“Who’s on First” was a comedy routine made popular by comedians Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in the 1940s. It was clever and funny. The act centered on Abbott trying to explain to Costello the nature of a baseball game. The routine exemplified how difficult it can be trying to communicate an otherwise simple concept when the components of the event are misleading and confusing. Hence, the phrase, “Who’s on first?” took on the meaning, “Does anyone know what’s going on here?”

That’s a question many Americans are asking as they watch our national government spiraling out of control, making innocent American citizens collateral damage to politicians’ petty and senseless personal, political agendas. Republican and Democratic parties are guilty of this pettiness — of both ignoring common sense and allegiance to their sworn responsibilities to the American people.

This belligerent “my way or the highway” style of political thinking does not produce the kind of government that will preserve the future safety, rights and freedoms of American citizens.

The pettiness of our leaders at the highest levels of government should have all Americans concerned. The 35-day government shutdown is the latest example of this. Shutdown for what? To keep from allocating $5 billion to President Trump for border security? That’s chump change in our federal budget.

Is it worth putting our country in economic jeopardy and inflicting financial hardships on hundreds of thousands of innocent Americans? I think not. Again, Americans become collateral damage to the government elite as our leaders needlessly spend time and money on issues and situations that add nothing to America’s overall safety, well-being or quality of life. We deserve better. In this situation, we surely deserve more than a three-week continuing resolution granting a threeweek temporary reprieve. Now we have 800,000 federal employees holding their breaths, waiting in anticipation for the second shoe to drop. And, over what? Again, chump change and principle?

This irresponsible behavior trickles down to our local governments, too. That is why we are paying so much attention to the Hope Mills commissioners — with the exception of Pat Edwards, who makes common-sense decisions on the town’s behalf. Mayor Pro Tem Mike Mitchell and fellow Commissioners Meg Larson, Jesse Bellflowers and Jerry Legge are hell-bent on discrediting Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner. It comes down to not wanting her to succeed or get credit for initiating projects that would benefit the town and endear her to the Hope Mills community.

As a result, ordinances are adopted and unilateral decisions are made without citizen or staff input. This approach to politics has the town running amok, needlessly spending time and taxpayer money on an internal investigation that has yet to be defined — except to insinuate wrongdoing.

Really? By whom? When? The real purpose is an attempt to embarrass and discredit Warner and to fulfill personal agendas that have nothing to do with the well-being of Hope Mills or its citizens. If Mitchell, Bellflowers, Larson and Legge wanted the best for Hope Mills, they would spend their time and efforts working together to move the town forward and not in finding fault with Warner’s aggressive and successful leadership style.

Well, we can’t do much about the political situation in Washington, D.C. However, we can act locally. We love the Hope Mills community and will continue to support the town by being its community newspaper and its advocate. In reality, the growth, progress and opportunities in Hope Mills can overcome the negative impact of the town’s leadership — even with rumors and fake news circulation in the town undermining its leadership, progress and achievements.

Up & Coming Weekly and Elizabeth Blevins’ informational website, Hope-Mills.net, are committed to keeping you abreast of news, events and information that affect all the citizens of Hope Mills and Cumberland County. Stay tuned. Good things are happening in Hope Mills, and we are pleased to be a part of it.

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