Liberals With An Ego Cannot be Trusted

Liberals With An Ego Cannot be Trusted

Do you vote? Do you want your candidate to make decisions for you; or, are you looking for someone to represent your values? The Liberal Mind says, “I have no right to judge another person. I may disagree, but I must be tolerant of whatever is appropriate for the other guy.” This lack of resolve avoids the premise that anything can be good or bad. Right and wrong have no meaning outside the individual’s own mind.

Here is an example that shows how Me-ism is dangerous. A commissioner says “no” to a homeowner desiring a zoning variance for an in-law suite. That official is now a bad guy because he refuses to allow whatever the homeowner wants. The same official says “no” to a builder desiring higher density than the aforementioned homeowner likes, and the official is now a good guy. In both cases the homeowner refuses to acknowledge the existence of laws and ordinances, or the rationale behind legal constraints. Definitions of Good and Right only apply to his specific situation at the time. Whatever feels good is only good for the individual, but it surely pervades a community with something unpleasant.

For too many of our elected officials, the Greater Good is negotiable depending on current prevailing winds. For example, allowing a development with 1,200 dwelling units in an area surrounded by 1-to-2 houses per acre. The decision was made to avoid an even greater evil: annexation. What they did was overlook important factors like legal recourse against annexations for higher density or intensity of land use. The sound bite reasoning we hear is a deliberate sham devised to shift focus from real concerns like infrastructure, traffic congestion and crowded schools. . It also fails to state the importance of campaign contributions made by the developer. After all, once the almighty commissioner is in office they know what is best for us. They can judge the matter for themselves regardless of whether it meets county ordinances, the will of the people or good common sense. Right and wrong have no meaning outside the individual’s own mind.

In our county the only way to get elected is to take on the look and talk of a conservative. Hence, everyone runs as a Republican. Take a count of officials who honestly believe they “know best” and were elected to “make those hard decisions” because the citizens are too stupid to know what is really going on. These folks are neither Republican nor Democrat – they are just Feel-Good, I’m in Power Liberals. The real shame is that we swallow the bad behavior because we are led to believe they are making the “best compromises” on our behalf.

Henry County Code Sec. 3-7-1 explains why the county even has a code chapter for zoning ordinances. Authority is conferred by state law Title 36, Chapter 66, "The Zoning Procedures Law.” Several purposes are listed that include “avoiding both undue concentration of population and urban sprawl; facilitating the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage, schools” all in accordance with a comprehensive land use plan.

Looking at the history of our elections it is clear that we have a majority of values-oriented voters. Our values dictate some rules like adherence to laws. There is a formal, public process for changing laws, and each governing authority is empowered to use it. On-the-fly, spur of the moment changes are not the proper way to do it. Every zoning change that violates the existing law is just a Feel-Good, I’m in Power demonstration of ego. It is a manifest abuse of zoning power that can only be challenged by a citizen-filed lawsuit in Superior Court. And remember that a city or county legal staff is paid by our tax dollars. Values or not, the citizen-taxpayer cannot win this one!

Nothing could be clearer. We have people in office who violate our laws because they can. Because it feels good, and we are expected to be tolerant. Sometimes an official will say, “We do not know what tomorrow will bring, so we should not move too quickly on a 20-year comprehensive plan.” But making such provision is their job! We did not elect the Growth Council or Chamber of Commerce or anyone else outside public office to dictate policy. Talk about having authority with no responsibility! We all know there is proper definition of right and wrong, good and bad. Negotiating the greater good by manipulation of, or disdain for our laws is bad and it is wrong.

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