My Word: All views need to be heard for change to happen
When I
moved to Humboldt, I was as politically involved as the average person on the
street. I read the newspaper, I watched the news. However, like many others out
there, I started to get sick and tired of the tactics employed by a few
radicals in Humboldt County to stagnate our community; tired of the elite few
claiming to be the voice of the people.
When the so-called
“progressives” are against progress and the environmentalists are against
cleaning up the environment, people like me take back our power, stand up and
say, “enough!”
A year ago, I decided to
volunteer for certain campaigns. I sat in on numerous public meetings. I began
to understand more about campaign themes, messaging, budgets. I also got to see
how “behind the scenes” players involved in Humboldt County politics operate.
On Nov. 2, 2010, there was a change. The election is over and there are people,
regardless of party affiliation and beliefs, that are ready to work together
for the benefit of the community we all call home.
There are others, a small vocal
minority, that still don't get that their vitriol and manipulation of the
process is polarizing and divisive. They are still in denial that it is such
negativity that turned off most voters. They still insist on the same behavior
that is counterproductive to the interests of all in Humboldt County. Many of
the former political heavyweights who thought they were untouchable are now
politically irrelevant.
I am an independent. Extremes
in either party are not worth my time. Despite my beliefs, I enjoy respectful
discourse with people who have different views than me and I support dialogue
that includes all voices. Locally, conservative and moderate voices are rarely
heard.
Are the elite few among the
“progressives” in touch with the average citizen and their concerns?
Local Solutions and Democracy
Unlimited were once thought of as being powerful in local politics. In the 2010
election, Local Solutions provided campaign data and consulting to several
candidates including Pat Higgins, Patrick Cleary, Bonnie Neely. Almost every
candidate who hired Local Solutions lost their race.
Democracy Unlimited got Measure
T on the ballot and passed before a judge threw it out as unconstitutional.
When former Supervisor Bonnie Neely took $10,000 from an Orange County real
estate developer's corporation, did the bastions of “no corporate money from
outside Humboldt County in local elections” publicly chastise the former supervisor?
No -- they endorsed her. If you talk the talk, you better walk the walk. It is
this kind of double-speak that no longer works.
Someone once claimed that no
candidate ever lost a local election with the endorsement of the Humboldt
County Democratic Central Committee (HCDCC). Peter LaVallee has lost three
elections in 10 years. Ron Kuhnel has lost the last two elections in a row.
Larry Glass, Patrick Cleary and Bonnie Neely lost.
Since Home Depot was rumored
coming to Eureka, Bill Pierson stepped up his political donations to the
radical “no growth” candidates, giving over $100,000 the past five years to
far-left candidates. I don't know about you, but I have to compete in my field.
Competition makes us better. Despite all the money, the candidates that Bill
Pierson supported lost.
Voters like me are turned off
by the hate and disrespect among the local progressive elite. They are not open
to moderate voices that can work with all factions of the community. During the
elections, I attended endorsement meetings where these elite fawned over their
chosen candidates and rebuffed others. Even after the elections, they chose to
ignore the outreach by the newly-elected officials. When the agenda of radicals
is defeated, they chose to name call and personally attack elected officials
and their families and supporters. I still see these divisive tactics now at
public meetings where leaders prey on the genuine causes of community activists
in the name of the greater good. Claiming to represent the people, it is these
extremist policies and support of far-left candidates that has contributed to
unreasonable dependency on government in this area, worsened the struggle of
the poor and the working class in this area, and continues to contribute to the
crime and blight in this area.
Change in this community is not
going to happen until people get involved and all views are heard. For that to
happen, people need to feel welcome and safe to voice their varying political
and personal beliefs in the media, in local political organizations and at
public meetings.