The old saying that you wouldn’t eat sausage if you saw how it was made is often applied to politics: If you could see how our elected leaders make our laws  you’d be in despair the whole day long. Or, if you’re a skeptical political junkie, you’d be shaking your head and chuckling at the lovely picture of humanity portrayed by whatever sad legislative body you’re studying. Take the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners, for instance. Glimpses behind that curtain can be revelatory or revolting, or, often, both.

The other day, the school board had the raw effrontery to ask for more money from the County Commission. The nerve. The gall. The ... um, actually, it was the kind of thing you’d expect a normal school board to do, right? Especially these days, when so many people in Charlotte are concerned about the increasing toll being taken on CMS by the yearly funds slashing, right? Well, not if you’re Commission Vice-Chair Jim Pendergraph. The school board’s request apparently really pissed him off, which made him fire off an e-mail to the other commissioners and county king Harry Jones. In his e-mail, Pendergraph asked Jones “What has CMS done to help us?” and went on to suggest tying any increases for CMS to how well the school system has bowed to his desire to “privatize” some CMS services.

Jones replied that he’d pass on Pendergraph’s ideas to Supt. Peter Gorman. The most interesting thing about Jones’ reply, however, was the massive quote from Teddy Roosevelt at the end of the e-mail. You know the one, about how great men take action and to hell with those pitiful little weasels who dare to criticize said great man?  Could this guy’s ego get any more overinflated?

Pendergraph then wrote that he would propose that any schools to which the county contributes need to seek out private contractors in order to save money (and lower the quality of service, but that wasn’t mentioned; nor was any mention made of how Pendergraph’s ideas are part of a national GOP campaign to lower the numbers of public employees).

Bill James, of course (who sent us copies of these e-mails), wrote to say he liked Pendergraph’s idea of “forcing CMS privatization.” Check out the provisos James suggests, such as not really paying the new workers any kind of silly old pension or “excess benefits.” Real charmers, these guys. Here is the text of the e-mails.

From: Pendergraph, Jim Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 10:04 AM

To: Jones, Harry L. Cc: Leake, Vilma; Dunlap, George; Pendergraph, Jim; Clarke, Dumont; Bentley, Karen; Cogdell, Harold; Cooksey, Neil; James, Bill; Roberts, Jennifer

Harry, in regard to this morning's Observer article about CMS needing $45 million more, what has CMS done to help us? They have been asked repeatedly about outsourcing some of their big money areas such as food service, transportation and maintenance. All I see and hear is lip service and a one way attitude from CMS. My request is simple before we commit to another dime. Have independent assessors look at the three listed areas and give us a written report of findings before the budget?is finalized. If the County can outsource some areas, so can they.

Jim Pendergraph, Vice-Chairman, Mecklenburg County Commission

From: Jones, Harry L. Sent: Wed 4/27/2011 11:45 AM

To: Pendergraph, Jim Cc: Leake, Vilma; Dunlap, George; Clarke, Dumont; Bentley, Karen; Cogdell, Harold; Cooksey, Neil; James, Bill; Roberts, Jennifer; Lancaster, Michelle; McGillicuddy, John; Shields, Bobbie; Yi, Hyong

Jim, I have sent your request on to Pete Gorman. He should be able to provide the facts or answers to the questions concerning their efforts, if any, taken regarding outsourcing

Harry L. Jones, Sr., County Manager? Mecklenburg County

[HERE IS THE SELF-AGGRANDIZING, “WHO ARE YOU PITIFUL WEASELS WHO DARE TO THINK YOU'RE QUALIFIED TO CRITICIZE ME?" QUOTE MENTIONED ABOVE]:

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." -- Teddy Roosevelt

From: Pendergraph, Jim Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 11:56 AM

To: Jones, Harry L. Cc: Leake, Vilma; Dunlap, George; Clarke, Dumont; Bentley, Karen; Cogdell, Harold; Cooksey, Neil; James, Bill; Roberts, Jennifer; Lancaster, Michelle; McGillicuddy, John; Shields, Bobbie; Yi, Hyong

Thanks.  I am going to put an item in the agenda for May 17 to direct CMS, CPCC and any other entity we fund, to provide the BOCC with assessments from independent contractors or vendors?regarding potential savings with outsourcing. If the independent assessor report states there are no savings to be had, then my questions are answered. I just believe we should know, one way or the other.?CMS has previously stated their food service was a money maker. If they profit $2 million now and a private contractor can save $5 million, then it is certainly worth taking a close look at.

Jim Pendergraph?, Vice-Chairman, Mecklenburg County Commission

[NOTE FROM BILL JAMES TO PENDERGRAPH]:

Jim -

Forcing CMS privatization – I like it !

The only way they will do it is if they are forced to.

Just have to make sure are not any ‘rules’ such as requiring the private company to offer a pension or excess benefits.

Sometimes governments try and hobble private competition but forcing them to accept costs that make privatization unprofitable to protect employees.

May 17^th is also the budget discussion meeting (Manager announces his budget) so that is a pretty good day to talk about forcing CMS to get real about saving money.

When you privatize janitors and cafeteria workers CMS’ union folks and liberals will howl.

Bill