What has happened to SETX Democracy?

This area is known as a Democratic stronghold.

That statement really shouldn’t require explanation to anyone who has lived in southeast Texas for any length of time.

Our people love the thought of democracy… and the idea that the majority rules.

But do we really LIVE by the ideas we proclaim?

I don’t believe that we really trust the majority of our neighbors.

Here are a few examples:

In the last city election, voters in Port Arthur Port Arthur passed term limits.

Some say this was a way to recall Oscar Ortiz without actually recalling him.

What happened to the majority rule?

If the majority wants to keep him, what’s the problem?

How about the Port Arthur school board?

The state doesn’t trust the majority rule in our area when it comes to trustees.

The Port Arthur school board had an outsider sent to call the shots (or at least that was the appearance.)

This is not “pick-on-Port-Arthur Day,” but there are a lot of good examples of majority fear in south Jefferson County.

Let’s head to Beaumont.

It’s my observation that the city leaders did not want to risk letting the “majority-rule” when it came to passing a smoking ordinance.

There sure seemed to be a lot of hesitation to put the item on the ballot.

In the end, voters had no say-so in the matter.

Will the fire truck staffing issue ever be put before the voters?

I doubt it.

We just don’t trust the majority to handle public funds!

In Orange there is an effort that if successful, would allow voters to decide if the annexation of the Little Cypress area should be overturned.

The petitions were signed… over three times the required amount of signatures was collected… and the petition was overturned on a technicality.

Supporters of the petition are now fighting their battle in court.

What has happened to democracy?

I realize that there are a lot of side-issues involved with all of the examples I’ve brought up, but it really seems if you search for a bottom-line, our area doesn’t trust the majority.

As a population, we are schizophrenic.

We preach democracy, but are seem to be happy when a limited number of folks call the shots.

What is reality and what is perception.

Is democracy in southeast Texas a nice dream, a fading reality… or something our grandparents actually had back in “the good ole’ days?”