Isn’t our county fantastic? Isn’t our Mayor amazing? Unless you have had your head buried in the sand over the past week (or you ignore local politics…) you have probably heard that our wonderful county mayor (Wharton for those of you who didn’t know…) spent hours pouring over the new county budget budget amounts that are absurdly larger than the county’s income.
Let’s pause for a moment and envision the day when the average citizen of Shelby County can follow our mayor’s lead and spend 28.5 million dollars more than we make (yes, you read that number right). Apparently we are fortunate enough to live in a county with a mayor who apparently has his own printing press. I say this because I know there is no possible way a reasonable civic leader would spend 28.5 million more of the taxpayers money than he is taking in this next year. Hmmm……maybe he has hired David Copperfield as chief of staff??? Maybe he can make money appear our of thin air!
Hold the presses mayor, it appears one of your county commissioners is so thankful for all of your overbudgeting efforts that he is proposing we tax the citizens of Shelby County for the privilege of living in your overtaxed, stifled economy. Congratulations Mayor Wharton, it appears that your grand scheme to continue to tax the middle class into oblivion marches on!! Looks to me like your future as Mayor of the City of Memphis is waiting.
Ok, so he made a HUGE financial mistake. Being the finance person that I am, I do see it as a valid reason not re-elect him. However, in spite of his ineffeciency as a politician, I would first look to where he went over budget before judging him on a personal note. If he went over budget to improve the schools, roads, and services for the citizens in the county, where as the bad spending was still a horrible waste, it shows that he at least does give a crap about his county rather than just his own personal gain. Having had a few frank discussions with Mayor Wharton and King Willie myself (both at different times), and as a resident of the Memphis City, I would MUCH rather take Wharton’s over spending before I accept Willie’s constant hunger for personal gain. At least Wharton really does want what is best for the people he represents, is a man of his word, and his personal life is so clean if they did try to blast him in the media, the media would look like fools. As we’ve all heard of Willie’s escapades with drugs, strippers, and illigitimate children as a result, the same could never be said for him. In conclusion, I’d rather pay more taxes and have Wharton leading than pay nothing with King Willie in office!
Ok – so tell us how you really feel!