[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by spareparts

People forget about the local level way too often. Charleston County has had more shady deals, under the table payoffs and plain miss use of public funds that have been swept under the rug that I can count. The county school board was up until recently an ongoing soap opera of who could spend the most money before it was spent on the kids or education. Several board members took a recruitment trip to Europe to find teachers to bring back to Charleston, they didn't find any, and until it hit the news that they were requesting credit cards in their name so they wouldn't have to use their own money for the next Europe vacation they wold have gotten away with another trip. We had a builder in Mt Pleasant make a commit about their mayor that basically said, he bought the mayors vote on his construction projects by making a campaign contribution and couldn't understand why the mayor didn't approve his latest project, just because the constituents didn't want it. I could go on and on on with more examples. Any of these people could have wound up in jail for some for the things they do, but most are appointments, not electable s, but they were put in place by electable s. They've all got contacts and connections that keep them in another playing field. I honestly don't think there is a person in public office or position that isn't playing some else s deal. Once they get in the game, they keep playing it till we(the tax payer) run out of money

In New Jersey once a year the NJ League of Municipalities holds a "conference" (insert the word party) in Atlantic City for elected officials from EVERY town in New Jersey on how to better run local government, but in reality it's a 4 day party at taxpayer's expense. All the food, lodging, transportation, etc.is paid by the taxpayers. Most people don't even know it's happening. This will be the 97th year it's been held. And of course lets not forget about Pay to Play in NJ where if you don't make a contribution to your elected officials you don't have a chance in hell of being a successful bidder on any state contract. And they're so brazen about it they don't even deny it happens anymore. I see red every time I hear about this bullsh!t.