Growth in Bibb County

The other day I posted a rather long Blog on this very subject. Today I shall attempt to clarify some of the comments:

• Still engaged in the Civil War. This is not unique to Bibb County. Our current lawmakers in this session are very involved. The Apology for Slavery and the designation of April as Confederate Heritage Month. Neither of these ideas appear to focus on the future.
• Family Connections and the Alledged Good-Old-Boy Network. It would be very interesting to review the list of contributors to the campaigns of various current office holders. Even in Bibb County, running for an elected postion is not a cheap endeavor. I am well aware that many currently in elected office are not connected to "Family" in a birth sense or have been involved in the "Alledged Good-Old Boy Network" as far as such involvement is a matter of public knowledge. Thus my statement, who is contributing to the election funds and who of our elected officials feels obligated to perform in a certain manner.
• Regarding my "We have never done it that way before" statement, I certainly think that the current quagmire regarding a smaller "City Council" fits into this situation. Additionally, I often get the impression that it simply can not be done any other way than the way we have been doing things for decades. Case in point: Several of our elected public servants on the Macon City Council and the majority of the Bibb County School Board are reluctant to communicate with the Voters and Taxpayers via E-Mail. This is a shame. It certainly flys against the concept of "Servant Leadership" which I discussed in my recent post regarding Growth. Here we have a system of communication that some desire to avoid.
• During my previous discussion of "Respect for our Neighbors" I addressed my concern regarding charity. Additionally, we continue to foster an environment that there are two levels of citizenship in Bibb County. Until we level the playing field and expect all of our citizens to participate in the process we will continue to have two societies in Macon. Those who are in power and establish themselves as the "Rulers" and those who provide the tax dollars so they can continue to be "The Rulers."

1. The recent events surrounding the "Love Offerings by Judges and/or Clerks in the Bibb County Court House." If I read correctly a Judge is now enjoying a retirement funded by the Bibb County Tax Payers.
2. The heirs of a certain deceased Bibb County Leader currently in receipt of retirement payments on behalf of the deceased.
3. The Mayor of Macon enjoying the benefits of many visits to "Sister Cities." As Parents of this individual I would think the Parents (Tax Payers) of Macon would quite having Sisters for the Mayor to associate with. This family is far too large already. In this case the old adage may be appropriate: "Power Corrupts." The history of the complete phrase is as I found out on the World Wide Web:

This arose as a quotation by Lord Acton in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887:
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."

I suspect that the majority who read this will agree with me, "The Flower Child" that we have certainly jumped the track as regards "Servant Leadership." I am also aware that there is also a concept entitled "Servant Citizens," and as I consider this phrase, I certainly feel that it is very appropriate that "We the People" strive to let our voices be heard. Certainly hard to do when "The rulers" and those elected officials appear to not desire communication from the very People who elected them.

I am certain that every citizen, rich or poor in Bibb County is a valuable person. As such, we all have the responsibility to share our comments in a positive manner. Yet, we also must be honest enough to realize that there are times when we must present what is considered incorrect.

The early patriots who threw crates of Tea in the Boston Harbor created a sacred legacy that we need to continue.

In conclusion, please remember that we have so very much to be Thankful for here in Middle Georgia. It is just a shame that we are holding ourselves back because of Leadership which is often "Self Centered" and/or in high positions for their own personal gain.

We will never flourish if we do not eliminate the errors of the past. Look Forward or as we all stated a few years ago, "Forward Macon!!!!!!"