The articles written about the Fayette County Development Authority were quite enlightening. I agree in total with Director John Boothby when he speaks of being embarrassed for having to row with one arm and bail with the other.

For many years the Authority has worked diligently to fulfill a mission. Because of their remarkable success, we now seek to reduce their funding. Not only does that provide for very poor county management, it also tells all the other county employees that if you do a good job, we'll consider cutting your department budget, too. So where is the motivation to do good work?

Using their reasoning, they are critical because the Authority has "broke even," generating as much as it spends. Other than a few select departments like water and sewer, is there another department that can generate revenue or break even? I don't think so.

Most consume a considerable portion of the county budget and don't raise a dime. Are we going to discuss them too?

Challenging conventional wisdom is fine but it really doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the value of new and existing industry. Voters, like me, eventually show our disgust with such wasteful posturing. What we need is cutting edge leadership for the challenges we face, not the same old tired ideas with a "new" political label.

Instead of airing dirty politics and hidden agendas, how much more reasonable would it be to have honest private talks with a couple of commissioners and the Authority director and chairman to re-focus their mission towards wealth and good growth, instead of just job creation, urban sprawl and pollution? And only then, come public with the new focus.

Mr. Boothby doesn't just have to worry about the embarrassment of new companies considering Fayette County, he also has many Georgia political and industrial leaders living in Fayette County that find the current discussion "unenlightened."

I hope he finds solace that there most definitely is a silent majority that appreciates the opportunities he has provided in the past, and continues to provide for our children and our future.