Woody Cavenaugh

Its funny really, I've never heard that phrase, "your tax dollars at work" used to mean something positive. But that is what I am here today to do. I want to talk about something positive that our tax dollars are doing. I saw it on the commute in downtown Greensboro today.

I'm sitting at a stoplight, and two busses roll by. Each one is painted tan. Each one is pulling a trailer, one with landscapeing equipment on it, the other held a porta-john. Each bus had the following two statments painted across it.
"Your Tax Dollars at Work"
"Department of Corrections Prisoner Work Crew"

Once I got over the shock of seeing the phrase "Your Tax Dollars at Work" painted on a bus, I was very happy to see that our tax dollars were going to something worth while.

I found myself thinking that if I ever found myself in prison I am glad that I would have something constructive to do while I spend time in an air conditioned cell with a roof over my head, three square meals a day, and TV privilages paid for by the honest citizens. I always found it ironic that the honest people paid taxes to house and feed the dishonest ones.

There is a whole lot of state, county, and city owned grass to mow and I am glad we found a workforce to mow it. Prisoner or not, if you are going to get a climate controled roof over your head and three square meals a day you'd better be earning your keep.