The accelerating decline of American democracy, and hard truths about race, religion, money, and political power in Brownwood, were all evident in the staging of last week’s State of the City address (Jan 16).    Though billed as open to the general public, the general public was clearly not expected or meant to attend.  If Mayor Haynes truly wanted to address and include the general public, a free event would have been held in a large public space, like the Coliseum or a city park, on a weekend or evening so working class folks could attend.  Instead, as usual, the private venue, $15 plate fee for lunch, corporate sponsorship (Oncor), and timing of the event, gave the impression of a political fundraiser, targeted at a narrow political base of those who hold the wealth and levers of power in this town.  And with filing about to open for 3 City Council seats, we can be sure that incumbents and challengers alike are already grooming for the local election season now upon us.

Speeding along the demise of democracy is the evaporation of investigative journalism, and its replacement with the many varieties of info-tainment.  In a classic case of burying the lead, the Brownwood Bulletin enticed readers to follow the last County Commissioners meeting of 2014 with “More info needed before awarding bid for security fence.” (Dec. 23, 2014).  Only truly curious and intrepid readers may have reached the back pages at the end of that dull discussion, to discover two paragraphs about our Commissioners approval of spending up to $340,000 to buy new voting machines that will be completely electronic.  If the voting machines currently in use still seem new to you, you’re right—they are not even 10 years old, purchased with $273,000 of State funds back in 2006.  Is this the best use of our public funds?   What about the many security concerns involved in going to fully electronic voting?  I guarantee there is more to this story than meets the eye, and I dare any local reporter to dig deeper, and let us know what’s really going on here.

As the role of big money grows in our political system, and the information available to the public regarding our politicians and their policy decisions shrinks, I fear we are witness to the agonizing death of a thousand cuts, to government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Respectfully,   
Daniel Graham, Brownwood