Denise Bensusan's SPEAK OUT ARIZONA

Tuesday, February 01, 2011

CATASTROPHE CREATES BILLIONAIRES

Denise Bensusan

Let's start with a definition. "FASCISM: a political theory advocating an authoritarian hierarchical government (as opposed to democracy or liberalism) ." I'd say that hits Mohave County right on its proverbial head.

Where does one begin in defining the obvious depravity that is rampant in our local government? The lack of transparency in the governments business (the people's business) stands out like a sore thumb.

The secrecy of where our tax dollars have gone specifically is unacceptable. The waste of our tax dollars sets the stage for a catastrophic failure of this county, this community and its people. Could this be purposeful? History tells us that many corrupt leaders have ravaged their own communities to enrich themselves and their associates.

We have become a county of SPECULATIVE PROJECTS. Projects that cost this entire community more than has ever been returned it. No positive financial impact, no infrastructure and no growth.

Think about it folks over the last 4 or 5 years how many headlines have you seen spouting that the rezoning and approval of certain lands/projects would bring JOBS, JOBS and more JOBS? In reality there were very few with no relief in sight.

These supposedly high dollar speculative projects don't ever break ground in fact they were never intended to break ground. It's all just a financial enrichment paradigm for a small group of good ol' boys whose wealth has been derived from the rezoning and resale of land and false promises to the citizens. The Provence sale closed the very same day that it was approved. Still to this day (years later) not a shovel of dirt has been moved but they sure got a lot of great PR out of that one. Mohave Counties leaders have set this county and its natural resources out for sale but with no proceeds flowing into the county coffers. So who is getting rich?

Our infamous county manager has created his own personal fortress out of our expensive new county building. For good reason or because of his own irrational fears? A employee (with too much power) who has exaggerated the security risk and utilized unrealistic FEAR to brazenly waste your tax dollars?

The Mohave County Board of Supervisors have done everything in their power to deter public participation in government decision making. It's criminal, it's anti-American and it has to stop.

The public has caught this government in the act of treachery against the people and they are angry. To be frank, if I violated the trust of the taxpaying citizens in such a flagrant and arrogant fashion as these leaders have I might be afraid that someone would shoot me too.

America is strong because of its PEOPLE who refuse to be treated as ignorant, dominated slaves. They have rights that they intend to keep and they will sacrifice what is necessary to sustain them. The big question is, how does a community peacefully stop tyranny?

These officials work for us. They do not own us. They do not have the right to spend tax dollars without appropriate disclosure to the public. They have crossed the line of acceptable practice as representatives of the people of the United States of America.

This dictatorship, a collection of arrogant, greed driven puppets have stolen the pride, the notability and the honor that once was Mohave County. It is an embarrassment to this community that the deception within this county government continues to gain momentum as each day passes.

Buster Johnson District 3 supervisor was recently quoted concerning Walker's contract extension; Johnson said a search for suitable candidates for that position would take six months or more and the "political climate" of the county is a deterrent for quality candidates. "It is my opinion that no one would apply," Johnson said. "The political rhetoric, which is based primarily in the Kingman area, is so vehement against the county that it has cost us," Johnson said. This was just about the most absurd thing I have heard all year. I find it repulsive that these leaders do not recognize that their own attitude, unsavory associations and baited approvals of unsuitable projects is what creates a negative political climate. Leaders set the pace and air of a community. Egotistical dictatorship, violations of citizens rights, airplane rides in Jim Rhodes helicopter, a revolving door for representatives of certain projects while denying audience to the citizenship has created a community that is RIGHTEOUSLY up in arms concerning these injustices.

You have to give Walker credit though as he has created total control for himself of this county. On the other side of the coin one must ask just how bright and attentive are these elected officials? They have allowed this to happen and have bankrolled it with our tax dollars.

The sad part is that officials from outside this county know what a corrupt mess this local government is in. It's common knowledge that we must seek higher political power outside of Mohave County in order to defeat the collusive back door business dealings that go on here.

The purposeful destruction of the General Plan is the most recent and visible travesty of the fascist regime here. Without proper citizen participation they have reduced it to something not worth wiping your fanny on.

Let's contemplate the reason why the General Plan has been gutted? No protection for the water supply is the most damaging change to be examined. Water is a $400 billion dollar global industry; the third largest behind electricity and oil. So, why would our illustrious leaders want to remove the language that lent a semblance of protection for the same? How about this: CATASTROPHE CREATES BILLIONAIRES! How rich will the selected few become BECAUSE of water shortages? You can bet your bottom dollar that they can and will become extremely wealthy with the water that our representatives buddies have banked over the last 5 years.

The new General Plan has been rewritten by our illustrious leaders to accommodate the purposeful depletion of a communities water supply for profit? This gang knows they have to work fast too because they only have 2 years before they are ousted from office. So, hang on tight folks because the next 2 years is going to be one hell of a ride!

1/2011 6:00:00 AM
Letter: City ship seeks more gold to sail

One ... two ... three ... four - Oh, forget it. Counting to 10 like my mother taught me just doesn't work anymore. I realize we have a representative form of government as is our local City Council. But, watching a room full of city politicians and bureaucrats at their last work session grabbing like kids at a parade for any tax goodies they can find laying in the street leaves me shaking my head.

And, whenever they can't grab up enough to satisfy themselves, up goes the sales tax increase or bonding suggestion to see if they can elicit another toss of taxpayer bucks. Or, is it a trial balloon being floated in the rising hot air? - just to test the breeze, you see.

Digging into just a little old city history would show that when they got their hands on their sales tax windfall, the city had more cash than it knew what to do with. Remember that this was before hardly any of Butler existed and Golden Valley was nothing more than scraped off section lines waiting for buyers, and Interstate 40 was nowhere within miles of the city limits.

They condemned a whole city block in front of the courthouse in flexing their muscle before the county Board of Supervisors and built a sprawling new city complex. They bought up million dollar water companies - with cash as I recall - and designed pricey four-color city stationery befitting their well-funded image. I know, I printed truck loads of it over the years.

They built parks, re-aligned and put in overpasses on Hualapai Mountain Road, street lights and all manner of enhancements with just a few bonds floated for a handful of major projects.

Now here we are in 2011 with a city crying poverty and no money to do anything with. Mind you the population growth of Butler and Golden Valley has added a huge percentage to the sales tax revenue dropped in the city - more is still not enough!

And, they succeeded in routing I-40 smack dab through the middle of town so they could have easy access to milking that cash cow - more is still not enough!

Some private local business owners have amassed veritable fortunes during this same time frame of which I speak here, and provided a needed boost to our local employment picture following the mine closure. Oh, the city has created jobs, too, at a rather fantastic clip. Yet, city hall would have us believe that what has been such a boon for the rest of the city seems to have left them nearly penniless. Can this be true?

But, city fund balances have increased from $25 million to over $46 million in just the past five years alone. How can one be broke with $46 million in the bank?

We are in good shape is often muttered, and Mayor John Salem boasts his ability to keep the city ship afloat. Well, it's hard to sink a ship floating in a pot of gold. So, the Council turns to a new and novel strategy. They don't throw things overboard to keep the ship from sinking; they add gold to the pot so she'll ride higher.

Now, go hock your life preserver so you can do your part. You gotta love the way government thinks.

Loyd Peterson

Kingman