Local political nonsense!

Monday, December 17, 2007

To: The Canton Observer
Re: “Residents trying to repeal raises for elected officials”, Dec. 16.


The recent attacks on the Canton Township Board of Trustees for their decision to give themselves a 3% raise were expected, as they always are; but trying to repeal the raises has gone past plain silly and into the realm of the absurd.

It appears that all parties agree the board deserves the raise but somehow the board picked the “wrong time” to give themselves the raise. In this time of economic turmoil in Michigan the board’s action was somehow “insensitive” when so many Canton residents are not in the best of financial positions.

I can see anger at CEOs awarding themselves millions when their companies are heading for bankruptcy but I cannot see getting angry over a deserved and planned 3% raise amounting to around $11,000 total.

May I posit the idea that there is no right time for public officials to give themselves raises and there never will be a right time; people complaining about the raises are people that complain about any and all raises that elected officials grant themselves no matter how miniscule the raise or how good or bad the economy.

These same people feel that elected public servants are just that, servants that should work for servant wages. They tend not to see these individuals as real people with real lives, real bills to pay and real kids to raise.

Elected office is not for everyone. Living from election to election is not for everyone. All you can do is the best job possible, hoping the electorate sees the results and votes to allow you to continue your good work.

Getting mad at Canton’s elected officials for one’s financial misfortune when they had nothing to do with the cause(s) of that misfortune is unfair and quite frankly, smacks of envy and serves no positive purpose whatsoever.