We are talking about that
nameless little group that still, to this day, continues to spew the
disgusting diatribe about how corrupt this city is, how everything is
held in a tight power base, how there are always back-room deals and
white envelopes flying through the air with the greatest of ease. Every
now and again, someone will find a little something something to
complain about when it comes to a certain Dept. Head or elected
official, and invariably then a comment is made about another associate
or colleague from 30 or 40 years ago, and somehow this is relevant to
today.

It's silly, really – because the ultimate irony is that
every decade or so, when they seem just at the point of getting some
real traction, they fall apart and disappear back into the shadows.
Some learn to stay away from the spotlight and not hold the torch for
insanity when they finally get the axe, and others just continue to
bang the gong. So sad, really.

Getting back to the irony that
never gets the traction – is that they start out with the greatest of
intentions – fighting the good fight against the establishment, putting
democracy at work, bringing important issues into discussion – but
invariably, they fall victim to the very things they espoused to be
against in the first place. They claim there is no transparency, but
they want to hold secret meetings. They claim there is rampant
government corruption, but there hasn't been any in almost 30 years.
They claim that not enough is being done, but then don't want to pay
for it, under any conditions, especially when it comes to fees and
fines. They claim a great injustice has been done, instead of learning
the difference between a public meeting and a public hearing.

The
greatest folly that usually starts the beginning of the end for the
latest cycle/iteration of political neophytes is when they start to
believe they represent something bigger than themselves. That they
alone can make someone go away who has been here their whole lives,
that they can effect city-wide change with a single letter to the
editor or guest commentary, that they can run someone out of business
with an audibly laughable weblog, even so far as to think that they can
rid the city of the "old school" politician by putting someone in the
race against them for office – and then act shocked and indignant when
it happens right back at them.

Change is good, challenge is good, questioning is good, transparency is good. Arrogance and ignorance mixed with them, is bad.