Corruption, cronyism and the Taney County Commission

The Taney County Commission has decided to move forward with plans for Enhanced Enterprise Zones. The Commission apparently is unaware of any downside to the potential blight designations for several areas of our county, or of any hardships established businesses might face. It's the yellow brick road, leading to the magnificent Emerald City, where industry is plentiful and everyone is happy.

Here's a guy concerned about a  downside (scroll to the bottom of the page) to this rapidly advancing trend. But the wizards on the county commission would prefer he stay away from the curtain behind which they hide, and of course the wizards say "pay no attention to the men behind the curtain!"

Sorry to say, we have been compliant sheople, and have paid no attention to the men behind the curtain. I am as guily as anyone, and more than most.

Shame on us. However, let us now follow Toto's good example, and begin to pull on that curtain, endeavoring to ignore all the smoke and mirrors employed by the wizards.

The EEZ plan has the potential to punish some established businesses, while purporting to boost others. It is local government emulating the national government by attempting to stimulate the economy, and will likely have the same net result: it will worsen the situation rather then help. Why do I say this? Because you cannot create a net gain in capital by manipulating tax policy to the detriment of some and the benefit of others. Such schemes redistribute wealth - they do not create it.

Our local economic malaise has been foisted on us from higher up, by the likes of Barack Obama, George Bush, and Ben Bernanke. Their foolish monetary policies of credit expansion, "stimulus" spending, and increasing the number of bureaucrats overlooking our affairs have debased our currency and scared investors. Local economic enterprise zones are not the solution to this problem - the problem of a shortage of capital. A return to sound money, and a departure from central planning, are what is needed to restore free enterprise. This calls for changes at the national level. The best thing local government can do is to move towards weaning itself from federal largesse (I realize that isn't going to happen overnight, but a mindset towards that end MUST be adopted), and concentrate on providing services citizens have traditionally expected: police, fire, libraries (yes, a county library system would be a good thing in Taney County), etc.  Providing tax incentives to one enterprise, to the detriment of another, is antithetical to America's foundational principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Our economy is weak because central planning "experts" have presumed to pick winners and losers, counting themselves as wiser and more just than the free market. These planners, historically operating out of the federal bureaucracy, are now appearing at the local level with no apparent affiliation to the national government - until one looks a little closer.

The EEZ is no grassroots effort - it is part of a national trend to promote a symbiotic relationship between government and business, to the detriment of free market capitalism. It is a grave threat to property rights, as shown here, and the fact that a third of the state of Missouri has already been classified as "blighted" should have any freedom loving person - "liberal" or "conservative" - alarmed, as it portends massive future abuses of eminent domain, to the benefit of businesses who are cozy with their government. The loser is the free market. The fact that an all Republican County Commission is all agog about it demonstrates that FDR and LBJ would feel right at home in today's Republican Party, while stalwart free market advocates like Robert Taft, Barry Goldwater, and Ron Paul would be/are marginalized.


It is likely that Presiding Commissioner Ron Houseman is the driving force behind the expansion of local government oversight of business, given his oft touted connections to Washington, D.C. Remember that Mr. Houseman, prior to being elected presiding commissioner, received the honor of being hired by the County Commission to help our area obtain its portion of federal stimulus funds through his marvelous connections. Commissioners Strafuss and Strahan bestowed that honor on him.

A little historical review regarding Mr. Houseman is in order at this point:

Houseman was the Taney County Clerk for several years, until his involvement in a money scandal resulted in his defeat in the 1998 GOP primary.

As County Clerk, Houseman appropriated hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to himself. He did this along with then County Collector, Dwain Basham, by taking commissions from taxes collected on behalf of municipalities around the county. Houseman's salary was in the 40-45 thousand per year range in those days. But the involuntary contributions of Taney County taxpayers gave him a six figure income.

