GUEST COLUMNIST: MARTHA ROSE WOODWARD
Our current guest columnist is Martha Rose Woodward, a gutsy lady who makes a very welcome addition to the Silent Majority. Rising
from destitute single mother to sought-after journalist and speaker, she has resoundingly spread her talents, often in ways to benefit
unfortunate neighbors. Following her major victory over “terminal” cancer in 1998, she has truly been a “Jane of all Trades”. Her
many avocations have included stints as Seamstress, Teacher, Student, TeleCampaigner, TV Producer, Tomato Sandwichmaker, Author,
Journalist, and Community Activist. She writes today in her activist role, shedding some needed light on the most common product
released down at City/County nowadays: Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (FWA)! (As always, the words and opinion are Martha’s own.)
OPEN LETTER TO THE KNOX COUNTY COMMISSION
QUIT SPENDING TAXPAYERS’ MONEY THAT YOU HAVENT EVEN COLLECTED!!
Like my grandmother used to say, “Use it up, wear it out; make it do, or do without.” I want you
to apply that timeless, genderless maxim to the way you conduct the business of the taxpayer. You
remember the taxpayer, don’t you? As our webmaster Chuck has said so often, the Taxpayer is your boss!
Here’s my suggestion for fixing the broken Knox County Budget.
l. No more trips for any employee. These people already make a large income and if they want to
take a trip, they can pay for it themselves.
2. No more travel allowances plus the use of county cars; this is called double dipping and is wrong.
3. No more eating out at the county’s expense.
4. Set up a “Citizen’s Board of Spending” and ask them for advice on how to cut and trim costs.
Be sure there are plenty of grandmothers and grandfathers on this board.
5. No more new vehicles for county employees. Drive each car for 10 years, at least.
6. No more lavish parties. We do not have time in this county to celebrate; we are in mourning;
our government is sick.
7. Ask each department to trim back by 10%. It can be done. Citizens do it on a daily basis.
8. Set up a review board to determine the need for each county employee. Some employees seem to have
nothing to do, they do not even have to come in to the office.
9. Stop the practice of county employees being allowed to buy former county cars at a huge reduction.
10. Announce to all county employees; Now is time to trim, cut back, and make do.
Regards,
Martha Woodward
Knoxville
The Silent Majority welcomes input and participation from kindred spirits. Anyone who deplores bad government, citizen intimidation,
or just plain lack of civility is welcome to join in. We solicit your comments, including lengthy narratives, on issues that are important
to you, because they are automatically important to us. We invite you to submit column-worthy material at any time; you can easily
do so by clicking our email link (silentmajority@frontiernet,net ) and attaching your stuff (preferably as a WORD attachment). Please
include a short bio and uploaded picture.
