Democracy in action: Many can't attend meetings

Dear Editor,

Citizens of McCook, puff out your chest and stand proud once again. The bright light of democracy illuminated City Hall on April 3rd when hundreds of McCookites appeared in person to show their displeasure with City Council's re-hiring of Mr. Bingham.

It took real courage. Normally when we vote we do so in the privacy of the voting booth and it takes only a few minutes. Monday night, it took hours and folks had to show their face and make public their opinion in front of their peers. Many did this with verbal comments and others did so with their applause.

When each of them left home to attend the meeting they did not know if any others would show up to share their views ... regardless each were determined to stand tall risking the fact they may have stood alone.

Only two participants spoke in support of Mr. Bingham and their comments were not well received by the crowd.

One of those two was Linda Taylor, ex-Mayor and City Council member. She commented there are 7,900 folks living in McCook and therefore the hundreds who attended could not represent the majority.

Excuussee me, I think 300 beats three every time. (Had to increase the number to three as Phil Lyons voted against the majority). Maybe those three are really smarter than all the rest of us and the world is out of step.

With all due respect Linda's math, this type of analysis from prior City Councils is the reason for McCook's financial mess.

7,900 population is not a valid number in this analysis. Of that number, 1,400 are students, 400 are pre-schoolers or infants, probably at least 500 parents to stay home to care for the kids, oversee homework, etc.

There were probably another 500 who had to work (Wal-Mart, Parker, hospital, restaurants, etc.) An estimated 300 were in nursing homes or absent to due health issues. The lack of attendance by city, county and state employees and their spouses (probably due to political implications) would easily amount to another 200 folks. Those vendors, engineers and others who receive large sums of money from business with the city might account for another 100.

Therefore of our total 7,900 population my estimate only 4,500 folks would represent 100 percent of the feasible participants. This illustrates how significant the turnout really was.

She also criticized those who chose to write opinions to the Gazette as opposed to serving by running for City Council. She probably wasn't referring to me, but in respect for those of you who have ask me to run ... I cannot. I am the care giver to my wife of 48 years who is very ill and needs almost constant vigilance. She is my priority, as she took care of me for 42 years, now it's my turn. (Heck, when she first got sick, I tried to buy self-cleaning toilets because for 42 years I didn't know you had to clean the darn things.) To attend the April 3 meeting, I had to impose on my son to stay with her.

I can't stand those who put their personal agenda ahead of McCook's and employ smoke and mirrors to accomplish their goals. All I try and do is take them to task.

'Nuff said,

Bill Frasier

McCook