COMMENTARY

“Those who truly care about the future of Vero Beach must take a lesson from Harry Howle’s 50-vote win over Amelia Graves. When good people fail to translate their caring into action, in this case the act of voting, then demagogues like Howle come to power. For the sake of the city, voter apathy must never again be allowed to rule the day.”

Demagogue: A political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument.

MARK SCHUMANN

Commenting on discussions soon to be held about how best to make use of the power plant property once the plant is decommissioned, on InsideVero reader suggested the majority of Vero Beach “voters” do not want their city to become like Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

His comment got me to thinking about how loosely we use the term “voter.” Given that just 21 percent of registered voters participated in Vero Beach’s most recent election, I have decided to be more precise in my use of the word “voters.” By definition, voters vote. The word “vote,” after all, is a verb. Voters do not simply wish, or think, or hope, or contemplate, or complain. Through the act of casting a ballot, voters exercise their right to participate in the political process.

If what the commenter meant to say is that the majority of Vero Beach’s residents do not wish to see their community becomes a mini Fort Lauderdale, with its high-rises, congestions and crime, that is probably correct. I certainly hope so. But if what they are suggesting is that the majority of those who voted last Tuesday care about Vero Beach remaining a community with thoughtfully and responsibly regulated development, excellent municipal services, many fine parks, and public employees who are treated fairly and with respect, then I’m afraid the commenternmay not be correct is that assertion.

There are at lest two elements to the local Tea Party, which, to be sure, should not be confused with the broader national movement. Within the local Tea Party there are builder and developer interests. They worship at the alter of private property rights, which they consider to be more important than the collective good. There are also those within the local Tea Party whose religion is radical Libertarian fundamentalism. They see government as evil, and so they want less of it – less parks, less lifeguards, less regulation of development, less of all the fine municipal services that contribute to making Vero Beach such a special community. (Ironically, one of these Libertarians, Councilwoman Pilar Turner, is happy to let the taxpayers of Vero Beach pick up the cost of her health insurance, though that same benefit is not offered to any of the City’s other part-time employees.)

Harry Howle was wrong in claiming the proper funding for those services is an affront to Vero Beach’s heritage, a heritage about which I suspect he knows little or nothing. In truth, it is Howle, along with Pilar Turner and the Libertarian supporters, who constitute nothing short of an immediate and present danger to a positive future for Vero Beach.

Between now and next November, it is clear what must be done to save Vero Beach from these Libertarian fanatics. Assuming the majority of Vero Beach residents do indeed want to preserve the character of their community, they most be informed and mobilized. Attempting to reach and persuade those who have chosen to allow themselves to be brainwashed by the island weekly, Vero Beach 32963, would be a futile effort. As they say, a mind changed against its will is of the same opinion still.

Those who truly care about the future of Vero Beach must take a lesson from Harry Howle’s 50-vote win over Amelia Graves. When good people fail to translate their caring into action, in this case the act of voting, then demagogues like Howle come to power. For the sake of the city, voter apathy must never again be allowed to rule the day.