Friday's Idaho Mountain Express contained a report on various so-called "non-profit groups" that have approached the City Council with funding requests. Be that as it may, it is quite disturbing to witness the on-going siphoning of funds that continues to flow out of the coffers of the city of Sun Valley for unnecessary, "pork barrel" projects, and for grant requests that are paid for by the taxpayers at the behest of the City Council, several members of which, I must admit, I voted for in the last and previous elections.
What I thought I was voting for was for some fiscally conservative and responsible people, but what I have been finding out over the last 12 to 24 months is that most of this council is nothing more than a group of liberal, spend-as-we-want, pseudo government officials.
This must stop.
Examples of this conduct constantly rise to the surface, as do the recently unfounded commentary by several of the members of this group. Notably, Nils Ribi's comment that "the Hispanic community is vital to the economy of Sun Valley. Otherwise Sun Valley would not be able to operate as a city," is totally irresponsible and has absolutely no basis in truth or fact, whatsoever.
Moreover, Blaine County Commissioner Sarah Michael's position as an "advisory committee member" to one of the groups requesting funds also is inappropriate, but that's a whole other topic. It does sound like a little bit more of a conflict of interest issue, which should be dealt with through the proper channels.
What's more, it always amazes me when I hear of spend free liberals supporting causes for which they have no right supporting, especially with their constituents' money, i.e. tax dollars. The fact of the matter is that all one needs do is trace the recent history of what has happened in places like Southern California and now, sadly, right here in the Wood River Valley, when groups that should assimilate into our culture are coddled.
Even more disturbing is the unfortunate reality that we are being forced to assimilate into their cultures via the actions being promulgated by other erstwhile organizations. Cramming it down our throats won't do any of us any good. Just look at the money that is spent on the extra services for police, jails, health care, social services and the like, and you'll get the idea if you don't have it already.
When the City Council spends our money and otherwise supports some of these "non-profits" they are simply contributing to the problem, not solving anything. You're not doing us any favors, and you're irresponsibly and needlessly spending our tax dollars on counterproductive projects and organizations. Your actions are extremely short-sighted and disastrous in the long-run. My previous reference to Southern California should be all the proof you need to illustrate the long-term consequences that surely await us.
Another idea, if you're so dead set on wasting money, why don't you have us vote on a slate of the projects, groups and the amount of tax dollars that you are proposing to support and contribute to, in advance of your agreements to fund them?
Your irresponsible and often liberal-based causes, which you so readily agree to spend our money on, are definitely not in the best interest of the great majority of us.
Regrettably, however, you cannot reason people out of something that they did not reason their way into.
I can hardly wait for the next time the voting booths will be open.
Get real.
Charles N. Foss
Sun Valley
