Date: Sun, 21 Aug 2011 15:50:58 -0400
From: Cliff Beasley
Subject: Caroline Siverson is wrong
Caroline Siverson is wrong for chastising the county board of commissioners for voting against the environmentalist nominated to the planning board. An environmentalist on the planning board would be detrimental to progress in Chatham County. Such a member would gum up the works. Money is tight right now and environmentalists cost developers money. I hate seeing all the abandoned, uncompleted subdivisions around the county. So let’s get back on track. “Chatham County is open for business” said one of the new commissioners. The pro-business commissioners won and they are the voting majority on the board. Suck it up tree huggers!
Personally I think development is good. I like seeing and hearing new neighbors close by. Why their new houses are so big yet built so close together I’ll never understand. I guess it’s just like living in the city only way out in the country. I like heavy traffic and crowded roads.
Sitting at stoplights gives me time to think about things. Having cars riding my bumper all the time on winding rural roads, even when I’m driving the speed limit, gives a thrill to my sedentary life. I view looking for a parking place as my small way of stimulating the economy – burning up gasoline and wearing out my car. I enjoy standing in line when going to a restaurant or trying to check out at a grocery store. It’s good exercise. Crossing the road to my mailbox used to be a no-brainer. Now it’s look, listen, and move real fast. It keeps me on my toes. I also like having my county tax bill increase every year. Paying taxes makes me feel patriotic. The costs of residential development end up costing the rest of us here in the county – more schools, added police and fire protection, etc. But hey, developers have to make living too. We can help them by sharing the costs.
For those of you who moved to Chatham County thinking you were going to get away from it all, well think again. If you want open space, along with peace and quiet, then try New Mexico or maybe Montana. Or if you don’t like the way things are headed here in Chatham then I suggest you go vote for an alternative in the next election.
Best regards,
Cliff Beasley
Silk Hope