http://www.southwaltoncc.org/mc/page.do
"To preserve, protect and enhance the quality of life and
the natural environment of South Walton County."
"Dedicated To Preserving And Protecting Your Community"
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corruption/conflict of interest
- Thread starter mf
- Start date
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http://www.southwaltoncc.org/mc/page.do
"To preserve, protect and enhance the quality of life and
the natural environment of South Walton County."
"Dedicated To Preserving And Protecting Your Community"
*
*
hi mf,
The problem I see is that just a few people are passionate about politics down here.
But take the following...
Turtles, retaining walls, dark sand, etc. stir up emotions in environmentalists to the degree that many things get distorted and sensationalized. But it makes for interesting reading, none the less. Kurt created the Environmental section when everybody and their brother jumped in on the topics.
Most of the political interest (then and now) had to do with Ro Cuchens, our ex-commissioner:clap_1: , simply because he was involved with a significant percentage (30-40%???) of the retaining wall projects and not because he voted for or against some legislation that had nothing to do with the beach. Much of the political interest is generated by environmental issues. The leaders in SWCC and BMBCA are very environmentally oriented....sometimes too much so, IMHO.
Point is that we don't have that kind of pure political enthusiasm down here as many owners are out-of-towners with a primary life away from Walton County. They bring the money down but then go back home after they've played in the water for a few weeks.
But to your credit, I have been thinking the same thing as you. That is when political items of interest come up, there is no good section on this board for the posts to go. They basically get mixed in. Who knows... maybe this is not so bad as more people may read them who otherwise would not.
I believe our saving grace down here is that many people that are retiring in the area have been relatively successful in their "previous life". Hopefully rather than just sitting on their hands and just growing old while drinking margaritas on the beach (...wait, that sounds pretty good!), they use their skills and experience to better our area by becoming proactive.
Kurt, maybe you should reconsider mf's request. I can appreciate your probable desire to minimize the number of subjects for various reasons however.
The problem I see is that just a few people are passionate about politics down here.
But take the following...
Turtles, retaining walls, dark sand, etc. stir up emotions in environmentalists to the degree that many things get distorted and sensationalized. But it makes for interesting reading, none the less. Kurt created the Environmental section when everybody and their brother jumped in on the topics.
Most of the political interest (then and now) had to do with Ro Cuchens, our ex-commissioner:clap_1: , simply because he was involved with a significant percentage (30-40%???) of the retaining wall projects and not because he voted for or against some legislation that had nothing to do with the beach. Much of the political interest is generated by environmental issues. The leaders in SWCC and BMBCA are very environmentally oriented....sometimes too much so, IMHO.
Point is that we don't have that kind of pure political enthusiasm down here as many owners are out-of-towners with a primary life away from Walton County. They bring the money down but then go back home after they've played in the water for a few weeks.
But to your credit, I have been thinking the same thing as you. That is when political items of interest come up, there is no good section on this board for the posts to go. They basically get mixed in. Who knows... maybe this is not so bad as more people may read them who otherwise would not.
I believe our saving grace down here is that many people that are retiring in the area have been relatively successful in their "previous life". Hopefully rather than just sitting on their hands and just growing old while drinking margaritas on the beach (...wait, that sounds pretty good!), they use their skills and experience to better our area by becoming proactive.
Kurt, maybe you should reconsider mf's request. I can appreciate your probable desire to minimize the number of subjects for various reasons however.
Jennifer Steele
Beach Fanatic
I also like the idea of a political forum, but I can understand if Kurt is leery to provide that since it doesn't take much to evoke emotion from most of the folks on this board (and I don't intend that to be mean). We do need a focused forum where politically concerned people could at the very least share information about meetings, etc.
