Generally, a government's role is to provide those services which their citizens cannot reasonably expect to provide for themselves.

Moreover, government does not usually compete with private enterprise for those services which private enterprises can more aptly and economically provide the community. And certainly government should not be in the business of trying to make money through risky ventures like building golf courses and club houses.

When government competes with private enterprises, its citizens generally lose by being "over taxed" in the long run.

Of the 129 Greater Pittsburgh Area golf courses (Published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on April 15), 122 golf courses had green fees lower than Cranberry Highlands Golf Course (CHGC) and most of these 122 golf courses had green fees lower by 50 percent.

And now you know why more than 80 percent of the golfers who live in CT do not play CHGC—simply a matter of economics. If CT had not built this golf course and instead been frugal with our taxes year-over-year versus trying to have CT government fund projects which the CT BOS could say yielded a "fantastic ROI," I am sure CT BOS would not have had to raise taxes for 2012.

And now I am confident you, the voters, will aptly apply the term "career politician" to some of our CT leadership and will remember them at the ballot box for all the uncalled for great monuments they have build unto themselves.

The only CT supervisor who has served in the armed forces of our country is Navy Commander (Retired) Dave Root. Dave gave his word that he was willing to return his CT annual stipend back to the CT coffers if that would assist in balancing the budget, thus not having to increase taxes for budget year 2012.

Dave Root honored his word and did give back his CT stipend. Supervisor Bruce Mazzoni was quoted in two newspapers that he would follow Supervisor Root's lead in giving back his CT stipend. Since Supervisor Mazzoni reneged on his word, he is now free to give his stipend to the charity of his choice, tell everyone of that charity (i.e. Lions Club), and then take a nice tax deduction. Supervisor Root does not have that tax deduction opportunity as he gave his word and then honored that solemn commitment!   

Ironically as I pen this opinion letter on this Memorial Day, I noticed in the Cranbery Eagle an article "Daryl's War" that CT supervisor Mazzoni castigated another military veteran by stating "Daryl doesn't have the best interests of the 12th District in mind. He has himself in mind."

Well Bruce, as a retired military veteran who has served his country for over 21 years, I believe some CT supervisors did not have the best interests of their citizens in mind when taxes were unnecessarily raised due to unnecessary funding to past unnecessary projects and other wasteful spending venues.

And yes, I do comprehend when government officials are not being wise with taxpayer money as I know the real difference between a "career politician" and one who genuinely cares for constituents.

Earl Grubbs

Cranberry Township