Editorials Are the Editor’s Opinions But Facts Are Facts

Last week I annoyed a small group of self-appointed people who claim to speak for many others. I stated their wishes should not supersede 2554 other citizens.  I was asked where the 2554 came from. I was told my opinion was no more important than theirs. I was told several things I will not print.

Apparently my opinions are rants while their rants are priceless pearls of wisdom that should be accepted as gospel.

Opinions are relatively worthless. Everyone has them. However some opinions are based on preferences and some are based on facts.

For example according to voting results from the Charlotte County Registrar the current Charlotte County Board of Supervisors received a combined total of exactly 2554 votes. That is a fact. This means 2554 citizens of Charlotte County chose these men and women to represent them and to make decisions on their behalf.  As another point of fact this is 2554 more votes than anyone who has addressed the board this year unless one of them received one of the 36 write-in votes cast.

I have attended board meetings in 5 counties. It is a fact that until recently Charlotte’s meetings were more dignified than the others. I have attended bar fights that were more civilized than the meeting in one county.  But of course that is my opinion.

It is also a fact that the board of supervisors was elected and must make the decisions necessary to operate the county. They must accept the consequences of their decisions.

The citizens know these men and women, we are familiar with their records, know their successes and failures, in some cases attended school with them. We know their histories and their strengths and weaknesses, we know their spouses and children,  and we chose to elect them.

In effect they applied for the job and the majority of the citizens considered their applications and hired them and we as voters can fire them.

Those addressing the board are acting as individuals. In some cases we know nothing about them. They have no track records and we do not know their histories or qualifications.

The only thing we know is they have not even attempted to be elected to a position on the board.

We know they have attacked characters and made accusations that if true would be criminal offences. You have to wonder why they do not bring criminal charges if they have proof.

This group attacks anyone who disagrees with their opinions. They have accused me of being the “mouthpiece” of the board. They intend that as an insult. The fact is it is my obligation as a reporter to inform the citizens of the board’s decisions.

It is not my obligation to provide citizens with a single citizen’s opinions especially when I know for a fact those opinions are not factual.

I don’t have to agree with Board decisions and in fact don’t like some of the decisions on the new courthouse, but the citizens elected these men and women and the citizens must pay the bills. What the board does is news.

What a random person says may or may not be news.

Citizen’s opinions should be used by the board as a tool. Citizens sometimes have information unavailable to the board.  Unfortunately sometimes citizens have an inflated opinion of themselves as do some board members.

One citizen addressed the board a few months ago. Keep in mind the board had been working on the courthouse project for almost four years. She informed the board, “I found out about this project two days ago. I have been researching it since last night and I think…”

There was a collective rolling of the eyes from those of us who have been following it for years. If you just found out about it we question your ability to be knowledgeable about it in just two days.

The citizens indirectly run the county but should be involved, informed, educated and correct before demanding their opinions be considered.