Another group that you might be interested in is the Walton County Taxpayers Association, http://www.waltontaxpayers.org. They do a VERY good job of scrutinizing where our tax dollars go and are not afraid to call a spade a spade.
well, i tend to agree with you hi and dry
i admit, it's hard for me to understand worry about getting emotional about local government, as i hope that people are passionate about their community and the people in it.
while i'm not political in the traditional sense - i'm neither a democrat nor a republican. i believe that it's our responsibility to participate in democracy instead of just observe. that's what i enjoy about living in america
like most of you, i'm mostly concerned with being a good neighbor and a responsible community member. that means ensuring that our government is accountable.
when government officials and businesses aren't accountable it's the most vulnerable who often suffer as well as the legacy most of us hope to leave our families.
vagrant, i'm actually one of those folks who retired (albeit 20 yrs early!) from a wonderful career in nyc to come back home to be closer to family. like many people who are relocating here, as you suggested, i am a proactive person, but a little stymied i guess which is why i was asking about a forum.
vagrant, thanks for asking kurt to reconsider a community-based forum especially for these issues that affect us. i'm inspired to see all the interest from this board. there are lots of smart people here and frankly i would like to hear their opinions on local matter and learn more history about what's happened.
the information on ro cuchens was VERY interesting. i happen to believe that corrupt people in power are like cockroaches, for every one you might see out in the open, there are 100 more in the shadows.
here are some recent community/government issues that would have been wonderful to have a forum to communication information and opinions:
1) information on local candidates in recent elections
2) 331 expansion
3) tornado shelters
4) fortress takeover of intrawest
5) annual crime statistics
off to check out waltontaxpayers
thanks shallownole!i do hope we can continue the discourse initiated here about education, transportation, health care, senior issues and infrastructure.
but as a newcomer, i don't want to be too pushy, so i'll investigate another community alternative if there's no potential for a forum here.
** shopping is not a community building activity **
xo, mf
p.s. if this is simply not an appropriate website for such a forum. i'd be happy to build one myself, it will only take an afternoon to get it up and running. i already have several domains sitting around i can use. i certainly don't want to upset the apple cart here
Jennifer Steele
Beach Fanatic
well, i tend to agree with you hi and dry
i admit, it's hard for me to understand worry about getting emotional about local government, as i hope that people are passionate about their community and the people in it.
while i'm not political in the traditional sense - i'm neither a democrat nor a republican. i believe that it's our responsibility to participate in democracy instead of just observe. that's what i enjoy about living in america
like most of you, i'm mostly concerned with being a good neighbor and a responsible community member. that means ensuring that our government is accountable.
when government officials and businesses aren't accountable it's the most vulnerable who often suffer as well as the legacy most of us hope to leave our families.
vagrant, i'm actually one of those folks who retired (albeit 20 yrs early!) from a wonderful career in nyc to come back home to be closer to family. like many people who are relocating here, as you suggested, i am a proactive person, but a little stymied i guess which is why i was asking about a forum.
vagrant, thanks for asking kurt to reconsider a community-based forum especially for these issues that affect us. i'm inspired to see all the interest from this board. there are lots of smart people here and frankly i would like to hear their opinions on local matter and learn more history about what's happened.
the information on ro cuchens was VERY interesting. i happen to believe that corrupt people in power are like cockroaches, for every one you might see out in the open, there are 100 more in the shadows.
here are some recent community/government issues that would have been wonderful to have a forum to communication information and opinions:
1) information on local candidates in recent elections
2) 331 expansion
3) tornado shelters
4) fortress takeover of intrawest
5) annual crime statistics
off to check out waltontaxpayers
i do hope we can continue the discourse initiated here about education, transportation, health care, senior issues and infrastructure.
but as a newcomer, i don't want to be too pushy, so i'll investigate another community alternative if there's no potential for a forum here.
** shopping is not a community building activity **
xo, mf
I'm not personally worried about getting emotional about local government and politics. I have noticed moderation on some threads when they get too heated, and I was guessing that's why a political forum had not been started (could be wrong). I am passionate about my own political beliefs and would like to be better educated and involved in local politics. I was trying to agree with you by saying I would appreciate a political forum.