Follow Ed Baca by Email



You can receive updates directly to your email by entering your email address below.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Stand Up & Be Counted for Righteous Behavior, Mums the Word When Doing Wrong

This week an ill wind blew down on us from up north as a Public Outcry was heard following the arrest of two former State Attorney Generals. Our Governor was quick to state…..We hold our Elected Officials to a Higher Standard……This is what is usually said when we encounter inappropriate behavior on the part of those elected to serve the public interest.

Those northern politicians sure know how to put predominate church values in a bad light…..Causing us to walk around with our head bowed. But alas down south in in what is known as Dixie…..Where we proudly rally to the call of STAND UP AND BE COUNTED……IT’S DIFFERENT DOWN SOUTH…..OR IS IT? Consider this…..Northern Utahn’s  investigate and actually prosecute elected officials for alleged wrong doing…..And up north they actually have a public discussion on what needs to be done to fix a problem. Boy, are they confused?   Down south we adopt the “Mums the Word” philosophy.
July 17th City Council Meeting began with Mayor Pike putting a good face on         local activities and what local politicians are accomplishing.  We are starving for GOOD NEWS and have reason for wanting to disassociate ourselves from those naughty scoundrels up north…..After all, any missteps Dixie/Municipal politicians make are done solely with good intentions and therefore it is only right that voters be kept ignorant of any wrongdoing…. Curtailing public discussion appears to be the cure for what ails City Hall.…. Our politicians are above reproach and not to be criticized…..We are expected to be supportive of our fellow church members and be polite and at all costs avoid contention. Do We distinguish between President Almquist and Councilman Almquist ? Do we hold him to a Higher Standard? Should we?  Does the phrase….. Separation of State and Religion play a role in our thinking?
Is it any wonder that Mayor Pike is so willing to STAND UP AND BE COUNTED for the good things taking place here in Southern Utah…..While shying away from even acknowledging that Code Enforcement Issues remain unanswered by the acceptable norm……Hear No Evil…..Speak No Evil and See No Evil. Those boys up north need to come down south to learn how to make distasteful conduct go away and non-existent.  Our City Attorney and Manager must surely adhere to the principle….. “Silence is Golden” or “Lawyer Up”. I thought, the Mayor, tried to step away from negative connotations that may have extended from the weeks political disclosures and bravely attempted to put a positive spin on local accomplishments.
 This Council Meeting brought to light the hiring of Richard ‘Biff’ Williams as the new President of Dixie State University. Mayor Pike stood tall exuding confidence in this new found University President who apparently exceeded academic and professional expectations….A great acquisition to the community. 
Next, and I believe more meaningful…..was the recognition of Snow Canyon High School student….. Miss Emory Moody, as the National Winner of the prestigious…..Exchange Club Award that epitomized the true meaning of “Stand Up and Be Counted” for her work and deeds of accomplishment throughout her High School Years…..Citing Scholastic and Community Service Activities…..Miss Moody received a standing ovation…..Causing her parents to feel the love and respect…..Not only from our community, but from the nation as a whole.  Miss Moody exemplified the meaning of community pride in the youth of our nation. What a wonderful experience this must have been for her parents and grandparents.  Congratulations to Miss Moody who is to receive a full year college scholarship among other honors. 
The Mayor and Council appeared ecstatic with the opportunity to use the General Fund Amendments to this year budget…..as the gateway to report on achievements made possible by Mayor, Council and City Manager. They need to toot their own horn, especially in the light of failure to publicly move the ball forward on meaningful Code Enforcement practices as the inadequacies of local politicians remains so apparent. It was good to hear the unveiling of the new name for the City’s multi-purpose poverty resource center. It is now to be known as “Switch Point” with the motto, “It takes all of us”……to make meaningful change in the lives of those in need….And so it may to attain needed Code Enforcement Reform. 
Thank you, Ed Baca

No comments:

Post a Comment