Mark,
Although there weren't very many of us, there were a few that raised a pretty big stink about the whole thing.
So, I take exception to your statement: "When word was out that we would not bid on an RFP (that would have bankrupted our company), not one merchant, county commissioner or resident questioned the CHS’s promise of “everything will be OK.”
But I would agree that the merchants did little but see how they could get a piece of the pie when it was realized that your family would be gone. I don't feel sorry for them. Now, if they managed to grow a spine and start talking on the record about how things are really hurting them, without worrying about what the CHS/HGI faction will do to them, then maybe I would emphasize. At this point, even though it affects my personal tax base, I'd say they deserve exactly what they are getting.