How many of us know just how dirty the political landscape is?
I can understand the feeling of helplessness, and understand why people become apathetic.
But we do have power, and the ability to understand something is wrong brings with it the responsibility to act to confront and fight those wrongs.
We have a shared obligation to fight to defend each other.
It is the root of what "community" means.
Without "community" we are not a civilized people, and crime, poverty, and other abuses and social ills run unchecked.
I think our definition of "community" should be unified communal action.
All these myriad causes and concerns, and we are usually out there with few people standing with us. We fight mainly against the greedy interests and power of big money. Yeah, that's a hard fight from the get-go. But to let them win outright by never fighting at all?
I don't get it.
Never did.
I think of recent city council meetings, where different groups came together to fight for their causes, then watch as they disband after the issue passes. I watched the EAA fight for a repeal of a stupid law that prevented them from working on aircraft, even parts in their garages and workshops at home, while motorcycles and hot rods and boats could be worked on at home. That was unfair. But where are they now? Those people, for one issue, for one moment, remembered that they had the power to speak up and out.
I am quite sure they understand how bad other things are, like the drop-out rate, crime rate, $100 dinners and Peyton appointing the unqualified, even Craig Field being extended and Station Five and Annie Lytle.
I think of the power of all those people, and how City Council would deal with standing room only meetings that lasted until 2 or 3 am every other Tuesday, and I wonder why that power remains unexercised.
When it is, things get done.
We all know most of Council is in the deep pockets of corporations and developers, and there are regular abuses of campaign finance rules. We know the mayor is selfish and dirty to the core. We know that GOB Harry and the local media willfully turn a blind eye to these abuses of power unless they see loads of public interest and action.
If the dirty little secrets of Peyton, Harden, Fullwood, and the host of other dirty deed doers were known, they'd be in jail for years in an honest world where justice was equal.
I suggest we join together and come up with some way of putting pressure on them on a regular basis.
Make it your second job.
If you can sit and read forums or watch the news or t.v. every night, then why not spend one night our with other like-minded people and actually get something done?
We can petition for referendum, and can get rid of the garbage tax, get rid of $100 meals, and even Peyton.
We can fix campaign finance, save Station Five and Annie Lytle, protect Craig Field residents, limit how the city spends money wastefully, and basically make our government ours again.
Picture JEA top executives being cut in salary by a salary cap that is fair, and all Peytons friends no longer being able to skirt the law and profit from our tax dollars!
You have to see it in your mind's eye, then make it a reality by dedication and just some basic good old fashioned hard work.
And it can be rewarding work and fun, making Jacksonville what it should have been all along.
"We, the people of the State of Florida, being grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, in order to secure its benefits, perfect our government, insure domestic tranquility, maintain public order, and guarantee equal civil and political rights to all, do ordain and establish this constitution."
Guarantee EQUAL civil and political rights to ALL!
That means US!
I don't know about you, but I'm about sick of how I see things going down.
I want some changes, and I sure as hell don't trust those getting fat money to get elected then serve the interests of the rich to make things better.
I recognize the power we have if we unite, and this means even just as few as a hundred of us out of a million.
I am really interested in not only what you think, but what you are doing and what you would be willing to do towards these ends.
Why can't we get together and start really getting some changes done?