Wednesday, December 27, 2000

Here we go again. A political body saying they don't want to approve a project, but approving it anyway.

They didn't have a choice! That is absurd and I am losing respect for the politicians who keep using that line.

When the Fayette County Commission voted on the Starr's Mill retail project, each commissioner had a choice, yes or no. They chose to vote yes for a project that no one but the developer seems to want.

When the Peachtree City city council voted on the Wal-Mart appeal in the face of overwhelming citizen opposition, they claimed they had no choice. They didn't want a Wal-Mart in Peachtree City, but they chose to vote yes anyway.

Why has this line become so popular? Politicians hope they can have it both ways. They can oppose an unpopular project while still giving the megabucks developer what he wants. Later, they can blame the traffic, and the crime, and the empty storefronts on the unelected city attorney who said they had to vote for the project.

If our elected officials are always going vote the way the city attorney tells them to, why do we need them? Just put the lawyers in charge.

Our "leaders" always have a choice. They can make the hard decisions or take the easy way out. Which choice do you think they have made? Remember your answer when you make your choice at the polls next year.

Robert Brown

Peachtree City

Back to Opinion Home Page | Back to the top of the page