My calendar has words of wisdom for each day.
It always amazes me how appropriate the words are at times. When the news came that the city was backing off a tax increase and was going to look more closely at our unfair taxation in the city, a lot of those words of wisdom applied to former Henderson council person Bobby Gupton. Consider a few of the expressions and how appropriate they are:
“What we see depends mainly on what we look for.”
Before Mr. Gupton was elected to the City Council, he saw that Henderson was not thriving like other communities around us who were facing the same economic woes. He started looking for the reason, and he found the biggest piece of the puzzle. Services in Henderson were lacking, not because we did not have enough people paying taxes, but because the city property owners were being taxed double to pay for services the county residents only had to pay for one time. He saw this for what it is — a great injustice.
“Whenever ideas are shared, the result is always greater than the sum of the parts.”
Mr. Gupton set about sharing his ideas. He went on the radio, he spoke to clubs, he invited people to call him, and he raised awareness. Some people acted like they did not understand the math of unfair taxation, so he set about teaching them simple mathematics. Some people said that this was the way it was set up and that it could not be changed, so he taught them to read the contracts. Some people were furious that he was exposing how the city had conducted business, so he educated them about democracy. He became a master teacher, debater, and statistician
“Character is not made in trouble or a crisis–it is only exhibited.”
Mr. Gupton was an honest voice crying in the wilderness. He was a moral force working to correct unfair taxes. He was an ethical politician working to bring justice and fairness to all the citizens in Henderson. He was tenacious, he was diligent, and he was not arrogant. Often he invited people to prove that his figures were incorrect or skewed. No one did, because no one could. He was looking after us all. He did not have a hidden agenda, nor was he self-serving.
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
Mr. Gupton often faced resistance that many in Henderson face: How could someone from South Henderson think they could have anything worthwhile to say? I witnessed this attitude from others, and in every case Mr. Gupton gave a sterling performance. He was smarter, worked harder, and had the truth on his side. No one was able to stand him down, demean him, or belittle him. He was no push-over. At all times he was a gentleman and was fair to all sides. He was introspective and always sought advice. He truly is an intelligent person and a wonderful manager. If he lost his temper, he did it outside the public venue, or he apologized immediately.
“When the path ahead of you is uphill, surrounded by rough spots, hazards and obstacles: Use a pitching wedge.”
Boy, is the path to bring unfair taxation to an end an uphill battle! It could be described as a volcano erupting into a colossal oil spill with a Category Five hurricane bearing down. This is when Mr. Gupton got his pitching wedge going. He ran for office when his health did not allow it. He attended meetings, wrote comments, and continued to tell the truth and share information. His mind was like a steel trap, and he never forgot vital information. He became the go-to man for correct information.
“Some succeed because they are destined to, but most succeed because they are determined to.”
Mr. Gupton’s determination is paying off. For the first time, the Henderson City Council, a group of people who individually can do nothing, but as a group can decide that nothing can be done, is finally voicing an opinion that something needs to be done about unfair taxation. I dare say it, because there are those who envy Mr. Gupton’s reputation but this is, I believe, a direct result of the tenacity and work ethic of Mr. Gupton. He has kept this issue burning in the minds of all city tax payers. He has gotten people to see the unreasonable expectations that are put on the city. He has educated enough people with enough facts so that they can try to make those who are still ignorant aware of their ignorance.
Now here is some advice for the rest of us: “The smallest little effort is better than the grandest good intention.”
Make the effort. Call your city council representatives and tell them to just say no to joint ventures and unfair taxation. Tell them the city taxpayer is fed up with unfair taxation. Tell them to fix it. And tell them to do it now, this budget year. Use your pitching wedge, use your strength of character, and use your determination to tell them enough is enough. Suggest to them a simple fix — put a line-item on all tax bills for all joint ventures. That will be the end of game. From then on the rules will be fair. And when you see Bobby, give him a pat on the back and tell him to keep slugging for us all.