The court case against Houseman was dismissed, and I'll be happy for legal scholars to explain that event. I'm not arguing the legality of what Houseman did, but that it was egregious enrichment of himself at taxpayer expense, notwithstanding the success of renowned defense attorney Dee Wampler in extricating him from legal consequences.

I've actually heard locals here justify Ron Houseman's actions, or say they were "legal." But I'll donate $100 to the favorite charity of any elected official who will publicy affirm the following statement, and allow me to quote him/ her: "It would be right and proper for the current clerk and collector to prosper themselves the same way Houseman and Basham did in the 1990's."

The point in rehashing old history?

Several points:

1. It is relevant to note that current commissioners Strahan (running for reelection) and Strafuss, (running for the State Senate) honored Houseman with a paid position, despite the aforementioned scandal.

2. Due to a lame local media, an influx of new people to the area, a substantial number of people who live in a state of denial, and the help of his cronies, the egregious actions of Houseman were out of the public mind enough for him to win a very close election in 2010 to the position of Presiding Commissioner.

His cronies provided valuable assistance. Commissioners Strahan and Strafuss helped by trying to frame previous presiding commissioner Pennel as a liar (Strahan) and/ or a criminal (Strafuss) during the "check controversy." (In fairness, it must be said that Pennel did greatly err in that matter, albeit not criminally, as Strafuss apparently hoped). A couple of years previously, before Strafuss became a commissioner, Houseman informed the commission that there was evidence of nepotism involving then Presiding Commissioner Pennel. Houseman used the term "egregious" to describe Pennel's misdeeds. What was this "egregious" nepotism? Commissioner Pennel's wife, experienced kennel owner and animal lover, was caring for stray, sick dogs on weekends when the county had no resources to do so. Mrs. Pennel did this on her own time, in her own vehicle. Houseman and his former nemesis, turned lapdog, Bob Shanz, knew their accusations were groundless, as subsequent investigation showed them to be. The purpose was to damage Pennel's reputation. Houseman lost two close elections to Pennel in 2002 and 2006. By engaging in a smear campaign against his once and future opponent, he succeeded in swaying enough votes that the third faceoff between the two men went his way.

3. Houseman wanted to be elected to the commission so badly, that he was willing to destroy the man who stood in his way.

4. Given the history of scandal, and the lust for power exhibited by Houseman, it is not unreasonable to be extremely suspicious of which devils might be in the details of any major change advocated by him and cronies such as Strahan and Strafuss.

It is an unfortunate fact that incumbents are very difficult to remove from office, even in the face of blatant cronyism. This year is no different. While western commissioner Strafuss is not running for reelection, opting to run for the State Senate, eastern commissioner Strahan is up for a third term, so as to help promote Houseman's agenda for our county. It is most unfortunate that instead of one good opponent, Strahan is being challenged in the primary by six opponents, of various levels of suitability for office. Since a plurality, not a majority, is all that's required to win the primary, this gives Strahan a real advantage. Of the seven running, the candidate most able to change the direction of county government is clearly Alan Lawson.  For one thing, he is the only one of them to publicly voice the possibility that the EEZ may not be an unassailable panacea. Please give a listen to him on the matter here.



I will vote for Alan Lawson in the primary. It saddens me that his chances are diminished by the split in the anti-Strahan vote. It encourages me, though that he seems to be gaining support as we approach primary day.



I've filed nominating petitions as an independent candidate for eastern commissioner. Should Alan win the primary on August 7th, I will be delighted to stand down.I really urge you to vote for Alan.





Otherwise, I'll be on the November ballot. I don't have an impressive resume of business experience, but I'm not a potted plant either. I have politics in my blood, and an ability to receive input from a variety of perspectives and interests. I believe in the safety of a multitude of counselors, and do not think anyone can be an expert in all matters with which the County Commission deals.  Common sense and an innate savvy about politics will serve me well, enabling me to serve you well.  I know, for instance, that when something sounds too good to be true, like the proposed EEZ, it probably isn't true.