City Government Gone Awry

Do you ever wonder why governmental agencies many times never do their respective jobs? Why no one speaks out is beyond my comprehension.

The enormity of the problem indicates there is no immediate end to it. The problem acts like a virus, spreading as if it were an airborne contagion with a recurrence rate greater than that of the sun rising each day.

Overkill? Perhaps, but doubtful. Any one with an open mind can spot abuses and lack of commitment anywhere, if not everywhere, in their neighborhood. If this is true, what about my neighborhood?

My home town (which we shall leave nameless at this time) has a local government that spends more on administration than city services. Still, they tax the citizens more and more. I have watched a particular ditch (drainage area) filled with water, waste, mold, mosquitoes, tall grass and clogged drains and culverts. This condition has existed for more than a year. Not once has our public services department, street maintenance department, or water and sewage department performed any type of maintenance in or around this area.

The city council has tried to barricade the north side of town from public access through a state highway. Our police department says they need this action to help reduce drug traffic and crime in the area. It is a poorer and predominantly African American and Hispanic American area. Drugs and theft run rampant there. Is there increased police presence in the area to alleviate the problem? The answer is, obviously, a resounding NO. Logically, one would think to try obvious solutions first.

Our city government has not allowed the expansion and development of affordable or low income housing within the city limits. The idea has been put forth to the city council. Of course, they responded with the usual. Committees need to be formed, delegated and financed to explore the city's options and possibilities. Officially "They are looking into it at this time." Of course they are.

Let us not leave out the United States Postal Service. It appears that a postal delivery person took it upon himself to relieve citizens of their rental DVD's from the mail. He had himself quite an excellent collection of movies, so I am told.

Day in and day out, there appears to be no end to this plague. The irony is that despite the failure to deliver services and the abuse of their respective positions, those public servants continue to make us pay by way of more taxes to fund less service.