How One Blog Post ‘Killed’ a Whole Government Project

Well, folks, here we are again. From what I’ve heard, last week’s blog post ruffled some feathers—apparently, to the point that it almost ended the park project. Now, there’s talk that this blog is somehow being blamed for putting the whole thing in jeopardy.

And if that weren’t enough, I’m hearing talk that someone might be starting a new page to call out a so-called ‘crazy blogger’—apparently because certain local projects were discussed in a way that didn't fit the narrative. But who knows? If this post gets read (and it probably will), I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s some backtracking, maybe a few people saying they were misunderstood, and perhaps even a mention at a government meeting raising doubts about this page.

And yet, somehow, I’m being told that I'm the one being compared to a major news network?

But hey, I thought we had this thing called freedom of speech. Or does that only apply when people agree with what’s being said? Funny how that works.

How We Got Here

This whole controversy started because I said out loud what had only been a whispered rumor. And let’s be honest—if you look at last week’s comment section, it’s pretty clear why people hesitate to speak up with concerns regarding this project. It’s easier to stay quiet than deal with the backlash. But personally? I’ve dealt with worse. My drill sergeant wasn’t exactly known for going easy on people, so I think I can handle a few angry comments.

What’s really interesting, though, is what happened next. In the middle of all the outrage, a new document suddenly appeared—supposedly an “itemized breakdown of expenditures” for the park project. If I had put it together, it probably would have looked more official. Instead, what was provided looks more like a quickly made Word document with little proof that the money went where it said it was going, and I was told I couldn't get receipts or invoices for these items at this time.

Does that mean this blog exists just to tear things down and “ruin” projects? No. It means that, like a lot of people in this community, I’m frustrated. Frustrated with tax dollars going to projects that never seem to get finished. Frustrated with government processes that follow the rules when it’s convenient and ignore them when it’s not. And frustrated with a culture where asking questions gets you attacked instead of answered.

Unfortunately, instead of addressing real concerns about the budget, some people would rather make me the problem. Because it’s easier to discredit and pick the person asking questions apart than to prove there’s nothing to hide.

It’s 2025—asking for transparency shouldn’t be a big deal, should it?

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Critical Thinking and Government Transparency

Now that those who only came here for the drama and to just see if I am writing about them have probably rage-quit, let’s take a step back and do some critical thinking.

Why do we even have public budgets?

For any government-funded project, financial transparency is key. The public has the right to know how their tax dollars are being spent, and officials have a responsibility to provide clear, accurate breakdowns of costs and documents to support those cost.

Why do two different budget documents exist?

One document was sent by a legal representative back in October—a standard practice for ensuring that shared information is appropriate for public release. The second document, however, conveniently appeared a few hours after my blog post went up on Feb. 9, 2025. Interesting timing, right?

Why the backlash for questioning a budget?

This is where psychology comes in. People don’t like having their beliefs challenged—especially in a public space. (Don’t believe me? Try bringing up politics or religion at a social event and watch what happens.) There’s something called the backfire effect, where instead of considering new information, people double down on their existing opinions. In this case, rather than addressing concerns about how public funds are being spent, it’s easier for some to paint the person asking questions as the problem.

What should happen next?

Here’s the reality: If this blog hadn’t mentioned the park project, most people wouldn’t have given my blog or that project a second thought. But now, the discussion is out in the open. And if there’s nothing to hide, why did so many people react so strongly to the fact that someone brought it up? Anyone who knows how to request public records and ask the right questions can see that this isn’t the only issue in McGuffey—but somehow, an unfinished park is what gets people the most riled up.

I’ll wrap this up with a quote from Albert Einstein:

“Blind obedience to authority is the greatest enemy of truth.”

If transparency is truly a priority, then keeping and sharing public records shouldn’t be a problem. And if there’s nothing to question, then a blog post should never have had this much power in the first place. Now, if you think you can handle it, come back next week when I will actually take the time to go over the document and e-mail regarding the information that was sent to me on Feb 9, 2025, to clear the air.

(Note: Updated 2/15/2025 @ 8:07pm Next week's blog post will not be going over these documents. )

Disclaimer:

This blog represents the opinions of the author and is intended for informational and discussion purposes only. All information is based on publicly available records, personal observations, and community feedback. Readers are encouraged to verify facts independently and engage in open, respectful dialogue. The author is not responsible for any decisions or actions taken based on the content of this post.

A document was sent on Feb. 9, 2025, As you can see, I have no real way to prove this was from the Village Of McGuffey. I assure you it is, and if you have any questions, contact the McGuffey government. There are also no receipts or invoices to prove the accuracy of these numbers, and I was informed the receipts are currently not available at this time.

This was the document provided by the Village Solicitor in Oct 2024. As you can see, I have no real way to prove this was from the Village Of McGuffey. I assure you it is, and if you have any questions, contact the McGuffey government. No receipts or invoices were provided to prove the accuracy of the purchases.