It is said that ignorance is bliss. And if there is any truth to be found in that line from Thomas Gray’s poem, nowhere could it be found better than right here in good old Clark County Washington.
As we know, ignorance is essentially a lack of knowledge on any given matter. It’s pretty much what would be found where objectivity is nonexistent and the pabulum of bias prevails as people become too lazy to seek accurate knowledge and place unwarranted trust in those they believe are the best to lead them for any variety of reasons.
Such thought was summed up by the father of the Soviet Union, Vladimir Lenin when he claimed, “The press should be not only a collective propagandist and a collective agitator, but also a collective organizer of the masses.”
Time and again we have seen just that attitude editorialized from the pages of the Lazy C under the pen of editor, Lou Brancaccio.
However, it is not only he that seems to believe casting any semblance of objectivity out the door is best. No, we also see it coming out of both local political parties in Clark County, especially the Republican Party now under the leadership of a group laughingly calling themselves a “Liberty” caucus and the Democrat Party led by a woman that ran for office and lost, claiming her family was grown, she had time to herself and was in need of life balance (she was bored).
Of course, the Lazy C is at the forefront in promoting a singular point of view that appears to be little more of an effort to push the county back towards Democrats, long showing their disdain for the outcome of the 2012 County Commissioner race as political power switched from Democrats to Republicans.
And let’s face it, Commissioner (now Councilor) Madore gives them all of the ammo they need for weekly bashes against him as he seeks to feed his ego and be the sole one to receive credit, even to stealing information, ideas and the work of others.
Since voters were hoodwinked into a change in the county charter, we now find ourselves facing the selection of one more County Councilor and selecting one person to be the Chair of the County Councilor.
As can be expected, the incumbent councilors, Madore and Tom Mielke have both announced their intent to run for the top seat and former Republican Commissioner, Marc Boldt, who was ousted from the Commission in 2012 for his selling out citizens too often, has also announced his intent.
Democrats have not fronted a name, many now placing their bets on Boldt, realizing how the massive under vote in the Madore – Boldt race in 2012 (Democrats absolutely refusing to cast a vote for anybody with that hated ‘R’ behind their name) ousted Boldt and put Madore in office.
The prevailing attitude seems to be that if only Boldt got back in, he could control the other four councilors and put special interests back to the fore.
By the same token, the fear of Madore feeding his massive ego by becoming the Chair is also prevalent as Councilor Mielke is barely being discussed.
Ol’ Lefty, as we refer to Brancaccio, sees this as a risky gamble for Democrats hoping to see Boldt put back in office.
Of course, should Democrats put forward a name, all could change. But in reality, given that outside of the far leftist downtown 49th district, Democrats do not fare well, the likelihood of a real Democrat winning countywide is slim.
As the race unfolds in the coming months, we can expect to see ol’ Lefty pull out the stops and follow Lenin’s advice well as he will do whatever he feels necessary to defeat those he hates with a vengeance, Madore and Mielke.
He will do as much as he can to keep readers of the paper in the dark and ignorant of true issues as those downtown special interests keep tugging at his strings.
Unfortunately, there is little to counter Lefty’s tirades as that “Liberty” caucus group has shown that, although they despise the Lazy C, they abhor any that counter their points if they ever shine light back on the nefarious, underhanded dealings of their own group.
They seem to feel a facebook page is an effective means.
It isn’t.
The Lazy C’s circulation is poor by all standards, but it is a daily voice feeding the masses only what special interests wish them to read, keeping them blissfully ignorant and happily sitting in their comfort zone, unaware of what is actually going on around them.
In simpler words, and seemingly promoted by the Lazy C and both political parties of late, ‘You are more comfortable if you don’t know something,’ as they realize the average citizen shuns involvement and educating themselves on the many issues facing us today.
Thomas Gray ended his poem with “…where ignorance is bliss, ‘Tis folly to be wise.”
Yes, the wise see how so few are manipulating the masses. Wisdom of issues by the people is anathema to the Brancaccio’s, Madore’s, Democrats and Republicans who have self appointed themselves as all knowing of what is right for all, each having opposite points of view.
It is doubtful that anything will change anytime soon as we seem to just have too many enjoying their blissful ignorance while others boast of discounting and marginalizing citizen voices that once sought to shine light on issues.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once told us, “Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”
Dalai Lama said, “Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.”
Warren Buffett says, “When you combine ignorance and leverage, you get some pretty interesting results.”
Leonardo da Vinci once said, “Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!”
The choice is yours. Remain happy in your blissful ignorance of what is going on around you.
Or actively seek the necessary knowledge required to make informed decisions on your ballot.
