Earlier this week I put a post on my Facebook page that said, "the best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter." Winston Churchill did not know how much that would be true 60 years or 70 years later. I then had an experience at a local establishment while having an adult beverage that just absolutely brought that point home.

I was sitting at the bar talking to a member of the wait staff who had finished his shift and was also enjoying a cocktail. There was a chair in between us that was empty and after a while a man entered the bar and sat down between us. He had been there earlier in the evening and this particular person had waited on him. The man said he had gone to the Silver City planning and zoning commission meeting. He was extremely frustrated with the way the meeting was run and his version of how he was treated by the "all-female panel." Now he went on to say that he had been in education his entire career, over 30 years and had no problem working with women. However based on subsequent comments, I'm not sure I believe him. That is a story for another day.

His big complaint was the lack of coherency in the city's zoning regulations. He pointed out that it is difficult to move a single wide, even if it's a 2015 model, into certain areas of the city. He's correct. He also complained that in some areas you will have nice, site built homes next to trailer parks that have run down 40, 50, or 60-year-old trailers. I listened to his tirade for a bit and then asked where he had come from. He came to Silver City from El Paso. He said that El Paso's zoning ordinances were idyllic and perfect. I pointed out that El Paso country club, a place with beautiful homes, is right next to a commercial area and a trailer park is nearby. No different than what we have in Silver City. He accepted my point as being accurate but still said that El Paso was much better. That's fine, that's his opinion, but I disagree with his assessment of the status of North Juarez as 'perfect.'

So I asked him what he would do about changing our zoning ordinances and regulations. His very quick and very stern response was, "I don't know." I suggested that he propose changing the ordinances to allow newer single wide mobile or modular homes to be moved into those areas. He thought that was okay but still complained. I asked what changes he would make to tell people who own the property that the trailer parks were built upon what they can do with their property. Again, he was stumped. The conversation did not go on much longer but he still had no solutions or suggestions.

This is the perfect example of why we do not have a democracy. This is also the perfect example of why our kids' education has lagged over the last 3 to 4 decades. This educator, and I use that term loosely, liked to complain when something did not meet his expectations but was unable to offer any solution. He had no critical thinking skills. However he was adamant that he would attend the next planning and zoning commission meeting to tweak the chairperson, who he believes did not like him because he pointed out all of the things that are wrong with the zoning regulations. His 'solution' was to complain and expect government to solve his problem.

This is also a perfect example of why we need to bring back lawn darts and clean the gene pool.