I know I probably shouldn’t have said it, but I did anyway.
The lady sat across from me in my office around 30 years ago. No one likes being in the tax office, and she sure didn’t, and was letting me know. She was complaining about the state taxes she owed, along with just about everything else here in Sampson County.
The lady had moved here from up north somewhere, and was apparently not very happy living down here in Sampson County. She continued with her complaints until I decided it was enough. Then I said something I’m sure the folks in Raleigh would not have approved, but would probably understand.
I said to her, “Since you don’t like it here, I have a suggestion for you. I suggest you get in your car and take Highway 701 to Smithfield. Then you can get on Interstate 95 North and go back to where you came from.”
Yep, I probably shouldn’t have said it back then. But these days, I sometimes feel the same way. Over the past few months I’ve been seeing a lot of criticism of this area on social media. While some of the posts and facts presented are legitimate, I know that they may not tell the whole story, and that they are AI designed to get viewers and clicks.
But probably what concerns me most about the posts is that they offer criticism of this area, but no possible solutions. But in the world of social media, solutions take a backseat to clicks.
It’s not that I don’t understand some of the criticism. When I see those trash trucks coming through town, I don’t like the idea that Sampson County is the dumping ground for cities and towns all around us. And I wonder what could be the possible effect on our water table, especially for those folks who live near the landfill.
Yes, I know that poverty is a problem in Sampson County, and property taxes are high. I know that too often kids graduate from college, don’t see the opportunities here, and don’t come back home. And I still don’t understand why we have two school systems in Sampson County. (I didn’t understand it back when I wrote a column about the two school systems 15 years ago.)
But I also know that there are many good people working hard to make Sampson County a better place. Also, you don’t have to look hard in order to realize that other counties have their problems, too. I play golf with a group that has members from other counties, and they are just as upset about their high property taxes and reevaluations as we are. Counties everywhere are dealing with the fact that more and more revenue is needed to pay for the goods and services citizens want and expect. And you shouldn’t expect some sort of property tax relief from a state legislature that can’t even handle its own finances by passing a state budget.
I suppose I could respond to those being critical of things here like the way I told that taxpayer years ago. You know, “If things are so bad here, leave.” But that would be too easy. How about, “Thank you for pointing out the problems, but is it an accurate portrayal of those problems? Also, what are possible solutions, and what can be done in order to bring those solutions about?’
G. K. Chesterton was a famous writer and Christian apologist from England in the early 1900’s. During that time, the “London Times” newspaper sent out survey to famous and important people from that period asking a simple question, “What is wrong with the world?” (We’re still asking that question today.) While many answered with long and complicated explanations, G. K. Chesterton’s four word response was simple and direct.
He replied, “Dear sirs, I am.”
There’s a lot wrong in the world. But it’s important to realize that there will be some good things, along with some bad things, about anywhere you go. I have to decide if I’m going to contribute to the good things and also work to change the bad things.
And try not to be what’s wrong with the world.