Opinion By Samuel Strait – February 17, 2022
I attended the most recent local Republican Central Committee meeting to
gauge how effective they were as a political group. I’d been told that
the group consisted of mostly RINO’s (Republican’s in Name Only) who did not stand for much of what
the Republican Party tells it’s adherents it stands for. I came away
with the impression that there are a lot of insubstantial characters
that make up the Central Committee of the local Republicans and not a
whole lot of adherence to core principals of what it means to be a
Republican. In a few words, it was a lot like watching a group of people
standing on the railroad tracks, discussing whether or not to get off of
them before the next train sliced and diced them.
While the meeting itself ran more or less like a regular public meeting,
some of it consisted of listening to a short list of statewide
aspirants to public office, of which only one bothered to make an
appearance albeit remotely. At that point the public was asked to make
their public comments. We were instructed to make comments on any item
NOT ON THE AGENDA, and reserve those comments for items on the agenda
when the item came up. Sounds good so far… The meeting proceeded
through the typical items found in all public meetings, opening
ceremony, minutes, Chairman’s report, committee reports, and
correspondence, pretty dry stuff. Continued business, I presume from
previous meetings, talked mostly about up coming events, training,
bemoaning the fact that the community didn’t seem interested in joining,
and the run up to the Spring Primary, mostly dates and forums designed
to get a take on candidates and issues.
“NEW” BUSINESS
The “New” business consisted of discussion of Measure “R” repeal and a
yearly dinner. Measure R being the 1% sales tax increase for the County passed in 2020.
The Measure “R” discussion was delayed until after the
final item on the agenda, Other Business and the Republican Women’s next
meeting announcement. What was interesting about the Measure “R”
discussion was an attempt, mostly successful to limit the discussion to
the members of the Central Committee only.
Remember the instruction by
Chair Karen Sanders during the opening “Public Comments” section of the
meeting. All public comment on Measure “R” was to wait for the Agenda
item to make their public comments. DIDN’T HAPPEN…..
The discussion by the Central Committee, revealed just how far many in
the local group has strayed from advertised “Republican” principals, if
they ever had them in the first place. They clearly did not comprehend
why the sales tax hike in Measure”R” was being disputed. I am not sure
exactly what it was about two previous meetings of the group being
presented with the reasons why Measure”R” should be repealed that they
didn’t understand. Another tax on an already taxed to the hilt
population? Disconnect? Ignorance? Lack of Knowledge that made the
issue understandable? What was clear was a desire for Chris Howard to
present to the group ” his side” of the issue and arranged for that to
happen. Having just listened to Chris Howard and Neal Lopez lie without
effort and repeatedly in an hour long meeting about Measure “R” with
representatives from the Crescent City Times last Thursday about the County’s
intentions with the Measure “R” funds, I am not sure that would be of
benefit to the group. Then again I suspect there is not much of an up
side with the local Republican Central Committee and many of the attendees.
For all the fanfare, as one participant noted, the meeting was
excruciating and equivalent to watching paint dry. No wonder so many
people have abandoned the major political parties. It would be nice to
count on a political party which stands for no taxes and limited
government to actually adhere to its principals rather than dithering
around making excuses for government and their insatiable need for MORE
MONEY.
Are you listening Republican Central Committee?
If “public safety” was already the “priority” of the local government why is it
incessantly necessary to constantly lobby for “MORE MONEY?”
Particularly when “MORE MONEY” means only that the next time government
is feeling the pinch, the “go to argument” for MORE MONEY is that it is
necessary to provide appropriate levels of police, firemen, and
emergency services. The problem is, that grift never seems to be
satisfied…..And services do not improve when more money is approved.
Will wonders never cease. The forty five minutes to respond to my house
hasn’t changed in nearly fifty years, but the Sheriff’s Office has grown
significantly. Outlying areas remain under served. How has anything
really changed during that length of time other than the size of the
budgets of police, fire districts, and emergency services? When will
the local Republicans realize government can’t be Del Norte County’s
only economy?
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