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To the editor:
For a long time now, there have jeen no “Letters to the editor” from lere, and Very few from anyone in the county.
This, perhaps is partially explained by your editorial of Aug. 18, ibout the “drop-outs” on Washington’s Planning Commission.
Too often so-called “hearings” before Boards and Commissions in this county are deceptive jokes, held only to satisfy the letter of the law and to avoid lawsuits, minds on the issue already firmly made up through prior private discussion of the matter among the “hearers.”
Also, there is this aspect, as one former chairman of the Supervisors told me, “it doesn’t do any harm. Bob, to let them get it off their chests,” as though we were discussing ignorant, wayward children instead of adult, voting citizens.
If it is an issue on which there are valid differences of opinion, it is by definition here a “controversial” issue, which is to be shunned in public by politicos, like AIDS or Herpes II.
You speak eloquently indeed, week after week, about the need for people around here to “get involved in government”; about even the local officials lamenting that sometimes no one shows up to speak either for or against a proposal; and, about your understanding of the people’s “anger and frustration” when they realize that they have participated in a hearing which is tantamount to a fraud or, even worse, are required to submit to appointed officials who have undertaken minor duties so insignificant and redundant that even they are too bored to attend their own announced meeting and hearing!
Don’t worry too much about the local officials “lamenting” the absence of participants at their “hearings”. Their “input” serves absolutely no real purpose whatever, for it will neither move nor sway minds already firmly made up. These officials don’t really mean it; again, it is merely the “right” thing to say publicly or to the newspaper.
They are delighted to escape having to listen to the “hot air” of the “uninformed”. Besides, the absence of testimony, pro or con, is a perfect justification for proceeding to do exactly what they have already determined to do anyway.
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