But you can’t fool all the people all the time.

I’m not going to write this post pretending to be hip to the ins and outs of local Government.

In fact, I’m not going to mention anywhere in this entry that I’m any kind of expert on local government.

It seems like so much of it is nothing but speculation and hypothesis; who can really be that “in the know” to be an expert on the subject? (other than the people behind the curtain, of course)

What I do know…and what I can tell from the local news media and insider gossip that I’m subject to–is that, right now, The City of Harrisburg is just as financially fucked as the rest of us.

I’m self employed. I don’t work for any one private, corporate or government entity. I work for myself.

Sure, I depend on my business contracts to keep me afloat, but I’m not one of those guys that wears an ID badge with pride over my khakis and Gap button down shirt who essentially clocks in, pretends to work and waits to get paid…and then waits to retire.

No, I guess in some respect I’m in the same boat as The Corporation of Harrisburg.

I’m just trying to keep food on my table and make ends meet.

Harrisburg, just like any city, is a business. But apparently, the business end of Harrisburg is poorly run.

Actually, let me rephrase that–

The business of Harrisburg seems to be HORRIBLY run.

On the surface, anyway, that’s what it seems like.

Yesterday, the Patriot News reported that the city is currently in a financially dire state and that they need to raise four hundred thousand dollars by next Thursday, October 19 2006 just to meet payroll.

The Patriot News also reported that should that four hundred thousand dollars not be raised, the city will have no choice but to lay off almost sixty police and fire employees.

Now, anyone who lives in the city limits of Harrisburg KNOWS that the last thing we need is LESS police on our streets. (But that’s a different topic altogether)

The story went on to say that a legal SNAFU in the contract verbiage with non-essential government employees is protectant of layoffs via a union clause in the contract.

But apparently, Police and Fire employees are not included in that clause.

Now, regardless of who’s being laid off, we should have never gotten into this situation.

I don’t have a legal or accounting degree but I do have common sense about the pitfalls of “robbing from Peter to pay Paul” and know that it doesn’t work on a personal level–and can safely assume that it doesn’t work on a local (or national for that matter) government level.

From an outsiders perspective (I’m from North Jersey…at least there, we KNOW that the politicians are corrupt…it’s practically a given) it seems to me that Mayor Reed and Co. have been pulling a Ponzi Scheme for about ten years–

If you’re not hip to it, read about it here.

But that’s what it looks like to me.

So Mayor Reed and Co–what the hell are you gonna do to clean up this mess you’ve created?

Because I know that I had nothing to do with it. Neither did my neighbors–or my colleagues–or my friends–

It was all you. Our “trusted government officials”.

You want a big chunk of our income and property values every year–and we trust that you’re going to put it to use for the good of the people–but it seems like you haven’t been.

You’ve PILFERED MILLIONS on Wild West artifacts…

You’ve increased our water and sewer rates because we’re using less…

You’ve denied us adequate Police and Fire coverage…

And our public school system is in SHAMBLES…

Did I mention that there are KIDS selling CRACK a few blocks from here?

Mr. Reed–what are we paying taxes for? Why hasn’t my trash been picked up on time? Why are there degenerates selling crack and shooting each other less than fifty yards from my house (and the GOVERNORS MANSION)?!?! Why do I not feel safe walking ten or twelve city blocks to get home on a Friday or Saturday night?

Oh wait–we’ve got Second Street to take all of our cares away—know what I think about that? BIG EFFING DEAL!

Nightlife, although my livelihood, is not the most important to a thriving, vibrant city.

Honesty in Government is paramount to getting a plastic hard hat after getting a shot of watered down liquor at the corner of Second and Pine.

Do something about it, Mr. Reed, for the good of all of us.