Letters to the Editors

Arrogance already dooms a re-election bid for Jim Fowler

Editor: Re: Fowler seeks third term, defends pro-growth stand, March 9 Times:

It seems Commissioner Jim Fowler is going to seek re-election. Interesting. A month ago, before an overflow crowd in Lecanto, I watched this man voluntarily insert the gun barrel of political suicide into his own mouth by voting to approve the Halls River Retreat. And just before pulling the trigger, he stuffed his foot in there, too.

No doubt, the gods that bless obscene over-development will reward Fowler for his sacrifice that night. Most surely, they will keep his political tanks topped off, grateful for his demonstrated willingness to sell out even the most precious corners of this county.

Still, it's wasted money if he can't get re-elected, and one wonders whether donations will be enough. A trillion dollars wouldn't have kept Richard Nixon in office after Watergate, nor Clinton after his last-minute pardons scandal. What no politician ever seems able to grasp is, even the great unwashed have a threshold at having their collective intelligence insulted. And make no mistake; Mr. Fowler brought his "A-game" Feb. 12.

He began by reminding us that the avalanche of phone calls, 800 letters and 3,000 signatures of concerned citizens protesting this environmentally immoral project meant nothing to him. Not the county Comprehensive Plan, not the concerned citizen groups and not the newspapers. Not even the near-unanimous opposition of the county's own Planning and Development Board. He was not much interested in opinion. "I am," he said, "only interested in the facts."

He then spent the next four hours ignoring every fact placed in front of him before delivering what might be the most condescending and unenlightened lecture ever offered in this county by an elected official. The only fact that mattered, you see, was a property owner's rights. "This country is not founded on group rights," the rant began. "This country is founded on individual rights. That's why airplanes flew into the World Trade Center. We stand up for property rights."

Yes, he actually said that. Fractured logic aside, when Mr. Fowler tastelessly invoked the deaths of 2,800 Americans to defend helping a carpetbagger exploit a loophole and begin the inexorable rape of this county, the collective gasp from the audience was audible out in the parking lot. Even the developer himself seemed to wince.

More at issue, however, was Mr. Fowler's abysmal take on democracy, which any schoolboy will tell you was founded on the rights of the many, not those of the individual, especially when it comes to property rights. It's not even subject to debate. Watch what happens to the house in the path of a proposed freeway. Try opening a pig farm in your subdivision. In a democracy, the needs of the many will always outweigh those of the few. There is no other definition.

But more important, democracy implies that an elected official be conversant with constituent opinion. For a man seeking re-election, Mr. Fowler seems oddly ignorant of such notions. He seems to view himself as born with the vision to know better than those who elected him what is best for this county. He thus believes it only appropriate to bestow upon himself absolute power, regardless of public "opinion," lest his gift be wasted.

Mr. Fowler mocks his critics and casts them in the role of confused children unable to comprehend the inevitability of growth in Citrus County. In fact, nearly everyone understands and accepts impending growth. As commissioners Gary Bartell and Vicki Phillips said, it's just a matter of putting the appropriate project in the correct location.

Which is precisely the difference between good growth and bad. Benign and malignant. Citrus and Pasco. But then, such nit-picking distinctions are apparently overly subtle for Mr. Fowler, who rather seems to welcome it all -- just so long as it denatures the natural world, and so long as it's big.
-- Jim Nicoll, Homosassa

Waffling weakens editorials

Editor: Re: Law enforcement cost analysis is crucial, March 10 Times editorial:

You state, "Crystal River voters deserve the opportunity to vote on this very important issue."

However, in an editorial a few days earlier (The wrong route to right decision, March 3) you praised Commissioner Roger Batchelor for switching his vote and denying the residents of Citrus County the opportunity to vote on a much more important issue, namely the moving of the commissioners' offices and hearings to Lecanto.

This appears to be hypocrisy, or is it that you only want referendums when it is in your interest?

