General Stonewall Jackson said, “Never take counsel of your fears” (From, “On Strategy, A Critical Analysis of the Vietnam War” by Colonel Harry G. Summers). We live in “the home of the brave and the land of the free” Yet, it seems to me, the instillation of fear is the aim of a lot of the rhetoric and becomes the root of many of our important decisions. When an important question is asked it seems natural and right that we first consider it from our own perspective. If increased taxation is requested our first reaction is almost universally “oh no, more of my money to the government!”. While understandable, this is a fear reaction and is often made without consideration of the fact that, like it or not, we are all members of a community and gain from the services our entire community provides.
Stonewall Jackson’s comment reminds us that fear is not a quality basis for decisions. As members of the community we all pitch in a bit of money understanding that as a group we can create services that we cannot afford by acting alone. I am suggesting that we remove the fear in our initial reaction and look at what the entire community might get out of a new idea or action. Does it result in better schools, better service to the elderly, cleaner parks and better public safety? If you find yourself answering yes to the service attached to revenue enhancement you are now thinking as a member of the community not a as a single citizen divorced from what government provides.
Fear wins elections. Fear will “get out the vote”. It generates public support. Fear also fractures a community. A winner takes all mentality prevails. I am of the opinion that a particular group might win an election or stop some ballot question but, in my mind they may have won a battle but they have lost the war. Fear does galvanize people but, guess what, it does not create solutions. This point is really important. To win does not create a solution, if in the winning, we have damaged the sense of community so necessary to move all of us forward. Fear makes it easier to knee-jerk a no on any issue. It is much more difficult to make that negative vote when we consider ourselves important members a greater community.
There will be a lot to consider in our next election. Initiatives 60, 61 and 101 will be made to sound great by their proponents. Yes, they will save you a few bucks. But they will guarantee lousy roads, schools funded at a level of 20 years ago and hamstring governments to fund core services such as water and wastewater treatment. Do we save ourselves some money or do we pay for what we are using? Are we citizens who vote for our short term personal benefit only, or do we see ourselves as part of a greater community?
November is only four months away and there will be a lot on the ballot that we will be asked to decide. I ask that each voter starts now to try to understand more than the emotional aspects of each issues. I ask that rather than operate from fear, we take time to see ourselves in the context of the community and work towards finding a different and less emotional perspective.
Finally, I would like to offer my condolences to the family and friends of Richard Padoven. Like many in our town Mr. Padoven and I disagreed on a lot of issues. He, however, was always willing to share a joke with his criticism. Salida will miss him.
Well said Chuck! Come November I also hope the community is willing to put their personal interests aside and choose what is best for the community. Another example is the bond issue that would provide the necessary matching funds for improvements at the middle and high schools. I personally do not have any children, but it is so important for our community to take advantage of the BEST grant and make it happen for the greater good.
Thanks again Chuck for so eloquently explaining this.
Lisa
Chuck:
Wow! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your talking about this. You have shown a remarkable ability to look beyond partisan politics and encourage pragmatic solutions to things. I was struck by that when you spoke at the dedication of the new building, pointing out that the support for the project was based on true cooperation among members of the community from both sides of the aisle. Now you are taking on the one of the biggest tools in the partisan toolbox. Thanks for that. I personally hope it works, and I’ll try to do my part.
I believe that when people take a look at proposals and evaluate them based on the merits, rather than fear, that they can make reasonable and informed decisions. I believe that my own personal interest and what is best for the community are frequently the same thing. Even for someone without children, better schools bring with them increased property values, fewer children getting into trouble, which reduces the costs of police, courts and other associated costs, as well as an educated workforce, which is attractive to companies thinking of moving or staring here. I think better schools are perhaps the best example of a place where the entire communities interest and the individual personal interest of everyone who makes of the community coincide.
I know that you, Chuck, have written about this in the past, but schools are economic development.
Thanks for talking about fear. And thanks for talking about paying our fair share of what we are using.
Well said Chuck… Folks need to think twice when they hear a anyone using fear to sway opinion. It is an exceedingly powerful tool.
In the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”