You’ve probably heard the phrase “the ends justify the means,” right? Apparently, that phrase is attributed to Niccolò Machiavelli, a political philosopher from the 14-1500s. He did not use the phrase, but much of his writing in The Prince was around achieving “the ends” in whatever way necessary.
I would like to think that we humans have evolved beyond the sixteenth century and are able to reason with each other to find the common good.
Silly me. (I’ve been saying that a lot lately)
I have been posting questions and comments about what is happening in St. Johns County here on this blog. This morning, I saw someone referencing a blog where the writer was saying residents shouldn’t speak their minds at public comment on County Commissioner meetings.
Okay, maybe I made a leap that comment was about my blog, but let’s go with it so I can make a point.
It’s not about censorship
My writing, since I started this blog in December, has been to provide contrast to those who are using vitriolic tactics to attack people.
It is not and will never be about censorship.
Yet, as Nelson Mandela so eloquently said, “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
To use vitriol to convince the general population that all but one of the Board of Commissioners is corrupt is not respecting anything or anyone. That is the point that I want to make.
The end being pursued is presumably to unseat three Commissioners whose term expires in 2024 and replace them with Commissioners who will vote on an anti-development platform.
St Johns County is where we are because of hundreds of variables, not the least of which is response to explosive growth, a deep recession that changed the dynamics of the County’s economy, and the discovery of a beautiful place to live by an increasing number of people.
The current Board of Commissioners has not been in place for even a year. Commissioner Dean has the most tenure, having been elected first in 2016. But let’s be fair – they have inherited a huge challenge. Between 2000 and 2008, the County approved multiple PUDs and DRIs in excess of 100,000 single family units. The vast majority of homes constructed over the past 10 years, after the economy recovered from the recession, were approved prior to 2008.
Does “the end” (ostensibly a majority of anti-development individuals on the BoCC) justify disrespectful treatment of elected officials?
I don’t believe that it does.
about my county st johns county florida 