12/13/09

Greensboro, Guilford County and a family of 5.

If a family of 2 parents and 3 kids can’t afford a vacation, and the parents decide on a family election, in which the 3 kids vote in favor, who should accept responsibility when the parents can't pay the mortgage?


 


Whatever failures I have known, whatever errors I have committed


whatever follies I have witnessed…


have been the consequence of action without thought.


 


Bernard Baruch


American financier and presidential advisor


 


What if the parents are Guilford County’s Commissioners and Greensboro’s City Council, who authorized about 77% more debt for voters to approve or not in 2008’s election?


 


Half the work that is done in this world


is to make things appear what they are not


 


Elias Root Beadle


 


Guilford County Total Debt + City of Greensboro Total Debt as of June, 30 2008:


 


$562,827,364 + $584,713,000 = $1,147,540,364


 


Guilford County + City of Greensboro debt authorized for November, 2008’s election:


 


$676,930,000 + $205,000,000 = $881,930,000


 


Proportion of debt on November 2008’s ballot to Total Debt:


 


$881,930,000 / $1,147,540,364 = 0.768539415


 


The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure,


when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them.


 


Patrick Henry


 


Was Greensboro and Guilford County’s electorate provided enough relevant information to determine whether a 77% debt increase, not including interest, was in the best interests of the community?

No comments: