posted August 6, 2008
I don't want the Tennessee American Water to increase water rates. But I also don't want the local Mapco to raise gas prices, the post office to raise the cost of a stamp or Wendy's to raise the price of my favorite hamburger.
You have to wonder why everyone is so focused on the water rate increase. Is Randy Baker and his organization going to fight the hike at the EPB? Electric rates have gone up much faster and more often than water rates, but you don't hear anyone talking about that.
It was interesting in the paper that the sign on the front of Fight the Hike's press conference podium mentioned the water company, the gas company and Comcast -- all private utilities -- but didn't include the EPB. Why is that? Randy, if you are going to fight the hike, include the EPB/TVA and other utilities. No sense being hypocritical about it. Let's fight all the hikes.
And Mr. Childers, who is supposed to represent manufacturer's in our area. Do you think manufacturers are more upset about a water rate increase or the many increases in their power bill over the past few years? I have not heard a word from Ray Childers about the increases in electricity. Why is that? Could it be that big ole EPB ad on his website? Mr. Childers' position is hypocritical at best.
But the mayor isn't. Give Mayor Littlefield credit. He'll tell you straight up that he wants to own the water company and thinks that is what's best. As wrong as he is, at least he'll say it.
And one more thing. Why is it that Mr. Baker, Mr. Childers and the mayor think a German owned company called Volkswagen is a great thing but that German ownership of the water company is a horrible thing?
Tennessee American needs to start treating the water for whatever it is that causes hypocrisy, but there's a bunch of it going around.
Howard Horning
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