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 here is a petition being circulated here
in San Diego County that could help put the brakes on runaway development
if that's even possible. The Rural Heritage and Watershed Initiative is
a grass-roots effort by concerned citizens who want to let the County Board
of Supervisors know that they can not run rampant over what little open
space remains. Bringing the issue to a vote of the people on the November
ballot will promote a dialogue regarding our future. Imagine that, Supervisor
Horn.
 As part of the effort to gather signatures,
my mother and I took our turn in front of the Trader Joe's in Oceanside's
Fire Mountain Center. I've always liked this chain, mainly because of the
vegan pot stickers they sell. I have also thought that their clientele more
educated than your usual lot. Let's just say I was half right. The few people
who signed the petition were quite aware of our decreasing quality of life.
These folks were of all ages, from 18 to 80, and voiced concerns that ran
the gamut between dwindling water supplies, redundant development and an
inadequate infrastructure. This column is not about them.
A second group of people were the
pro-development camp we'll call them the "beautiful people" because
they were well dressed, drove very nice cars and were, as a rule, just a
little too smug. In this category, only one of them could be considered
young, mid-thirties, and boy did he think he was funny. Let's hear it for
an audience of one. I also appreciate honesty in people, regardless of political
bent. One woman said, "Oh, I could never sign that, I work in land
use." A man said "I sell carpets for a living, why would I want
to limit development?" Another said, "People should be free to
develop whatever they want." An elderly man just muttered "environmental
crap" under his breath as he hurried his wife into the store. But this
column is not about them, either.
Who this column is about is all the
busy people rushing about as if constant movement would somehow protect
them from whatever they are running from. I'm sorry, but if you're not to
busy to buy a case of wine at 9am on a Sunday morning, you are not too busy
to write your name and address on a piece of paper, or express a political
opinion. Out of the 200 people we approached, the majority said they had
no time. No time? If I'm not mistaken, that's all we have. If one doesn't
have time to participate in the democratic process, maybe it's time to slow
down. There are people dying all over the world attempting to achieve half
of the representation that Americans take for granted.
This exercise in grass-roots activism
put faces to the statistic that only 33 percent of eligible voters turn
out on election day. Person after person said, "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm
not registered," as if that was O.K. I'm sure that if I had had a registration
form their reply would have changed to, "Sorry, no time."
The question is: am I preaching to
the choir? I would guess that the people who take the time to read this
column and concern themselves with issues that affect their day to day living
are the same people who make it a point to vote. I was going to say their
duty to vote, but it is not our duty, it's our privilege. The people of
the Soviet Union had no vote and the Chinese still have no voice, and just
check out the environmental mess they are in. Currently, the American government
is being run by Big Business for Big Business, till death do they part.
Majority hasn't ruled for a very long time simply because the majority of
Americans can't be bothered to vote.
Now, I would agree that an individual
vote means nothing in national electorial politics. The system was set up
to keep rich white men in power. On the local level, however, one vote can
make a difference, as can a single signature. Trust me, I know. A couple
of years ago I tried to run for a seat on the Green County Council and one
of my signatures was invalid hence, the reason I am not serving on the County
Council. This is just an example of how every signature matters. The Rural
Heritage and Watershed Initiative is a chance to put sound environmental
policy on the ballot, and hopefully make sure the mistakes that were made
here on the coast are not repeated in East County.
So, if you haven't signed the petition
yet there is still time. You have until the end of May to do so. If you
would like to volunteer some time and circulate petitions, that is also
still possible. In either case call, Eric Bowlby at (619) 284-9399; he can
send you a petition by mail. Let the County Board of Supervisors know that
they are not the only game in town. Otherwise, just go back to your busy
little lives, and enjoy our one nation under apathy, with Walmarts and gridlock
for all.  |
