Icon viewers:

Recently, I was fortunate enough to be the recipient of what I consider a shining example of government overreach.  Unbeknownst to my wife and I, a section of the sidewalk in front of our home, which we recently sold, was out of Bluffton’s “Public Sidewalk Repair Policy.” Specifically, after speaking to a bureaucrat with the Village, as well as reading the policy itself, “a public sidewalk is required to be repaired or replaced when a section(s) has a separation of one-half inch (1/2”) or greater in the surface evaluation which creates a tripping hazard.” Importantly, this home, as well as the sidewalk, was constructed in 2006.

With that said, is this what our country and respective municipalities have come to? Are we more concerned about miles and miles of low-traffic sidewalks a half an inch out of tolerance rather than other, more pressing issues (such as the heroin epidemic, failing infrastructure affecting millions of operators—bridges, roads, etc.)? Even more concerning, are we, as taxpayers, content paying for an individual, I assume walking around the Village, with a small ruler, measuring perceived “dangerous” sidewalks? Interestingly, I failed to notice any information on www.bluffton-ohio.com relating to inadequate roadways, pathways, or any other government controlled entity. As I sternly advised the bureaucrat I was speaking with on the phone, I will be more than happy to follow this “very important” policy once all public road potholes, cracks, etc. are repaired and within policy. I find it very ironic how the government, in this case the Village, can project costs on homeowners, while simultaneously holding themselves to a different set of standards, which, in essence, allows them to repair similar issues whenever convenient for their budget.

Personally, this epitomizes the growing, problematic “big government” approach endorsed by the vast amount of Liberals. Admittedly, while most Liberal philosophies, on the surface, seem well intentioned and for the betterment of all, most are utopian style, fantasy land thoughts where someone (in this case “us”) has to pay for an unrealistic or implausible goal. Additionally, in the pursuit of trying to reach this land of rainbows and unicorns, many individuals, often those hard-working and committed, are unfairly/disproportionately taxed or targeted to subsidize another portion of the population.  For example, the city of Kokomo, Indiana, via taxpayer funds, pays for the repairs of those deemed low to moderate income level, while others, seemingly deemed wealthy enough, are forced to arrange for repairs at their own cost (http://www.cityofkokomo.org/departments/engineering_and_traffic/sidewalk_rehabilition_program.php.

I’m sure this theme is commonplace throughout the nation—just another hidden tax for those at or above the moderate income level, as deemed by the government. When will all these taxes stop? When will we realize a half an inch sidewalk gap is not troublesome! Rather, its life—not every walking surface, whether it be at the grocery store, park, etc. will be perfectly flat. Open up your eyes and be accountable for your safety! Not everything in this fragile country can be repaired or bettered simply by proposing a new or increased tax.  We, as humans, must acknowledge perfection is not realistic or plausible in every scenario. At some point, I am convinced, common sense will prevail!

 Jerrod Hartman