LTE: Thank You and Goodbye
February 3, 2012 at 6:05 AM by Gant Team · 3 Comments
I, like many of my fellow citizens, was pleased to hear state Rep. Camille “Bud” George has decided to retire. But don’t let Mr. George fool you, he’s leaving not because he wants to, but because he has to. As a politically savvy individual, Mr. George knows he can’t possibly win another election.
First, a word of praise. I’ve always admired Mr. George’s ability to connect with people. He made it a priority to attend anniversary parties, funerals, Eagle Scout celebrations, and events celebrating special occasions. But somewhere along the way, Mr. George transformed his desire to help the people into a revenge filled vendetta against those who didn’t agree with him. Many locally elected officials and government employees can share their accounts of being yelled at and intimidated if they dare oppose him. This approach doesn’t serve ALL the people, but rather leads to the gridlock and chaos that now exists amongst our political leaders.
What people are saying is true: we have a mess on our hands created by those who have stayed in office too long who lack the courage to fix problems. Taxpayers are on the hook for Mr. George’s estimated $160,000 a year state pension, a liability the state can’t afford. Mr. George, at one time taking full credit for the ethanol facility in Clearfield, has now chosen to abandon the project when we needed his leadership most to understand what precipitated the project’s failure. A true leader and steward of the taxpayers’ dollars would have taken responsibility rather than jumping ship. When you blame others for failure, you give up the power to change.
In closing, I’d like to share the lessons I’ve learned from Bud George, and offer this guidance to our next state representative: enjoy the anniversary parties and Eagle Scout Courts of Honor, respectfully listen to ALL you serve, do what’s right and not necessarily politically popular, and that the greater the power, the greater the abuse. And please, help restore Clearfield County to what it once was. Thanks Bud, and God Bless.
Most Sincerely,
Derek A. Walker
Bigler
- Excited
- Fascinated
- Amused
- Bored
- Sad
- Angry
Camille George has been an advocate for the working people of Clearfield County, and a staunch supporter of education. His voice and advocacy for Clearfield County will be sorely missed. May God bless you and, as the old blessing says, Godspeed to you!
Seems like I have touched a nerve, not bad for a political neophyte.
Mr. George, your $160,000 a year pension is not a retirement account, it’s an unfunded pension liability that is the responsibility of the Pennsylvania taxpayers. Don’t confuse this with a true retirement account, where individuals save their own money and spend only what they are able to accumulate. Stop by my office, I’d be happy to explain the difference to you. Perhaps your lack of understanding is what put us in this mess.
Sorry to hear exposing the truth about our current district attorney bothered you. I can understand your loyalty, after all you do owe him a few favors. The fact that you settled out of court in civil charges filed against you for assault is proof of your guilt, and provided a clear sign you should have been charged criminally. It’s easy to control who does and doesn’t get elected when you can manipulate the justice system. Fortunately, voters are catching on to the corruption.
As for an election challenge, I’m also sorry it never materialized. While my peeps may be good for a chuckle, your antics had all of Harrisburg laughing at us. Oh, if only dad would have bought a Ford from your garage, perhaps you would have seen things a little differently. Playing tonight at karaoke, “Time is on my side, yes it is.”
All the best in your retirement, Bud. The rest of the taxpayers and I will go back to work now to get you every penny you were promised.
Sincerely,
Derek A. Walker
Bigler
Much to my chagrin, the lessons Derek Walker claims to have learned from me are bereft of commonsense and maturity. However, the sporadic peeps we hear out of the frustrated political neophyte from Bigler are always good for a chuckle. Perhaps he’s revamping his karaoke routine.
However, I’m used to exaggerations from this source. Over the years, I’ve been promised an election challenge that has never materialized. I’m sorry that time has run out. I so hope he wasn’t intimidated.
“Gridlock and chaos?” It’s not my party that rules the roost in Harrisburg. Republicans run the House, the Senate and the Governor’s office. A family member of the writer’s – known for mind-boggling campaign contributions to Gov. Corbett – is considered one of the most powerful people in Harrisburg and as a Cabinet secretary makes much more salary than I do.
Revenge-filled vendettas? I’m sure our district attorney could give an earful on that topic, having just weathered the most despicable, donation-driven smear campaign I have ever witnessed. I’m sure many would like to talk about responsibility.
One would think that Mr. Walker would have figured this out, but he confuses cause and effect. The friendships I so cherish – the anniversaries, the weddings, the Boy Scout functions, etc. – are based on trust and relationships built by fighting for people, for example, who were sued when they dared to complain that a coal company caused flooding in their basement, or lost their water supplies from improper mining.
I never abandoned the ethanol plant. It was built because of the courage of entrepreneurs who believed in Clearfield and provided probably 90 percent of the capital for the state-of-the-art plant whose operations were sabotaged by vultures reneging on promises. I have no doubt that it will again be an integral part of our manufacturing base, and I will work with anyone or any party to bring about jobs for our region. The plant surely is more valuable now than the wasteland that inhabited the site previously.
It’s late in the game to give a remedial economics lesson to someone who considers peoples’ retirement accounts as “liabilities.” As “a politically savvy individual,” I assure the writer that I am not alone in believing I could retain the seat.
I’m sure the world is gratified that Mr. Walker is sharing the lessons he has learned. Unfortunately, the biggest lessons – about life, responsibility and decency – sadly seem to have bypassed our myopic friend. I hope I live long enough to see this delinquency addressed, but after 38 years, I have my doubts.
Be well, Derek, and may God bless you, too. Sincerely,
State Rep. Camille “Bud” George
D-74 of Clearfield County