Letter says TOLLROADSnews insulting to Jackson County on Wiregrass Pike AL-FL

Dear Mr. Samuel,

In response to your recent article titled “On the Wiregrass Turnpike controversy - critics seize on our not-for-profit comment." 

One of your comments (quote) "One county located on I-10 shouldn't be able to deny more remote counties high standard connections to the modern road network with a selfish "What's in it for us?"

I would like to respond by simply saying that I am outraged and extremely insulted regarding you comments about small (counties) towns.

Why should the citizens of "the one county" (as you put it,) be forced to surrender their generations owned family farms, land, properties, and businesses, just so the residents of out of State larger cities can get to the beach a few minutes faster. There are already numerous direct route highways that allow quick access to the coast that are working very well, so why add another to divert travelers more quickly elsewhere.  I travel these existing roads every day, and encounter little to no resistance to my destinations, to and from the coast.

There is also the major concern for the continued quality of life most citizens enjoy, that have moved away from the concrete hustle and bustle of toll roads, interstates, and larger city life that southern Florida  and most of the larger surrounding cities were or have become.   

The citizens of the "selfish" counties (as you stated) may very well want to keep their way of life that way.  I have not, nor anyone that I know has asked "What's in it for us?”.    

The only comments I have heard that were asked, were exactly the opposite.  What else will be taken from us and why should we, the residents and business owners give up our family land, as well as what little revenues we are able to capture in the interest of benefiting out of State and International investors profits.  Why should we be so hesitant to rush travelers past our communities to spend their dollars elsewhere?  Haven't we sold out our great Country enough? 

These "selfish" (as you stated) people that reside in these small rural towns(counties) are hard working, God fearing, Red, White, and Blue, Family Valued Veterans and Patriots, that are well educated either in life or collegiate levels.

Your postulation of ("selfish") rural folks, have PhDs, Master degrees, and are Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers, Teachers, and Architect's.  We are the friendly productive people that reside in communities and work to make a difference.  Your erroneous stance on this matter is appalling.

Small rural towns are the heart, soul, and backbone of this great country, therefore there is a lot to be said and learned by growing up in one.  Every large city in this great Country started out as a small town, and almost everyone has forgotten that!  

Maybe, just maybe, have you stopped to consider that the fine residents of these small towns (counties) want to continue to nurture the lifestyle and that special quality of life for their children and the generations that will follow?  The citizens of these "selfish" counties (as you stated) may very well know something you may not about that quality of life we are so strongly trying to protect!

Sincerely,

Ben Burnham
Jackson County Citizen and Small Town Proud
June 26, 2008

COMMENT: Mr Burnham has a vivid imagination. Nowhere in our editorial comment did we make any derogatory statement on rural people or small towns. We just said that small communities, whether rural or urban, cannot be allowed a veto power over new highways in a growing nation that needs to maintain and improve mobility.

The United States has well established legal processes to hear and consider local comment on road proposals like the Wiregrass Turnpike. These analyze alternatives, make choices, minimize impacts, and pay compensation. 

Also plenty of rural communities manage to maintain and indeed improve their quality of life with modern highways running through them. The few people adversely affected adapt or move on. Only those in cemeteries are totally exempt from disturbance - Editor

Here is the article about which Mr Burnham waxes indigant:

http://www.tollroadsnews.com/node/3611 (see the very end)

TOLLROADSnews 2008-07-07