Letter to the Editor

Sit silently and enjoy the show

Thursday, June 12, 2014

To the Editor:

As most readers know I have written in a few times over various issues or concerns the past few months to basically, speak my opinion. I am normally not one to get involved with political issues or debates as these things normally bore me because it is always the same problems, concerns or issues that arise during these debates.

However, since the recent local city elections to the City Council I have tried to stay out of this as much as possible. Yes, I have dropped a hint or two on this matter on various other websites but not spoken out in this manner because again, it is normally the same old rigmarole over and over and over again, which is still going on and yes, with this letter I am adding to it.

On this past Friday my family and I returned from a vacation trip to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tenn., to a stack of newspapers from the past week. While reading through these I came across a SPEAK OUT, which I assume was called in by someone rattling on about not putting names with their complaints in the newspaper, I believe it was in last Thursday's (June 5th) edition of the DAR.

After reading this section the caller also put in the piece they have sent items into the paper in the past with their name attached to it. My question to this is just as the editor commented, "WHO IS THIS"? You are going to be a hypocrite and put something called in with no name left complaining about people not putting their names on items published?

My comment on this whole City Council thing is this. I am all for changes as long as they are changes for bettering our community be it with new schools, businesses, job opportunities or whatever is going to compliment whatever our city has currently. But there are ways to go about it, better ways rather than what was and is currently happening amongst ourselves as the public goes or as the public servants go i.e. the City Council members new and old.

Is Doug Bagby a friend of mine? He sure is and always will be. Do I believe the City Council need to let things lie involving his current contract agreement? Sure I do because it was done under good faith by the people you all elected to put into the positions they were in when the contract was negotiated and agreed upon whenever that may have been. I say, "You all", because yes, I do live in the county and do not have a vote to the City Council which I feel is the way it should be.

Do I feel inappropriate meetings were held by council members? Yes I do. But as usual it is something that is hard to prove. Do I feel the city did Mr. Bagby wrong by letting him go? Yes, I do, especially since we already are obliged to pay him his salary. Do I feel the current administration had an agenda leading into the past elections? Most definitely, but, again one hard to confirm.

Folks, this is nothing new as politics go especially in a small community as Poplar Bluff goes and this is something unfortunately that will never cease to exist. Politics is one of those necessary evils that will always be in existence so settle back, relax and enjoy the show through life as we know it because every two years we will be watching re-runs of, "As the Election Turns." And last but not least, if you are not going to have the GUTS and COURAGE to put your name with your complaints or comments and put in the paper a complaint about others not doing this then do me a favor and just sit your happy you know what down, sit silently and enjoy the show.

Roger Burton,

Poplar Bluff, Mo.