Letter to the Editor
Daily Press Victorville, Ca. 92393
Economic Forum: May 8, 2009
This political novice was able to attend the Economic Form hosted by the Victorville Chamber of Commerce. Present were congressman Buck McKeon, assemblyman Steve Knight, county supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt and representing Victorville, Mr.Mike Rothschild. These folks are all very impressive people and the time together was pleasant.
Please indulge me with a quick “first impression” of each politician.
Mr. Buck McKeon appears to be an old school politician who has gathered together over the years a sizable big government entourage. In the midst of this economic bust, the faithful were given yet another raise. Like so many Republicans who have talked fiscal sanity, their actions are quite short of their rhetoric.
Mr. Steve Knight appears to be a young hungry operator for the people as he serves in our state capital, Sacrmento. He alone got out of his chair to better connect with we listeners. He alone spoke to the issue of the budgetary election on May 19. Yet, he failed to take a clear position.
Mr. Brad Mitzelfelt appears to understand the intricacies of our county government despite a short tenure to date. The impact of the economic dive of the last year was well described, so too was the preferred status of down the hill priorities in county politics. His plans to combat these problems were less than encouraging.
Mr. Mike Rothschild appears to be one optimistic politician. While acknowledging just a few anomalies in Victorville government, his perception is that they are manageable. One could retort that the closing of George AFB is not to blame for the fiscal and management errors in city hall. The potential dollar downside to taxpayers is grotesque.
Ninety nine per cent of politicians are butterflies. Their priority is looking good, attractive and being blown by the winds of change as the voter pool may determine. Hardcore belief systems are very rare, belief systems that may cost a butterfly votes is an extreme exception.
To combat this superficiality, there is the gadfly. Webster’s definition includes a biting insect or a person “who annoys others or rouses them from complacency”. It is striking how God has put his world together,finding it good to include the butterfly and the gadfly.
There were no gadflies at the Economic Forum. America is in desperate need of a gadfly. There are, however, reasons to hope. Other desperate times in American history have bred gadflies who have played a critical role in communicating truth. We can expect our desperate time to breed such a gadfly.
Second, a part of the mission of every local paper, including the Daily Press, is to be a gadfly. From the reaction of the butterflies, the Daily Press is working to fulfill it’s mission.
G.Goslaw (Published in the Daily Press, May 28, 2009)
