about my county st johns county florida

We all love a battle between good and evil where the good guy wins even if he has to use some…um…well….unconventional tactics.

We root for the good guy trying to topple big business or trying to shine a spotlight on corruption, regardless of the tactics.  And because we know they’re good guys, we cheer them on.

There are a lot of ostensibly “good guys” these days, trying to topple corrupt elected officials.  This is happening at the national level, which is concerning, but it is also happening at the local level – at least in St. Johns County.

Why now?

Well, since this post is intended to discuss St. Johns County, I won’t even try to address what is happening at the national level.

But at the County level, it appears that there were decisions made by past Boards of Commissioners that have left residents with a sense that the Commissioners are not working in their best interests.  Some even call it corruption. 

Is it corruption or is it simply human beings, all of whom have their own paradigms, trying to do the right thing given the overwhelming complexity of rules and regulations (and emotions) regarding land use, infrastructure and past decisions?

But yet, the perception that the Board of Commissioners needs a drastic change is the message of the day…week…month – and yes, year in St. Johns County.

And the tactics being used to push for drastic change challenge the rules of decorum.

Being the white knight and crusader

Being the contrarian is popular these days.  Contrarians create the aura that those who do not agree with them are wrong.  And sometimes, they make demeaning statements about those who disagree. It’s often a very successful tactic.

But what is the price of making those who don’t agree out to be the bad guy?

In my opinion, the price is stoking the fire of distrust of our elected officials.

What is the alternative?

Change can be made without demeaning tactics.  It’s called building consensus. It’s called playing by the rules.  It’s called respecting other opinions.

That is what rules are for – giving people a means of respectful debate on topics that deserve healthy dialogue before decisions are made.  That is what the rules of decorum for St Johns County provide.

To discard the rules of decorum is to show disrespect for the process.  To show disrespect for the process infers that anyone who doesn’t agree is a bad guy.

We don’t need any more of that, particularly here in this beautiful County we are privileged to call home.