A Few New Words to an Old Friend | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: Recently, I sent these few words to an old friend, and I thought: Why not do more of this? These are just a few glib remarks, but they let people know where I am coming from, and while I always understand where I am coming from, and where I intend to get to, others may not.

    Here, I intend to rectify this.

Thanks Charles.

    As you may have noticed, I don't make a habit of attacking RINOs, or even commenting on them, here in BCN, unless they make egregious mistakes or misstatements.

    I am not Hood Richardson, yet I get lumped in with Hood because I support Hood when I think he is right, which is quite often. Consequently, Hood supports me when he thinks I am right, which is the extent of our political relationship.

    History bears this out, and accordingly, Hood and I have a long and rather outstanding legacy, in hindsight, of being on the right side of the vast majority of Beaufort County's issues for nearly two decades. In this regard, we may well be unmatched in Beaufort County's modern history.

    Political neophytes, determined to exhibit a measure of independence from these two conservative, and most consistent, Republicans, while taking copious advice from outside sources, generally do not do well in learning how to think on a cogent level that prepares them to understand the obvious, and act accordingly.

    I have always advised against listening too intently to those handlers, who are not responsible for making the votes, but rather to listen to one's own intuitions, and thereby grow from all experiences so that eventually the political neophyte may grow to posses some measure of wisdom, and therefore be a benefit in their position of public service.

    Sadly, it is my estimable acquired knowledge, that most politicians, at all levels of governing, never do. They just become the "meat puppets" of the needy that spans most class distinctions, but most especially the poor and the rich alike.

    This is why it is wise to seek out the natural leaders to listen and learn, or be prepared to founder and fail, as one discovers that there are many minefields at all levels of governing. And while there are some of us who know where they are, and what they look like, there are others who only know how to lead you to them, and leave you there in the political minefield, with little knowledge of how to lead you out, so, eventually, you remain there utterly alone, lost in your own special wisdom - totally unresolved to lead yourself and unprepared to lead others.

    I have long, and often said governing certainly is not "rocket science," but the longer I do it, I am finding that it may just be such for many others, who try to govern and lead by listening to certain special interests, and therefore become miserable, and often destructive failures as public servants.
5 term Beaufort County Commissioners: Hood Richardson (left) waving, Stan Deatherage (right) shooting the shooter in the Belhaven July 4th, Independence Day, parade: Above.     photo by Kelly Hopkins
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