From the Chair...Dick Pilling

September 2010

Sharp interchanges between Republican and Democrat candidates starkly illustrated the dissimilarity between their platforms and, indeed, the underlying distinctions between conservative and liberal ideologies.
     They occurred during the debate hosted by the Concerned Citizens of Clallam County when Democrat Steve Tharinger casually dismissed Republican Jim McEntire’s contention that a return to self-reliance and liberty would be a first step towards returning our nation to prosperity. Instead, Tharinger argued that increased government action was required to pull us out of our slump.
     The “government must provide” mantra was repeated ad nauseam by both Tharinger and fellow democrat Kevin Van de Wege whose recurring theme was the need for jobs and how the government should provide those jobs.
     Of course, Republican candidates McEntire and Dan Gase agreed that there is a pressing need for jobs but rightfully assert that they shouldn’t come from the government but, rather, from the private sector. As Dan Gase pointed out, government jobs are merely a recycling of tax dollars which, in Obama-speak, means spreading the wealth around. Or, rather, taking it from those who earned it and giving it to those who did not.
     These opposing viewpoints truly underscore one of the most defining differences between the two philosophies. Conservatives believe that, for the most part, they are capable of making their way through life with an absolute minimum of outside assistance. If they work hard, live within their means, resist the urge to erode their energies and resources through wasteful and inefficient – albeit pleasurable – actions, they will ultimately succeed.
     Liberals, on the other hand, maintain that, generally speaking, the average person is just not good enough, or smart enough, or lucky enough, to achieve success without government assistance.   That no matter how hard they try, they just can’t quite make it on their own and the government simply must step in and render assistance.
     At first it sounds good… a paternalistic government that “evens the playing field,” that refuses to allow anyone to fail, that helps the “little guy” can’t really be bad, can it? Until, of course, you remember that the government has no resources save what it extorts from its citizenry. That whatever is given to the “little guy” is taken from someone else. Stolen, as it were, from those who earned it by virtue of hard work, risks taken, and delayed gratification, but were not allowed to enjoy all the fruits of their labor.
     Taking from one group and giving to another is known as “pork barrel politics.” And we all know that the government can give us pork. But first they gotta steal our pig.
     Remember in November… It is time to clean house….

Dick

August 2010

Perhaps even more important than the senatorial and congressional races on the near horizon are the judicial races. As we have seen in the recent past, no matter how intelligent, rational, or logical a law may be, it can be overturned through “judicial legislation” enacted by judges who seek to make laws rather than interpret/enforce them.
Sadly, these nonpartisan judicial races do not necessarily garner the publicity attracted by the higher profile contests and so, many times, judicial candidates are largely unknown. Accordingly, here follows my personal opinion of the candidates. (And we all know that I believe everybody has a right to my opinion….)
On the local scene, we have incumbent Judge Rick Porter running for District Court Position #1. Judge Porter is correctly portrayed as “Tough, Fair and Efficient,” and is campaigning under the banner “Justice that Works.”
In accordance with that slogan, Judge Porter not only holds defendants accountable for their behavior, he does it in a highly cost-effective manner through the vastly-successful Pay or Appear program which has generated revenue to offset costs incurred elsewhere in the local legal system. Wow!! Accountability and cost effectiveness!! What’s not to like? Judge Rick Porter is my choice. Hopefully, he is yours as well.
Elsewhere, we have incumbent Judge Richard Sanders running for Position 6 on the State Supreme Court. Judge Sanders has served since 1995 and, as quoted in the News Tribune, “reaches straight for the state and federal constitutions” when considering cases before his court. He can be unsettling to some because he does not give unflinching loyalty to legal precedent if it conflicts with the constitutions. Apparently, he does not believe in perpetuating bad laws. What a concept!
Judge Sanders is an ardent defender of Second Amendment rights as well as fiercely protective of individual property rights. He frequently sides with the individual against the state which, at a time when state and federal governments are assuming ever greater powers, can be a very good thing indeed. Judge Sanders is well worth your consideration. He already has mine.
Also running for a position on the State Supreme Court is incumbent Judge Jim Johnson. While in private practice, Judge Johnson was a devoted advocate for property rights as well as a staunch supporter of anti-tax measures and has carried this mind-set into his courtroom.
Well known as a mainstream judicial conservative and positioned somewhat to the right of his main opponent, he is celebrated for his sympathy to police and prosecution in criminal cases. This would seem to strike a healthy balance to Judge Sander’s defense of the individual. We need Judge Johnson on the team. Please join me in voting for him.
Don’t forget to vote!!! When you get your ballot, fill it out and send it back. Remember, when all is said and done, your vote is your only voice…. So… GITTERDONE!!

Dick

July 2010

Once again we enter the election season. And if we are going to ever take back our country, we have to start locally with our county and state. Happily, we have a number of really good candidates running in our local elections as noted below:
     Vying for the seat vacated by retiring Lynn Kessler is Jim McEntire, a retired Coast Guard Captain and a present port commissioner. Also contending is Larry Carter, a retired Command Master Chief. Both of these are good, honest, and competent men who distinguished themselves in their former careers and either could be counted upon to do a capable job. My personal vote will be for Jim McEntire mainly because, due to his campaign experience in the port commissioner race, he has proved himself a capable political warrior.
     Dan Gase and Craig Durgan are contending for the seat presently occupied by Kevin Van De Wege. Again, both of these men are imminently qualified to fill this position but my personal choice is Dan Gase, who has held numerous elected and volunteer positions in various organizations in which he demonstrated his competence, his civic spirit, and his dedication to our community.
     Deb Kelly is the sole Republican running for the position of Prosecuting Attorney. Elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2006, Deb successfully instituted a sweeping cultural change in an office formerly beset with chummy, “good ol’ boy” relationships and has subsequently established a much-needed atmosphere of professionalism leading to a 90% conviction rate in cases tried by her office. Humorously, her opponents simultaneously assault her for high turnover of staff while, at the same time, vowing to “clean house.”   Sounds inconsistent at best. Deb Kelly gets my nod.
     Alan Barnard is running against several opponents for the position of Director, Department of Community Development (DCD). This little-known but all-important position is critical in determining what you – as a property owner – can actually do with your property. Alan Barnard will bring much-needed private-sector expertise and judgment to this public-sector position that is presently mired in self-serving bureaucracy.
     Bill Peach is running for county commissioner against incumbent Mike Doherty. Bill is a retired Rayonier employee who will rely upon his business acumen, his multiple degrees, and his overall conservative philosophy to bring a logical, commonsense, and professional approach to our county administration. Bill Peach lives in the West End – not just the west end of Port Angeles – and is better placed to serve the West End constituents. Bill Peach looks like my kind of candidate.
     It is up to you to help these people get elected. First and foremost you need to vote for these capable candidates. And you need to convince your friends to vote as well. After that you can write supporting letters to the editor or place signs in your yard or volunteer to place signs in other locations or assist in door-belling or most important…. contribute money.
     Please make yourselves available to our candidates. If not now… when?? And if not you… who??
Remember… It will take everybody working together to make this happen. But it is worth the effort.

Dick

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