Words have meaning.
Here are some words:
Dishonest, deceitful, underhand, underhanded,duplicitous,double-dealing, two faced, dissembling, insincere, false, lying, untruthful, mendacious; not candid, not entirely truthful; artful, cunning, crafty, wily, sly, sneaky, tricky, scheming, calculating, designing, devious, unscrupulous; informalshifty, foxy; terminologically inexact; hollow-hearted; false-hearted, double-faced, truthless, and unveracious.
These are all synonyms for the word "disingenuous", which perfectly describes the thought process and tactics utilized by those that have tried to foist off a one-percent sales tax on the citizens of Fort Smith in order to fund the completion of
a project that was pledged and advertised from the beginning as one that would be built on private donations.
The bottom line? This foray into being "disingenuous" didn't start a few months ago when these people who have had their tickets punched on this gravy train for almost 12 years saw the light at the end of the tunnel and figured out it was an oncoming train.
They have been lying to us from the start, and the "rush" to implement what I feel was the plan all along is a multi-faceted attempt to make good on promises made. Not to you and I. Not to the US Marshal Service. But to people who stand to have their already substantial wealth increased multi-fold, which is the only reason any project in this city ever sees the light of day in the first place.
That's right. I said it. There is a coterie of individuals in this city that have their finger in every pie that gets baked. And if they don't get to stick in a thumb and pull out a plum,. the pie never makes it past the kitchen prep phase.
Lord knows it sounds cliched. But follow the money. The money flow always leads to answers. Sometime is flows downhill, sometimes it flows uphill and sometimes it flows sideways. But it always flows into the pockets of a a confederacy of "developers" who control every aspect of municipal government in this community.
Let's make one thing perfectly clear. I believe in capitalism. I have had times in my life when I made a lot of money and I have had times when I have been so ass-broke that the kindness of family, friends and strangers is the only thing that kept a roof over my head. But in the best of times I always made my money honestly and never took advantage of my neighbors in the process.
Not everyone in business for themselves is a crook. But there are a lot of them, and they rely on tax credits, discombobulated personal property taxes, loopholes, family trusts, and financial sleight of hand to take from the poor and give to the rich. And by the rich I mean themselves.
As we sit here on the final day of this roller coaster ride of political reverie, I am simultaneously heartbroken and heartened by what this has become. Those that have bent the truth because, as one "downtown organizer" put it, "it's time for those invested in this project to get their payback" have shamed themselves.
I have a lost a lot of respect for people who I thought were decent citizens, and the flip side is the issue has exposed the true colors of many I had no respect for in the first place.
But this is nothing new. The disingenuous part, I mean.
For example. Let's say a guy who has never accomplished anything in his millenial life decides he wants to run for office and "start a new conversation". Let's say said guy has been a Bohemian rhapsody his entire sheltered life, strumming a guitar and drinking craft beers with his like-minded buddies as they toss about their atheistic and socialist ideas.
You can shave down Che Guevara and put him in a sports coat. But when the election is over the real guy comes back out to play. You know. No longer forcd to be disingenuous and back to his old self.
What heartens me is the fact that, after years of apathy, passivity and a detachment from the civic process, this fight has stirred the souls of many who are looking beyond the final vote count on Tuesday. There is vigorous discussion on exploring a change in our form of city government. People are standing up to the ridiculous increases in water rates.
Folks are starting to ask questions and unlike never before, are demanding answers.
I see the seeds being planted on a local and state level, where a new attitude can take root and grow into giant oaks that can shade our community with a canopy of common sense, fiscal responsibility and personal integrity.
But it starts with us. You, me and our loved ones. We have to stand together and push back against the condescending greed, personal arrogance and lack of moral turpitude that got us here in the first place. When we see injustice, concealed in the belly of a trojan horse of "community development" and "effective administration" we need to make our voices heard.
So here's what I want out of you today. Go vote. At this point, I'm not going to change anyone's mind and no one is going to change mine, since I already voted. But if the voting process is pure and the majority of the electorate wants to be a part of the problem instead of he solution, so be it.
I can get my groceries in Van Buren. I can shop in northwest Arkansas for clothes and major purchases. Plenty of great restaurants in other towns in our region where I can spend my money for nine months. And there are others out there that are like-minded. And they may join me in my economic boycott.
Wouldn't it be ironic if our local economy tanks worse than it is because a bunch of rich people wanted their way?
