The McEuen Field controversy seriously offended many Cd'A citizens when several members of the Cd'A City Council and the mayor decided to approve a huge project that we really don't need at a gigantic cost to taxpayers. The stinker is that they also took it upon themselves to deny the taxpayers the respect of a vote. They simply applied the tried and true "Representative Government" concept and shoved it right down our throats.

That decision did not go down well, and a large part of our community spit it back out and launched a recall. I for one deeply appreciate the Recall Vote provided to me by Frank Orzell through Idaho State Law, and resent the vote denied me by the mayor and several City Council members. These individuals denied us a public vote which just so happens to be the very instrument that they were so in honor of when it put them in office. The appreciation wore off. Apparently, we were wise enough to vote them in, but too dumb to make an informed decision as to the economic future of Cd'A. Is there a Zen riddle in their somewhere?

Now why do you think they really did that so boldly? You have to assume that they were very aware of the possibility that they chance a recall election. I assure you that they were convinced that it would be unsuccessful, and I hope they are wrong. As you read this, the powers that be in Cd'A's vast business community that will profit from this "vision for Cd'A" are lining up to defend their preferred council members and the mayor. In Friday's Cd'A Press some of the defenders and profiteers of the McEuen Park Takeover have revealed themselves. The Cd'A Chamber of Commerce, The North Idaho Building Contractors Association, The Cd'A Association of Realtors, and the Downtown Association. Trust me, this is just the beginning. These groups have darned near exalted their preferred politicians with diplomatic immunity, and ordained their judgments for our community beyond reproach. They have also launched an assault on the recall effort, and have all but branded us as heretics and blasphemers. Here come the dark ages all over again, along with exaggerations and distortions of the truth.

In Friday's article, the Cd'A Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors claimed that the recall "targeting individuals for recall because of a difference of opinion is not an appropriate or valid use of the recall mechanism." This statement is grossly untrue. Idaho State Law Article VI, Section 6 plainly states that the recall provision (conditions) are "No specific grounds." That leaves the field wide open and in the hands of the electorate for good reason: To ensure that this state right is preserved and protected from attempts just like the one just demonstrated by this board of directors to undermine or define this law to serve their interests. The Cd'A Chamber of Commerce also falsely characterized this public issue as a "difference of opinion." The consistent reality that I wish to share with all of you is that these people have all clearly demonstrated to us is that their opinion is the only one that counts. There is no riddle here; these profiteers are the true beneficiaries of "The future vision for Cd'A." This is how these private business alliances generate privatized profit, and then socialize the cost (we pay, they profit). Also stated in their article, according to the Cd'A Tribe Chairman Chief Allan "the Democratic process has checks and balances already in place for unhappy constituents - they're called elections." That's right Chief, and recall elections are one of them. Idaho is one of 38 states that provide recalls.

The Cd'A Chamber of Commerce's assault on the recall also included the slippery slope argument that the future of Cd'A's economy is in jeopardy due to this recall. No surprise there. Here come the fear tactics, and the veiled threats. Mark my words, before this is over they will turn the citizens voting for the recall into enemies of the state. Actually, they already have. If you buy into this garbage demonizing the recall, you will literally forfeit one of your most sacred rights to the chosen few who have already decided to take it away. Their grand solution to this problem is to convince us to wait for the next election to try to vote them out (after the sting has worn off and they have time to implement their propaganda). I have a much better idea: Let's vote them out now, and let their good ole buddies do the waiting until the next election to see if they can vote them back in.

Lastly, it deeply offends me to witness people in our community demonized for exercising and protecting their constitutional rights by standing up against people only representing their self serving interests. This is the very reason we have these rights in the first place. Those that are attacking this recall election should be proud to know that their actions would be profoundly honored in China and the Soviet Union. Spahseebah and Nooshtovi (Thank you, and oh, come).

Jimmy Pappas is a Coeur d'Alene resident.