When Citizens Are Ignored, Who Is the Government Really Serving?

Abraham Lincoln November 19th, 1863  – ‘’That the government of the people for the people by the people shall not perish from this earth.’’

The speech addressed the importance of supporting and advocating democracy and the people’s will. Countless individuals have made the ultimate sacrifice to safeguard democracy and its preservation.

During the past year, there have been instances where decisions were made by the Warren County Board of Supervisors (WCBS) contrary to the will of the people.

During public meetings, individuals are allotted a 3-minute speaking period, during which they are prohibited from addressing certain topics. There are now public meetings that  prohibit any speaking by citizens .  What has happened to free speech in Warren County ?

What process did the elected WCBS follow to appoint individuals to oversee Samuel’s Public Library?  The biased appointees overseeing Samuel’s Public Library tried to remove books that conflicted with their beliefs. This raises questions about its compatibility with the democratic process. This represents an undue exertion of power by elected officials, imposing their will on the citizens.

Hundreds of members of the community have attended public meetings in support of Samuels Public Library  and  their voices have been ignored .

WCBS  come to the meeting with prepared statements and predetermined decisions. The  allowed public speaking time is simply a formality as speakers can only voice their sentiments as they are looked down upon by those elevated individuals who wish to project their incomparable authority.

Has Warren County adopted an authoritarian government, making tyranny commonplace? Do we no longer have a voice?

The funding needed for the operation of the library has been called discretionary and will be used as decided by the Warren County Board of Supervisors. This discretionary funding is revenue from payments by taxpayers and tax on services by the local businesses.  Warren County Board of Supervisors has made the decision without input from the citizens and without documentation to support the construction of ball fields at Rockland Park. The cost of the construction of the ball fields will come from discretionary tax dollars provided by Warren County citizens.  Where is the democratic process?

Warren County recently received an unsolicited proposal from a business to oversee the management of Samuel Public Library. The proposed amount matches what the library’s trustees requested. Was the bid unsolicited, or were they contacted to present such a proposal? Before the ink was dry, board members scheduled a special meeting to review and discuss the proposals. Is this the opportunity to which the board has been working toward to take over the library? One thing is for sure, residents will not have an opportunity to voice their concern.

Once the four members of the apocalypse accomplish discrediting the library’s board members and silence Warren County citizens, they can rename Samuel’s Public Library to Saint Benedict.

This fellow citizens — is in the first stage of failure.

John Jenkins – South River District
Warren County, VA

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