Hopefully all America has followed the recent events in a city called Bell (as in bellwether), California. If you have not seen or heard of that city’s problems in a news media report, you probably fit into the situation of many residents of the city prior to this series of events.

For the record, it appears that the city leaders were able to change the form of city government a few years ago. This apparently happened in an election that was conducted openly, but like so much of our politically-initiated government, apparently not clearly understood. Like too many elections in our country (think of school board elections, city council seats, etc.) only a few people voted.

The city is reported to have about 40,000 residents and the news sources described it as “poverty stricken.” The same sources said about 400 voters participated in the election to change the form of government for the city which allowed for more control of government by the mayor, city manager and city council.

The circumstances sound all too familiar when you compare them to events that take place in government at all levels of our city, state, county and federal elections. Politicians make promises, voters are busy and don’t research the potential of the promises - both good and bad aspects of the outcome of passage - and only a fewseriously interested people go to the polls with their personal benefits prompting their votes.

As we all know if we have followed the story, using the authority gained by the changes provided by the new form of government, several high ranking members of the administration gave themselves salaries that staggered the news media and lead to public protests when they were discovered. Needless to say the outpouring of rage after the discovery has lead to some serious changes. Apparently most of the city councilmen, a part-time position, were paid about $100,000 each per year with only one drawing the reasonable rate of $8,000 per year. Doesn’t that speak clearly of collusion?

The mayor, city manager and other high ranking officials are not listed as receiving extremely high salaries, but must have been aware of the abuse. It appears that three positions, city administrative officer, assistant city manager and the police chief drew salaries totaling more than $1.6 million per year.

The secret to the maneuver that made this all possible was the election in 2005that changed the form of government to a City Charter form and circumvented the salary restrictions in California state law by a technicality. The council has the authority to create and serve on administrative boards which they create and draw pay at a compensation rate they themselves establish.

The outcome of the abuse has led to a city administrative officer’s salary of $787,637 per year and a police chief earning more than the chief of the city of Los Angeles. Non-violent protests have resulted in resignations, promises not to seek re-election and salary cuts for the overpaid city councilmen. The question, of course, lies in why do we let this kind of thing happen? Does that sound like a Washington political maneuver or what?

The phrase “ignorance of the law is no excuse” comes to mind when I think about the fact that these situations come about because we allow them to happen. The politicians’ speeches always sound so good and are filled with things they think we want to hear. Failure on the part of a candidate to convince his audience that he is being truthful means he will be an ex-candidate, as in “not elected.” But we all know “there is a little bit of truth in every lie.” Sometimes that little bit is simply hidden through nondisclosure, but our desire to be positive and not negativeallows us to hide a lot of the truth from ourselves. And, that includes not hearing the facts that are omitted and failing to question the unsubstantiated promises and/or clauses.

In our need to rush off to a pleasant experience - a child’s athletic event, a fishing trip at the lake, a University of Arkansas football game, or anything that is fulfilling - it is easy to “let someone else do it.” I love college football, so I miss anything that conflicts with my fall Saturday afternoon enjoyment. The truth is I miss a lot of important stuff because it comes at the wrong time for me.

We need to consider our priorities, remember, the problems in Bell, Calif., and look closely at our own elected officials in Washington lest we end up with more serious problems than we already face. We are responsible!

I am not active in the Tea Party, but I am smart enough to know they cannot make changes without the support of people like you and me.

And, this situation in Bell should make us all think about our own willingness to get involved in something political before it is TOO LATE.

◊◊◊

Leo Lynch, a native of Benton County has deep roots in northwest Arkansas. He is a retired industrial engineer and former Justice of the Peace. He can be contacted at [email protected].

Opinion, Pages 4 on 08/04/2010