How do I adequately explain Charlotte government to you? Imagine the most corrupt Democrat political machine since the old days of Chicago, but run almost completely by black Democrats. I'm talking the mayor, city manager, the sheriff, the city council and county commission, the DA, magistrates, judges, police chief, school superintendent and on and on it goes. They are all paid exorbitant salaries and there are backroom payoffs and hiring friends at exorbitant salaries, all at taxpayer expense. As a matter of fact, they've raised our property taxes three years in a row to pay for all of this. The schools are failing, and even now the superintendent is suspended pending the results of an investigation into her mismanagement of funds. We regularly make national news because of the horrible crime committed on a daily basis because the DA, judges and magistrates refuse to lock up violent criminals and the mentally unstable. The sheriff doesn't want criminals in the jails - he said as much just yesterday. We are short close to 300 police officers because they can't get people to apply - why would they when the city does not back them up and the system just releases the criminals they arrest. Charlotte used to be a really nice town. I've lived here all my life. My children were born here. I work in this city. I've seen it all and I can tell you that the decline started with a long succession of Democrat mayors and city council members. I don't want to move, but I have no choice. I can no longer afford to live here, both financially and from a safety standpoint. Democrats have ruined this city and it's only a matter of time before the banks will no longer be able to get their employees to come here to work and businesses stop relocating here. It may take 10-20 years, but at some point we will be another Chicago or Detroit. What is the solution? I wish I knew. Most conservatives fled the city for other counties years ago. Republicans don't even bother to run for many offices anymore because it's a waste of time. The voters here never seem to learn. I don't have any faith that they will ever change. The only thing I can do is leave like the rest did.