This year, Jerguson had a previous commitment and didn’t attend any of the meetings. Murphy and Hamilton only participated to present a united front against the school board, which kicks off the day’s meetings. Then, they split a few minutes into the meeting for the Cherokee County Commission to attend a Forsyth County Chamber gathering about health care.

During the school board meeting, Rogers was out of the room on a cell phone during the school board’s presentation. But, he did manage to come back in when it was the lawmakers’ turn to speak and was able to tell the schools that they could expect more funding cuts from the Legislature.

The day’s meetings culminated in what was supposed to be an overview for the public of the upcoming General Assembly. Unfortunately, Rogers had to catch a plane and gave a five-minute outline of the state’s budget and the Legislature’s desire to cut an additional $5 billion to $6 billion. He did note that even if the schools were left out of the cuts to come, it would require cutting all other state programs by 50 to 60 percent, which he said is impossible.

When Rogers left, Hill and Byrd co-opted the meeting and turned it into an anti-health care reform “forum.” They said they wanted to present the public with “facts” about the proposals going through the U.S. Congress, and then presented two speakers who were firmly against the proposed health care legislation.

It seems to me that there has been a shift in our so-called “representative” government. These days, instead of us telling those we elect to office what we want them to do, they tell us what is best for the people and do it whether we like it or not.