In their opinion piece, “One Step Toward Fairness,” (March 25), the Santa Maria Times editorial writers unwittingly identified, arguably, the single largest problem in politics today. Namely, it is the idea that whatever services exist today, because they exist, the citizens have become accustomed to their availability and therefore have a “right” to have them continue. No matter the efficiency or effectiveness.
I, for one, applaud Joe Holland. As an elected official, accountable to the voters, he has seen the future and has begun making reasoned and reasonable preparations for the budget mayhem that is coming. He identified an inefficient use of his resources and curtailed it. He did this voluntarily and proactively, without having to be threatened and cajoled into it. This indicates to me a public servant who is acting in good faith to be a responsible steward of the public treasury and provide a level of services within his department’s means. God bless him. We are in dire need of more like him.
On the other hand, we have the Santa Maria Times editorial writer(s). They are engaged in the “Same Old Same Old” type of rhetoric that has destroyed our economy and made our state the laughingstock of the United States and much of the world. Using their logic, we should put offices in Guadalupe and Los Alamos and, of course, Cuyama. If the mere inconvenience of a few citizens acquiring a marriage license or registering to vote is the standard, then perhaps the writer would next suggest neighborhood kiosks that would provide services at walking distance to every resident in the county? The Times gives a platform to Ms. Gray and Ms. Howerton from which to shout their gratuitously populist message that the people will not have their services cut! Bravo! More of the same from each of these longtime tax and spend politicians. The people better start demanding some honesty from their politicians. They better also stop criticizing them when they actually act in the public’s best interest and do the best they can with what they have to work with.
The reality is that we cannot afford to provide the services at the level and density that we have become accustomed to. This is not confined to the assessor’s office. It is true of fire, alcohol, drug, and mental health, and virtually all of our departments at the county level. We must be ready in the future to choose between having deputies on the street, guards in the jail, and keeping our roads drivable and operating offices that are not fully utilized. And we must elect politicians who can and will make the case that these priorities are necessary and the choices real. That is why I am running for 4th District supervisor. I can and will make the arguments that preserve our social fabric and not see us spread our resources so thin that there is no real security for anyone. Furthermore, I will tell the citizens the truth as I understand it, whether I think they like it or not. That would be refreshing, wouldn’t it?
Peter Adam of Santa Maria is a candidate for 4th District Supervisor. Send comments to the executive editor at rmiller@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Mar 29 – Apr 5, 2012.