In this same editorial, the headline stated "Law enforcement cost analysis is crucial." Where was your call for a cost analysis when the issue of the commissioners' move was on the table?

The proposed countywide referendum was not to move the county seat, but only the commissioners' offices, so they could be near the employees whom they call upon constantly for information. Also, the cost of such a move would have be peanuts compared with constructing facilities in the new courthouse. It would have been a savings of thousands of dollars. Why weren't you interested in finding out what the property owners would save in that instance?

And, what is going to happen in five years or so, when we have two new judges to accommodate? Will we then have to build another building for the commissioners?

If you want readers to respect your opinions, you can't waffle. Either you are for citizen input on important issues, or you are not. Which is it?
-- Anthony S.J. Tomasello, Crystal River
Editor's note: The editorial about the commissioners deciding not to move their offices from Inverness to Lecanto did praise Batchelor for the conclusion he reached. However, it also specifically criticized Batchelor and the other commissioners for denying the public adequate input.

Teacher pay comparisons don't compute

Editor: Re: Will it take a crisis to pay teachers a decent wage?, March 10 column by Greg Hamilton:

It would seem to me that if one of your editors wanted to compare the wages of two professions, he shouldn't be comparing apples and oranges.

The teachers of our county are, indeed, very important to our children's future. If you are trying to sell their financial position, I don't believe you should compare the local scene to what may be a large metropolitan area, as far as wages are concerned. As we all know, it is less expensive to live here in Citrus County than it would be to live in New York City.

Also, you are comparing nine-month-per-year positions to 12-month positions.

Please do a better job at your research before sending us your message.
-- E.D. Maher, Homosassa

Student rules from the wrong century

Editor: Re: Students' new rules are specific, March 10 Times.

As an avid reader of old seafaring stories, especially in the Napoleonic Wars, I would like to propose to read these new rules to the students each morning (or each Monday perhaps) to make them very, very clear, as was done each Sunday to the crews of the warships by the captain.

Maybe we could even include some things like flogging around the fleet (sorry, around all schools) and hanging on the mast, in case of disobedience.

I think this is necessary especially for the hair-coloring stuff. And, of course, we should forbid baldness, as this looks like a try to avoid that part of the regulation.

In which world/century are we living?
-- Michael Barth, Hamburg, Germany

Flag efforts due salute and support

Editor: I believe you will agree with me that the Crystal River Flag Committee has been very successful. We have placed 210 American Flags, our symbol of freedom, on lighted poles on U.S. 19 and State Road 44 in Crystal River. We have received many glowing compliments, from ordinary citizens to a state senator. The success of our program is directly related to the financial and voluntary support provided by citizens.

The recent heavy rains and strong winds created problems for us, in that many flags were blown from the utility poles. We are replacing the lag screws, which were sheared off, with larger and stronger screws. We recovered most flags, however, some were picked up by unknown persons and not returned to the city. If you have any of our flags, please return them to the Crystal River City Hall, 123 NW U.S. 19, or call me at 795-7131 and I will pick it up at your home or place of business.

We have almost depleted our flag funds, so I am asking again for donations to maintain our flags. If you feel pride when you observe our flags flying on U.S. 19 and State Road 44, or if you want to support our Armed Forces in Afghanistan by contributing to our efforts, please send your contribution to the City Hall, made payable to the City of Crystal River Flag Fund.

We need your contributions to continue our program. We also are seeking volunteers to assist us in maintaining our flags. If you want to volunteer, please contact me at 795-7131 and leave your name and phone number.
-- Bud Kramer, chairman, Crystal River Flag Committee

Share your views

The Citrus Times welcomes letters from readers for publication.

Because of space limitations, letters should be of reasonable length.

Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length.

All letters must be signed and must contain the writer's address and telephone number. Addresses and telephone numbers will not be printed.

Send your letter to Citrus Times, 301 W Main St., Inverness, FL 33450. To fax a letter call 860-7320. Send letters by e-mail (in text-only format) to citrus@sptimes.com.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright