I read with interest Randy Ridgel”s letter to the editor in the Oct. 14 edition (“Irreplaceable if lost,” Readers” Views). He had a good point to his letter in remarking how outside interests can change a small town. I agree. However, he simplified things in saying that Bay Area folks will change the agenda of county supervisors to one of only discussing national politics. I don”t know how he can say that, or even imply that. It is not their job, nor has it ever been the job of local supervisors to put energy into non-local politics.
To me this reads as simple scapegoating. He is confusing the fact that sometimes nonlocal interests, such as big box stores in small communities, can become a local concern. Similarly, nonlocal politics can also become a local concern to supervisors, but only if there is a “direct” effect on us locally, something that is very rare.
Many of us originally from the Bay Area can be described as liberal, and are very proud to describe ourselves that way. However, the Board of Supervisors has no business kowtowing to our liberal opinions or to others” conservative opinions. Their job lies in serving the best interest of the community as a whole.
For Mr. Ridgel to imply that people who are more liberal would not also be attracted to a “Mayberry” is to be self-deluded. We also like it just the way it is. In that sense, though people like myself describe ourselves as politically liberal, we are in this other sense deeply conservative. I would hope Mr. Ridgel would understand that and not project goals on us that we do not have.
Eric Habegger
Lakeport
