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THE COUNTY COMMISSION SIDESHOW
By Dalton Roberts
Chattanooga Times Free Press
5-10-02
In the posting of the Ten Commandments and all the waste of time, energy
and focus that followed the vote to do it, the County Commission has
dazed and amazed us, pulled our leg, split our sides and blinded
themselves to a conflict of interest as big as Billy Goat Hill.
It dazes
and amazes us that seven men who can read never took the time to read
the history of court cases saying over and over, "No, you cannot
post religious documents in a secular, governmental building." But
we all know the ability to read does not guarantee the ability to think
When some politicians think they have hit on a popular issue, they do
not read or listen to anything that threatens the horse they think is
going to carry them home to glory.
It has also dazed us to see how many times they could shoot themselves
in the foot (and various other body parts). Never have so many spoken so
ridiculously. Aside from Commissioners Casavant and Favors, one
searches in vain for one intelligent sentence that didn't hurt their own
cause. We may have set a world record for the number of elected beings
who can simultaneously get both feet in their mouths. Someone should
alert Guinness.
They pulled our leg palavering all over the place about doing it to show
the source of our laws and denying a religious motive. Imagine Com.
Hullander sending a letter to churches trying to crank them up to rally
to his holy cause. Does he not know such letters become a part of the
court record? Indeed, Judge Edgar cited ullander's letter in his
well-considered opinion and decision.
It was 100% political from the start and everybody knew that. The
majority of the people are not stupid and dishonest and quickly spot
stupidity and dishonesty no matter how it is dressed up. I hear more of
them saying the County Commission has become an embarrassment and a good
case could be made for it with this issue.
It splits our sides to see politicians try to instruct us in religion.
All the time they have devoted to this issue could have been devoted to
studying the budget for ways to solve the problems in our school system.
They might have even matched the record of the first and second county
commissions of 1978 and 1982 in creating new jobs here by finding some
industrial land and building a few more business parks. They turned job
creation over to the Chamber so they would have time to tell us what to
believe. They haven't built one business park in a decade but
hallelujah, boys and girls, they are going to save America.
Here's another side-splitter: Com. Hullander attributed a drop in the
crime rate to the postings. Why doesn't he post them in every cell in
the jail and penal farm? Much of our crime is committed by people who
have served time. Why not get them straightened out while they are in
those cells? And why settle for just posting them? Tape them and play
them over the intercom 24 hours a day. Those criminals have no idea they
have been violating the Ten Commandments.
How about this side-splitter from the Times Free Press of April 30:
"(County Attorney) Rheubin Taylor...argued that a majority of the
commissioners voted to post the commandments after people in the United
States were being attacked for their ethnicity after the events of
September 11...It was against that type of backdrop that Com. Hullander,
on his own, decided to get society back on track..." Such sublimely
silly talk from the attorney who should be telling them the truth about
posting religious documents.
It's Mr. Taylor who has the Billy Goat Hill sized conflict of interest.
He is an ordained minister.
Ah, but let him continue. He adds so much to the cast of this comedy of
errors.
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