Cumberland County Leadership Turns Chicken

Wow! What a turn-a-round. How disappointing. They say silence is golden. Well, in the case of bringing Sanderson Farms’ $113 million chicken plant and its 1000+ jobs to Cumberland County, the silence (and the advocacy) has been deafening.

Where is the political and economic-development leadership? Where are the advocates and voices for the local poor and unemployed? Where are the voices of the pro economic/industrial development majority? Where is their offensive “ground game?” Where are the pro-chicken plant development yard signs? Where are the pro-economic development sound bites? Where are the pro Sanderson Farms editorials and letters to the editor?

Well, it is the observation and opinion of many well-versed, educated and respected members of the community that these aspects of a fine-tuned and expertly executed offensive campaign in favor of Sanderson Farms has been nonexistent. Hey, don’t shoot the messenger.

These are the comments and questions that are coming up far too frequently from local residents who are not in the N.I.M.B.Y. (Not In My Backyard) category.

This vocal majority obviously can be ignored; however, they cannot be easily dismissed. They are residents who want to see our community seize the opportunity to grow inclusively and economically with the potential of lifting thousands of Cumberland County residents out of poverty and into a more enjoyable quality of life.

What’s not to like about that? This is why the question continues to come up: How can a few hundred people affect the lives, future and well being of several thousand county residents? This is extremely confusing, disappointing and puzzling. Unless, that is, you understand the dual concepts of the “haves and have-not’s” and “money talks and bull walks!”

So, where is the leadership? Is it true that the majority of our locally elected public officials and the wannabes are more focused and concerned in securing their future campaign support and donations rather than prioritizing the growth and development of our community along with the well being of their 327,000 constituents?

For many, this is the most talked about theory and suspicion on how and why the majority of our Cumberland County Commissioners have turned their backs on their own initial judgments and the sentiments of the majority of local residents, many of whom would appreciate the opportunity to get off the welfare roles and secure a decent job, with a good company, that pays a fair wage and provides health benefits. Many are already saying “shame on them” for yielding to several hundred loud, wealthy, liberal/conservative and politically connected residents at the expense of the nearly 25 percent of Cumberland County households that are currently living (surviving) at or below the poverty level.

Where is the logic? Shame on the pro-Sanderson Farms contingency for their defensive stance and for lack of aggressively making their case or their findings known. Double shame, on those leaders who have been M.I.A. during the entire process. Believe me, your absence and silence has been conspicuous so the community knows who you are.

Finally, I want to say that as an American, I have no earthly idea when attacks and criticism became so harsh and venomous toward people who are simply exercising their First Amendment right of free speech. Having an opposing or dissenting opinion on any issue seems to come with a wrath that is ugly and personal. Whatever happened to stating your platform, standing by your word and, if need be, having a free spirited open debate on issues? Now, dissenting opinions are met with hostile personal attacks, attacks on your family and business and, in some cases, references to who your daddy was. Unacceptable.

This is local politics at its very worst. Believe it or not, I’m not an advocate of the chicken plant. However, I am an advocate for the 1,000 jobs that can raise countless numbers of Fayetteville and Cumberland County families out of poverty. I advocate due diligence in comparing what is good for 327,000 Cumberland County residents vs. the demands of several hundred privileged residents.

I am an advocate of expecting all our elected officials to do their jobs with honor and integrity and stop acting like a bunch of Weebles. They need to take a stand and make decisions that they can defend and articulate regardless of what side of the issue they are on. That is what the people elected them to do and that is the only way our community will grow and prosper. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly. Oh, yeah, “Weebles Wobble but They Don’t Fall Down.”