick to legitimate city business!

Kindest regards,

Joe McCutchen

Fort Smith

Cc: Citizens

www.arkansasfreedom.com