Can we agree to a fight for transparency and oversight? Here are two young local political celebrities in Representative Justin J. Pearson (D) and Mighty 990 Ben Deeter (R) who could jointly make a massive difference in Memphis by fighting for public transparency and oversight. But will they?

Sure they will say they are FOR transparency and oversight but will they FIGHT for it? In other words, will Pearson file legislation for non-profits receiving public money to answer public information requests, sunshine and open their board meetings? Will Pearson sustain rhetoric, using his bully pulpit for transparency and oversight?

Will Deeter regularly schedule segments on his show regarding transparency and oversight? Or will those segments only be scheduled two months out of the year during budget season? I have worked with both of them and enjoy their company but openly wonder about their willingness, away from incldential calls, to sustain a fight for overall public transparency and oversight.

Whether Republican or Democrat, the general public wants public transparency and oversight. Without it, the public is blind in measuring the effectiveness of any public policy whether the policy is right or left of center. Lack of public transparency and oversight has worked to devolve the local ecoystem. 

Evidence confirms that the Historic County Commission and City Council are unwilling to fight for  public transparency on matters dealing with Budget, Public-Private non-profit complex, MATA, Agricenter and more. And it is true that one can count on getting called all kinds of names for fighting for transparency and oversight to include a racist, bully, tactically rude and on and on. I know.

Also keep in mind, Pearson is a Democrat and Deeter a Republican. Neither local party fights for public transparency and oversight. Nor does the social justice complex fight for it on financial matters or public-private transparency.  Again, being for something and fighting for it are two totally different things.

Neither local party ever really talks about transparency and oversight. For all its worth, it seems both local parties as well as the social justice complex, take their cues from the local corporate socialist complex. For example, have you seen a column authored by either party saying “Maybe we should not spend $1 billion on stadiums?”

Either party can take on $1 billion in stadiums. The Democrats could as MATA lay on its back and the Republicans could as local taxes and fees soar skyward.  But then there are several examples of lacking transparency which is one matter and then there is another test in using transparent public information for oversight purposes. Public transparency and oversight are local failures and it goes to the core of why the Memphis ecosystem has declined over time.

So the question for Pearson and Deeter, will you sustain a fight for transparency and oversight? Let me know and let's write a blog together. 

NON-TRANSPARENT – Taxpayer Justice