Prudent propaganda
Dear Editor,
The window-rattling blast you heard at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 8 was the top of my head exploding after reading a councilman's comment at the Sept. 7 meeting.
The Humane Society asked for a measly $3,000 to fund their dedicated and much needed service. True, they handle homless and problem animals without payment for some of our neighbors. Addressing the request, a council member said, "Why do the citizens of McCook have to subsidize the animal problems of Southwest Nebraska?"
Duh?! Fact is, folks living in those towns subsidize McCook! They do a lot, if not most of their shopping here. Profits from their purchases of our goods and services allow McCook citizens to earn a living, pay taxes on their business property, taxes on their homes, etc.
I'm pretty sure they buy a product that provides that councilman a paycheck. These folks pay McCook sales taxes, which subsidizes McCook farther.
Imagine what would happen if those getting "free" Humane Society services suddenly vanished or quit doing business here.
We would be getting bids on rolling up the streets, not on a 51⁄2 million dollar monument to self-indulgence.
My head exploding (I really hate it when that happens) was a result of pressure building up since an Aug. 17 Gazette article where Bruce Baker called the proposed municipal building a "prudent layout." Editorial comments don't belong in news articles, regardless, the proposed building is about as prudent as using a Ferrari for pizza delivery.
Let me illustrate, based on plans published in the Gazette and doing a rough scale, the building appears to be five times as long as it is wide! That is excessive waste. Example: To build a 2,000 square foot building, you can build it (a) 100 feet by 20 feet (length five times width like the proposed building) which requires 240 lineal feet of exterior wall, or you can build it (b) 40 feet by 50 feet, 180 feet of exterior wall (25 percent less). It obviously takes more material and more labor to build (a) therefore (b) should cost at least 20 percent less.
The design is typical government waste and we cannot afford it. We must defeat this folly.
Someone once said the only thing that keeps government in check is the court of public opinion. Court is in session.
Presenting my case against the powerful and their propaganda makes me feel like I'm trying to push a chain uphill ... what the heck, it keeps me out of the saloons.
'Nuff said
Bill Frasier
McCook