Gloucester County Government
Open Letter to the Citizens of Gloucester County Virginia
What was the motivation for you to go into public service?
The Virginia Constitution was written for us to limit the government intrusion into our lives. Have you ever read the Constitution of the United States? How about the Constitution of Virginia?
“All officers elected or appointed under or pursuant to this Constitution shall, before they enter on the performance of their public duties, severally take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation:
‘I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge all the duties incumbent upon me as ________________, according to the best of my ability (so help me God).’"
To all of our elected county officials what was your motivation? Was it for the public good or for personal gain? Were you looking to game the system to get special treatment to help your business or possible personal gain? Maybe you want your child to get special treatment in school? Maybe you want special treatment for permits or inspections? We can watch your actions and see who is in there for personal gain. Maybe you want to serve the public and make everyone’s lives a little better? We can watch your actions and see who is there for the public good also.
What is a public servant an elected or hired person that works for local, state, or federal government. Servants by definition do not get rich performing their duties.
A person going into public service is there to serve the public. If your motivation is to get rich go into private service. There are two main reasons to go into public service: to serve the public and to avoid risk. Neither reason is bad. Looking for a safe job, minimum layoffs, benefits that take care of your family’s basic needs and the ability to contribute to the good of society? If you want to get rich you need to go into private service working for yourself or a company that will pay you for what you are worth to them. Think of public service like a bank account – you will never get rich off of the interest that is paid but you can keep you head above water. Private Service is like the stock market – you can get rich you also can get poor there are no guarantees.
During the budget process 100 people got up and said they wanted more money. It is time for you to get out of public service and go into private service. The public service will be much better without you. How much of the general public supported your request for raises? I think all 6 people not associated with the schools said no to raises your services do not justify raises during these tough economic times.
I am not a lawyer and cannot give legal advice. Our founding fathers used common sense and Christian scripture when establishing our founding documents.
“For the Common Good. “
Sincerely,
Alexander James Jay
P.S. "It is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth -- and listen to the song of that syren, till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those, who having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it might cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it." --Patrick Henry, speech in the Virginia Convention, 1775
"He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself." --Thomas Paine, Dissertation on First Principles of Government, 1791
Our Notes: It's not hard to create a test to show which ones pass the public servants designation and which ones pass the personal greed and gain designation test. But maybe with a little magic, Ted can wave his left hand and it might all go away. You can always dream now can't you?
Inn at Warner Hall Named Among Best Bed and Breakfasts in Virginia (via PRWeb)
