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Helen R. Taylor North Ogden Pool – A Marvelous Thing?
By Helen R. Taylor Continued...
North Ogden Citizens have used City Government to build a marvelous pool with taxpayer money. An action no individual citizen had the legal right to do, as detailed by Ezra T. Benson, and an action Utah Congressman Rob Bishop is warning us must stop, or we face serious and crippling financial consequences. However, NOC Citizens are in good company with their elected leaders. A straw-poll, conducted at the last Council meeting, found that with only one exception, the City Council believes building this pool was the Proper Role of Government (only one Council Member was absent.) Mayor Harris explained after the meeting, “The health and prosperity of our citizens are primary concerns when we build community facilities. We have to do things that promote a better quality of life that may not be Constitutionally justified, but that I feel are just as viable as Protections of Life, Liberty and Property.” The one dissenting voter clarified “If the majority of the citizens vote for it, then I’d have to reconsider.”
Ezra T. Benson, a former US Agricultural Secretary and LDS Prophet, defines the Proper Role of Government in his pamphlet ‘The Constitution, A Heavenly Banner’ wherein he states “My attitude toward government is succinctly expressed by the following provision taken from the Alabama Constitution: “The sole object and only legitimate end of government is to protect the citizen in the enjoyment of life, liberty, and property, and when the government assumes other functions it is usurpation and oppression” and “The proper function of government, then, is limited to those spheres of activity within which the individual citizen has the right to act. It cannot claim the power to redistribute money or property nor to force reluctant citizens to perform acts of charity against their will.”
The one dissenting voter clarified “If the majority of the citizens vote for it, then I’d have to reconsider.” This is clearly when “Majority Rules” and we have “Democracy” in force. Founded as a Republic, sliding fast into being a Democracy, a short step from Socialism/Communism - where Government takes care of all the people, from birth to grave. It’s a destructive process, yet not too late to reverse. (see the full article on “Democracy 2 Republic” at sentinelnews.net)
Overheard recently while discussing this article with a friend at a local restaurant, I was approached by Dave Carrick of Huntsville, who said “I agree that building a community pool is not the Proper Role of Government, but now that it’s here, enjoy it and get healthier.” He added that his place of business provides a free membership to him, while he pays for his family’s participation, at the commercially operated Ogden Athletic Club. Dave is very appreciative that his employer provides this recreational facility benefit, which he uses often to maintain his good health.
The then, Mayor Muirbrook, and City Council employed the use of the Redevelopment (RDA) Project. This is money that taxpayers have already paid into a set-aside fund from their property taxes to redevelop targeted areas within the City. “The pool was a type of project approved by the State Legislature. These are specific projects that allow Cities to keep 100% of their RDA tax-increment money and extend the life of the RDA to pay the bond for the pool. “We did a 20 year bond, but not one that increased taxes for citizens” Debbie explained further. A couple of years ago, when the citizens voted against a new pool cover to convert to a year-round-pool, the Council listened and took no action.
If we fail to refuse these “Marvelous things” at the local level, how can we possibly convince our Federal Representatives to reduce spending on these insidious national entitlement programs that are crushing us economically with enslaving debt?
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