Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 08:37:22 -0400
From: Karen Crowell
Subject: Re: Chatham Chatlist #5052
There is no need to apologize, Mark, for having a different opinion. That’s not attacking someone. But please consider what I mean when I say that your comment below is also just an opinion.
> Spending tax money on someone to do the exact same thing our doctors
> are recommending we do wont make a difference . Having another
> government office to try to do what our doctors have been trying to do
> for years wont make any difference either
There are people at UNC and other schools who specialize in Health and Human Behavior and they study how we CAN make a difference by looking at programs across the country trying to accomplish the same thing. They figure out what works and what doesn’t. Their recommendations are what an “obesity director” uses to decide what is the most cost-effective method to help motivate people like you.
Nobody wants their tax money spent unwisely, but just because you decide something is a waste of money doesn’t make it so. There are lots of things that we as average citizens can’t possibly be expected to know. That is why we rely on competent leaders who are well-informed to make decisions about how our tax money is spent.
When our leaders make decisions without taking the time to consult with others who are better informed or have more experience than they do, they aren’t as likely to make the right decisions. Consequently we, as tax paying citizens, pay the price and the problems don’t go away.
I want my leaders to be well-informed and to understand the problems we face. I want them to be committed to improving the quality of life of every citizen in this county. I want them to hold our well-being as the ultimate goal of whatever actions they take. If certain segments of the population benefit more than others, then they aren’t doing their job, because we all matter. Especially those who don’t have the advantages that so many of us take for granted.
Karen Crowell