Rant & Rave -- December 11, 2009

Editor’s note: Each week we print a selection of anonymous rants and raves submitted by our readers. Keep them under 150 words, free of profanity and personal attacks, and have at it. You need not sign your submission, which you may e-mail to peoplesgazette@gmail.com or mail to Gazette Editor, 7736 N. Toya Vista Road, Payson, AZ 85541. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the Gazette staff.

And don’t forget to visit BY THE PEOPLE. Just click on the right. You can leave your comments on any subject there as well.

I’m sure I join all of Payson in expressing my sadness over the death of Marcy Rogers. Whatever will our children do without her?
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For those of you who could not stomach watching last night's (Payson) council meeting, Gary Bedsworth was replaced on P&Z (Planning & Zoning Commission) by Clark Jones ( a local realtor, resident of Payson for less than 1 year.) Clark was recommended by (Councilor) Mike Vogel because of his longevity in the area compared to Gary. (Councilor) Ed Blair made a valiant stand in support of Gary but no one seemed to care. Tom Loeffler was not selected to be reappointed to STAB (Surface Transportation Advisory Board). Vogel says that was because he had originally sent a letter asking not to be considered for reappointment. His follow up letter, asking to be reappointed, put him at the end of the list of candidates. Jim Hipple volunteered to resign so Tom could be reappointed in his position. But Vogel has already lined up his next appointment to the position and he would not commit that Tom would be selected. Anyway, since Jim's offer was not agendized, it could not be discussed further. So Gordon Metcalf is now on STAB instead of Tom. Yippee! Seems like Vogel’s appointment process changes to fit his selections. And the citizens will not understand the importance of any of this.
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The thing about politicians is that sooner or later they become sloppy and their biases become indisputable. So it is with (Payson Councilor) Mike Vogel. His appointment of Clark Jones to the Planning & Zoning Commission is blatantly transparent. It is unethical for developers and realtors to be sitting in judgment on matters that will make them money. Vogel doesn’t even pretend to be objective anymore. He is so very much in the pockets of the realtors, developers and good ole boys. How anyone who cares about Payson’s quality of life can vote for this charlatan is beyond reason. Mike Vogel needs to be turned out of office.
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Prayer at town council meetings is unconstitutional. Plain and simple. Sooner or later, the Payson and Star Valley town councils are going to face lawsuits over this practice. Frankly I hope it’s sooner. All the righties rave about how important the Constitution is – until it comes to one of their pet causes. Go to church and pray. Pray in the privacy of your own home. Hell, pray in your car (it’s safer than texting, provided you do it with your eyes open). But stop praying at public meetings. You are doing it against a basic principle of this great nation.
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Home rule? Folks, if you want to send a message to local politicians they won’t soon forget, vote NO on home rule. It will cut spending and cut your taxes. It’s the one thing that will bring arrogant politicians to their knees.
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A few weeks ago, a Gazette investor wrote a rant about Payson Jewelers and PostNet being partly responsible for the Gazette’s demise. I, too, am a Gazette investor and I hear every day how much people miss the Gazette. I would like to thank those who pledged not to shop at those two places anymore. But while we’re at it, we should mention three other factors that helped bring down the Gazette. The Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce under John Stanton continued to give the Roundup the inside track on business opportunities (Roundup Publisher John Naughton is a member of the chamber board of directors) even after Tina Bruess was fired in part for doing the same thing. Also, Town Manager Debra Galbraith and the Town of Payson allowed water guru Buzz Walker to pull advertising from the Gazette that he left in the Roundup because he didn’t like the honesty we used in reporting on his antics. Finally, the gang of four who left the Gazette to work for the Rim Country News produced a really crappy paper that is now out of business and spread advertising dollars even thinner.
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Hey, we finally got some moisture. Isn’t it time for Pete Aleshire and the Roundup to pronounce the drought over – for the third time.
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Rx fire. There is a better way. The Forest Service simply refuses to do it. Typical behavior by a government agency. Changing its caveman ways to adjust to current realities is not in its playbook.
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So it’s OK if Bush and Cheney want to lay waste to Afghanistan, but when President Obama decides to send more troops the right wing Nazis come unglued. What hypocrites. What racists.