2005 Sister Cities Summit: Government Overview

by Kate Price, Co-Founder, Operation Information
October 27, 2005

This morning I only caught the tail end of the ‘Government Overview’. I quickly jotted down these revealing statements made by individuals associated with the Sister Cities Summit in Tulsa:

The morning’s summit took place at the City Councilor building. The role of our city councilors were reversed for the morning by seating ex-mayor Crawford, who sat dead center on the councilor’s bench, and ex-mayor Roger Randle who sat to the right of Mr. Crawford. The rest of the city councilor seats were taken by mayors from the various sister cities attending. The Tulsa City Councilors sat in the seating normally used by the citizens attending Thursday night council meetings.

After describing the role of our city councilors, a dignitary from France stated and then asked, "I am very surprised at how your government works. In France the mayor has the main role of the city so, exactly what does your mayor do?" All of Tulsa's citizens ask that question these days.

Phil Wood, Tulsa City Auditor, who stood at the podium answered, “The mayor’s job is to organize government and public works. Also his job is to put a budget together. He organizes the whole city."

Ex-mayor Roger Randle "rogered" that answer given by Phil Wood.

A new question was posed by another foreign dignitary whose accent seemed to be German, "What happens when there is an exception to the budget?"

Phil Wood then answers, "If a budget cannot be agreed on then no money can be spent. It is the law that a budget must be agreed upon...this is one of our very draconian laws."

Roger Randle followed the comment by Mr. Wood with, "The city council votes on the budget. When there is disagreement they compromise." He then repeated this statement as if for emphasis.

If you haven't used the word 'draconian' in a while here is the definition from Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary:

Main Entry: dra•co•ni•an Pronunciation: drA-'kO-nE-&n, dr&-
Function: adjective
Usage: often capitalized

Etymology: Latin Dracon-, Draco, from Greek DrakOn Draco (Athenian lawgiver)
1 : of, relating to, or characteristic of Draco or the severe code of laws held to have been framed by him
2 : CRUEL; also : SEVERE - draconian littering fines

Your next question may be who is Draco? You will be happy to know it is a noun and Word Net Search describes him as:   Draco - Athenian lawmaker whose code of laws prescribed death for almost every offense (circa 7th century BC)

How safe do you feel leaving your hard earned dollars in the hands of people with this philosophy? And to think that our city auditor believes restrictions on the use of public money for the safety of the public to be "draconian". Are these people for real? Matter of fact, can I have a refund?

Roger Randle asked the city councilors if they would like to give a final word to the visiting dignitaries. Councilor Roscoe Turner stood to say, "We welcome you, we hope today will be as wonderful as yesterday and we can't wait to see you again."

Mr. Randle then dismisses the congregating dignitaries by stating they will be divided into two groups. The first group will be the city councilors and foreign dignitaries to discuss common legislative issues and other common issues. Group two is for the mayors only to discuss mayoral issues.

Sister Cities International is nothing more than an attempt to move our cities closer to global governance more quickly. We, as a city in a sovereign nation, have nothing in common with the communist government of China or the socialist government of France.

I hope before the Sister Cities Summit is finished a brave councilor, or other elected official, who sees the fraud of this program will step forward with courage and call a spade a spade and put an end to this charade that is costing the tax payer by the second - costing us not only in dollars but, in the near future, our very liberties.

How much are your liberties worth?