Why would districts reject member vote?
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Editor,
If you have political power, to impose your headstrong ignorance ...
“There seems to be something liberating about ignorance and inexperience. You are free to believe whatever you want to, unencumbered by hard facts and, if you have political power, to impose your headstrong ignorance on those with first-hand knowledge.” (Thomas Sowell, June 12, 2013)
Thomas Sowell slipped into my mind as I witnessed the temper tantrums of entrenched power mongers in their last throws of near self-sabotage violate their oaths of office, adjudicatory and fiduciary responsibilities to their electorate, taking place in the irrigation districts of Jocko and Mission – part of the FJBC. A membership vote was requested and rejected. When asked as to “why?” they would wish to do so, and to impose an affirmative resolution in favor of the WUA and Compact, which they were enjoined from doing by legal service, they weasel-worded a response. The audience supplied a short version: Politicking for Helena, the Compact, to which they affirmed, yet not the honesty to say so.
Then if not at face value for what was “said,” as seemed to be the trend, the question “why?” remains mostly unanswered. Their weak defense seems to belie an undercurrent of “non-objective” self-serving, flying in the face of a 2-to-1 vote against the old guard that they represent. Legal advice? From attorney(s) representing the Tribes. Conflict of interest? Muddy ethical boots? Who paid the attorneys? Tuff questions in light of the Tribe and Bonneville Power buying up properties with significant water “rights” at above market sums. Tell me it ain’t so. Tell yourself.
Christopher Chavasse
Ronan
