We — along with probably more than half of all Americans — often complain about government. The practice is just about a national pastime.

But sometimes the sytem — with the help of a free press and citizens who have a right to question government actions — works quite well.

After legitimate questions surfaced around the City of Vidalia’s plans to borrow $7 million to buy land and create a mixed-use development across from Walmart, Louisiana Treasurer John Kennedy and his staff slowed things down a bit by tapping the state government brakes a bit.

That’s how the system is supposed to work.

Citizens are concerned over the proposal for a number of reasons, including the cost, but also the appearance that favoritism may be at play in the deal.

Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland and the mayor’s employee H.L. Irvin, along with others, recently owned a portion of the land to be acquired. Although the two men no longer have interest in the land and thus would not directly profit from its sale, their former partner, current landowner and friend would.

The mayor acknowledged recently that he knew when details of the matter were made public suspicions would be raised, which is why Copeland said consultants, not himself, were involved in selecting the land for the proposed development.

His statement, however, seems to complete the circle of suspicion that Kennedy and others identified because the next question is: Who hired the consultant?

We trust Reeves and staff to carefully vet the project as he assures the public he will. In the end, perhaps he’ll conclude the project is fine and the bond commission will approve it. But until further questions are answered, stopping the development is wise.