We are in an economic crisis because Chatham County’s previous administrations stifled growth

Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2011 09:16:02 -0700 (PDT)
From: Linda Bienvenue
Subject: environmentalist on planning board

Mr. Beasley’s post below really got to me.   I just love someone who has a good handle on sarcasm.   I too love the environment, because God created it, and gave man dominion over it.    I feel that there are sensible ways to keep it clean, and sensible ways to work and grow and still be good stewards of this earth.  

Unfortunately, most environmentalists do not inherit their detrimental labels, they earn them.   So many projects across this great nation have been held up for years, or never allowed to happen due to some radical enviromentalists “gumming” up the works.   Projects that would be beneficial for all mankind, not just a few.    We are in an economic crisis because Chatham County’s previous administrations have stifled growth so that we may continue to live in a bedroom community.   Yes folks, a bedroom community is what Chatham County is because we really don’t want any kind of businesses here that will encourage employment on a large scale.

That would just be wrong for the environment.

I don’t know what has changed in Mr. Beasley’s neighborhood, but I haven’t seen a whole lot of housing development going on that would be causing him to run across the road to get his mail to avoid getting hit by a car.   Geez, I was taught that when I was a child in the 50’s.      The only traffic I see is the traffic from Sanford heading up to Chapel Hill or Durham to work and back again.

Lines in the store?   Are you kidding me?

What stores are there to have lines in? Oh yeah — McDonald’s and Taco Bell and all the great restaurants that we can boast having in Chatham County.    And, if he is wasting gas on a windy country road — he shouldn’t worry, because there are plenty of gas stations being put up for him to fill his tank.    Oh, and why aren’t we questioning the price of gasoline that varies .10 – .15 cents per gallon in the SAME county, never mind that the price of a barrel of oil has dropped substantially, but we are still paying $3.50+ per gallon of gasoline.     Besides, why be on that windy country road unless you are heading out of the county to purchase your goods, ’cause there sure aren’t a lot of places to shop here.

Why is there this mentality of having to be the only one around?   Should this county consist of three or four people sitting on the porch in rocking chairs gazing at trees?   The big homes being built belong mostly to people who work outside of Chatham County.   Those developments wouldn’t be there either if some previous landowner had not sold the land to a developer to build on.   Is that landowner to be condemned because for economic reasons, he/she had to sell their land? Why were they so selfish in not considering ALL of the numerous species of wildlife on their properties that would be affected, the trillions of insects that might have to migrate elsewhere?    How can someone be so inconsiderate?    Where were the environmentalists blocking this sale?  

And, taxes — well don’t get me started on that.    Taxes will go up if there is no way to “spread the pain” around – meaning if we had substantial businesses coming into Chatham County, they would take up their portion of the tax payments.    Commissioners Bock, Stewart and Perry understand this because they are business people.   They are trying to make the economy of Chatham County GROW – not continue to stagnate.  

Lastly, I will address getting away from it all …….. here’s a suggestion:   instead of New Mexico or Montana, why not try further south across the Rio Grande.    I hear that the population is decreasing down there, so there should be plenty of open space for you.    No growth there, no stores, no big developments either.    I don’t know about the peace and quiet though, as I think that the sounds of rifles and shooting are pretty loud.   What the heck, sometimes you have to give a little to get a little.     Enjoy!

Linda Bienvenue
Pittsboro