Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2014 10:43:26 -0400
From: Karen Crowell
Subject: let’s pretend
Several members of Chatham County’s Board of Commissioners are running for reelection this November. Let’s pretend that the party they belong to, which we won’t mention by name, isn’t the party that’s running things in our state government. Let’s pretend that what happens in the state legislature has nothing to do with what happens in Chatham County.
You see, Gene says he won’t post anything that isn’t Chathamcentric so I have to be careful about what I say. If it doesn’t have anything to do with Chatham County, then he won’t post it. So let’s talk about Chatham County.
Let’s talk about how nice it would be if there were plenty of good paying jobs in Chatham County, and nobody was unemployed. Let’s pretend that there aren’t any people living in Chatham County who’ve been laid off and can’t find jobs to support themselves or their families. Let’s pretend that there aren’t any people in Chatham County living on fixed incomes who can’t afford health insurance because our state refuses to expand Medicaid coverage even if it doesn’t cost us a dime. Let’s pretend they won’t get sick or need to go to the hospital. At least not a hospital in Chatham County.
Let’s pretend there aren’t any children in Chatham County living in poverty. Let’s pretend that they don’t go to school hungry. Let’s pretend that they can afford to buy school supplies and books. Let’s pretend they all have smart phones and computers at home. Let’s pretend that there is Internet access everywhere in Chatham County so children everywhere can do their homework at home.
Let’s talk about how much we do for our teachers in Chatham County. Let’s talk about giving some of them bonuses. Let’s talk about raises that some Chatham County teachers will get. Let’s NOT talk about raises that our most experienced teachers WON’T get. Let’s NOT talk about whether or not any Chatham County school teachers will leave North Carolina to find better paying jobs. Let’s NOT talk about teaching assistants whose salaries were NOT funded as promised in this year’s state budget. Let’s NOT talk about students who won’t do well in Chatham County schools as a result.
Let’s pretend that nobody ever gets laid off from their jobs in Chatham County. Let’s talk about taxes and how lucky we are not to have to pay higher taxes. Let’s NOT talk about how much tax revenue is lost when people in Chatham County ARE laid off. Let’s NOT talk about how many customers Chatham County businesses lose when people have to put off repairing that roof or replacing that old washing machine, when they can’t afford to go out to eat as often, when they can’t afford the gas to drive into town. Let’s NOT talk about what happens when customers can’t afford to pay their bills. Let’s NOT talk about bad credit and unpaid bills and debt collectors in Chatham County. Let’s NOT talk about employees small business owners have to lay off in order to stay in business.
Let’s just pretend that none of these problems have anything to do with usl. Let’s just pretend that life in Chatham County is wonderful and if we just let our elected officials keep on doing what they’ve been doing all along, nothing will change and everyone will be just fine.
Karen Crowell