On March 7th, twelve percent of voters in Mason City went to the polls regarding a relatively simple budgeting issue. Eighty-Eight percent chose apathy that is fueled by frustration and even anger. Yet, the choice of the eighty-eight percent to stay clear of the polls is very understandable. First, no one trusts the local government officials in the majority, both the elected and hired. They do not trust their motivations or their attempts at explaining a referendum issue in an unbiased and ethical manner. Of those who voted against the budget referendum, a majority of those citizens voted “No” because they have learned that the only safe ground for a citizen of Mason City is to take the opposite position of the local government majority.
In addition, it has been a very long time since we in Mason City have had a trustworthy news media outlet that we can count on to disseminate the facts and to practice the craft of unbiased journalism.
I find it incredible that we have one writer employed by our local print media, who day in and day out is allegedly providing unbiased coverage of local politics and local issues of concern having his story be page one above the fold and many times the headline, while simultaneously providing lengthy opinionated pieces relating the same issues in the Op-Ed page intending to present an even more biased position to sway voters.
Our broadcast media fairs no better with factual manipulation, pursuing the sensational sound bite piece instead of any forthright and useful factual information that allows citizens to evaluate and decide issues without feeling a suspicion of being duped again.
We now are faced with an enormously high dollar boondoggle in the shape of the self-serving mayor who named it River City Renaissance. City hall is spinning like a top to not lose “Free MONEY” from the state. Ironically, there is no such thing. Where in the hell do they think state money comes from? It is from us. We are being blessed with our own money in the form of a GRANT. There is no free money. The state cannot print money and the only sources are the normal revenue sources which are taxes that come from us to begin with.
Let us not have any more votes, or elections that put together such an inept and foolish majority to run our city into the ground. The next round of elections, make sure you get to the polls and that we are looking at 100 percent turnout and 100 percent turn-out (firing), of both the elected and hired morons of fiscal doom. Remember there is not one dollar in the budget that is “Free”.
J.W. Sayles
Mason City, Iowa
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