Editor, Times-Union:
Now that the rhetoric of the local political races has finally simmer down, it has caused me to take a look at some things and wonder about the accuracy of all that was said.
I think we all understand that during a political race many things that are said, normally would not be said and I wonder if it should've been said in the first place. Problem is, we can't take it back once the words are out in the air, there they are.
Something that got my attention is the aspect of a business owner or owners who may also be involved in the political decision-making of our local area, then should that business be allowed to bid or be engaged to perform the work? You hear the rhetoric, well they sure gonna line their pockets. The reality of it is, as a business you may get the initial bid, but the reality of it is once they have paid their bills made their payments for their equipment, bought the fuel and take care of the necessary overhead to be a successful entity in the community, I would tend to say there's little leftover.
The part that I want to bring to your attention is, business have employees, these employees are who I want to focus on because they are buying and living volunteering for local events, looking after the local needs of our community. There is some thinking going on that maybe these businesses, because of their affiliation in the political process, should not be allowed to bid. I believe to deny a company the privilege of bidding on work that might be attached or involved somehow politically is completely wrong because you're taking food away from these employees that are serving this community, paying taxes in this community. Therefore, I believe we need to try to use as many of our local companies in various projects so that the employees and their families can be fed and have a good life here. Locally, let's think about the people doing the actual work out there and how that relates to the health of our community and to the prosperity of it.
So the next time we hear somebody saying that's lining their pockets, I say that it doesn't go to the company’s pockets. I say, it goes to the people that deserve it and that's the employees. So, in providing work for our local workers, it's imperative that we give consideration to whom the real benefactors are in having local work.
Frank Rhoades
Pierceton, via email