(Not so) random thoughts on current events . . .

     Sooner or later, anyone elected to office finds out that former friends become disenchanted, and it gets contentious. You simply cannot please everyone all the time. Our local commissioners are already finding that out, and increasingly seek approval from fringe elements around the country, because local support has slipped. As Abe Lincoln allegedly said, You can fool some of the people some of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.
     That 100-day progress report that is being sold around various venues, mostly by Commissioners Howard and Shoemaker, is not going over well.
     As I was told recently, "They keep talking about how much they have accomplished, but all I see is what they have tried to destroy."  Talking about the contract agreed to with Access Carroll for use of the so-called Wheeler building on Railroad Avenue, and the Farm Preservation program contracts with county residents that should have been approved by now.
     I will admit that I was a skeptic about the value of Access Carroll when that program began, but I am now a believer; not because of anything the county government has done in support, but because of the wide support given the program to supply vital health services to those in need. Service clubs, businesses, individuals and professionals across the political spectrum IN THIS COUNTY have contributed time and money to help this worthwhile effort, and the commissioners have treated previous work with disdain and dismissal, and I suspect it is simply because it's a way of sticking it in the eye of those who oppose their agenda.
     It would be nice if reasonable people acted on the merits of any proposal, instead of who they want to play up to.
     Approval is nice, but getting the job done is not always the popular thing to do.
     Gov. Bob McDonnell, Republican, Virginia, was on television recently saying, "Leadership takes courage and sometimes you have to make a decision that's unpopular."
     I agree with that, but wasn't he one of the politicians who supported the Tea Party, Populist movements during the last election campaigns with the theory that it doesn't make any difference what elected officials think, they should listen to We the People, even when they're wrong?
     But McDonnell, who is probably a pretty smart guy, was playing to the Right, and the comments were made in the middle of the noise about the power of teachers' unions in Wisconsin, in support of the governor.
     There is a middle road on this issue of cutting back on union pay and benefits. You can phase in the changes, grandfather some issues. Unless you want to just cut and slash to show your new power.
     Former commissioner candidate Michelle Jefferson, another who plays to the mob whenever she can get the press exposure, is telling any reporter who will quote her that the local "We The People" group says, "Yeah, me, too," to the criticism of teachers' unions, and they will post members outside the county office building to show their support for the commissioners here at budget time.
     And as usual, she plays to the other side, too, but in a back-handed and frankly lame way, asserting that she and her group are not against teachers, but "there are many bad teachers" who keep their jobs because of the strength of the local union.  Oh, yeah?  How many bad teachers in local schools? Any specific examples?
    That proves to anyone who knows anything about the local teachers' association that she knows absolutely nothing about the issue, or for that matter, local processes. She can't tell you how many is "many bad teachers" in Carroll County schools. Just jaw-flap, the primary purpose of which is to keep her in the news, all in the name of freedom of speech. You don't have to know what you're talking about to have an opinion, as Jefferson proves again and again.
    She touts the fact that "six buses" of people who think like her went to Washington to show their displeasure with the status quo -- months ago. And that anywhere from 40 to 100 attend her meetings monthly.
     Two points here: One, she also sent out a desperate-sounding email recently scolding the local group for a drop-off in participation. Keep things stirred up, she implored.        
     And two -- and this is very important -- 40 to 100 people among the 175,000 residents of Carroll County hardly speaks for The People. It only speaks for some people.  Relatively few people.