Mrs. Farmer Deserves The Benefit Of Doubt - And Response

  • Monday, May 18, 2020

They  come out in groups with fangs showing, thrashing, foaming at the mouth and spewing their venom. They're easily recognizable. One might first appear, then their cheerleader squad will soon come behind them in support. 

They seem to take turns with who will say what first. They speak in sometimes coded language and often use dog whistles. Whenever there's a response to their writings with "I don't know so in so. I never met so in so BUT! I agree with, support them,"  on any given day and topic, BEWARE! This is their usual strategy. The fact is, they already have someone else in mind they want in a position or to get rid of, but are too much the coward to fight their own battles or just come right out alone and state their positions. They only exist because they've formed a group of like minds. So the strategy is to stir up the crazies who are like them for support, and get a few ill informed and naive involved in order to give the false impression of strength in numbers. Once you've personally been on the receiving end of their venom, and I can tell you some doozies that's floated around about me over the years, they are easily recognizable, and even pitied. 

My own personal strategy, since childhood, has been to always look in the opposite direction someone or someones are attempting to point you, or sway you. Therein lies the truth. 

"Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again; 
The eternal years of God are hers;
But error, wounded, writhes in pain,
And dies among its worshipers."~~ William C. Bryant (1794-1878)-Living Lost

Mrs. Farmer deserves the benefit of doubt. Hopefully the city council and others involved will ignore these nuts, and reconsider her for the position of city treasurer. 

Best wishes, Mrs. Farmer 

Brenda Washington 

* * * 

I'm sure Brenda will be astounded to learn that I actually agree with her in principle about our former new city treasurer. Somewhere in the last  30 years (probably beginning with the Clarence Thomas fiasco) we seem to have forgotten that a person is considered innocent until proven guilty. 

However the question in this case is did Ms. Farmer truthfully answer all questions in her hiring process. Was there a question about anticipating any law suits being filed? Did the interviewer ask, "is there anything else I should know?"

And as Mike Layne asked, "Is a treasurer from some hamlet in the middle of nowhere Wyoming
truly the most qualified person we could find?" I have no problem with hiring from outside as long 
as that candidate more qualified than any employee in house.

There are many unanswered questions in this fiasco. 

Douglas Jones
Ooltewah

Opinion
Deja vu Zhivago
  • 7/10/2025

As more is learned about Zohran Mamdani, Democrat nominee for mayor of NYC, we see during the pandemic he called on the government to “seize” luxury condos to house the homeless. He wanted “land ... more

Miss Zella And Madoc
  • 7/8/2025

I guess that I knew Zella Armstrong from the day I was born until she died. I have read almost everything she wrote. My grandfather was the emcee of the Cotton Ball until he died. I was a ... more

Don't Cut Off St. Elmo
  • 7/8/2025

The Riverwalk is one of Chattanooga’s crown jewels, and as a frequent user, I’m excited about the planned improvements to the South Broad section. These upgrades will undoubtedly enhance an already ... more