Last night I received an automated phone call from Hal Stocker.  He was taking a survey about something to do with "open spaces" and something else.  He said something about the matter possibly going to the ballot. He was very difficult to understand, spoke very quickly and gave you two choices to select by punching in a number.  There was no opportunity to replay the call.  I was left with no choice but to hang up at the end without making a selection.  Or it could be that by not making a selection, I actually voted.  I really don't know.  I do not think this is an appropriate way to take a survey and I would not consider the results to be of any value.  My mother also got the call and had the same reaction that I did.

Supervisor Stocker is conducting a phone survey to get a sense of the public in regard to getting an issue on the ballot regarding land use.

I don't think the effort goes far enough. I think the petition effort would get more support if it were on Yuba foothills and if the Appeal Democrat and Territorial Dispatch would support public particitpation.

I think the effort would get more support if the public understood the difference between democracy and republic as a FORM of government. In a Republic a minority actually gets a voice, not just the appearance of having the opportunity to speak.

Democracy as a TYPE of government is direct vote on the issue by the electorate. Referendum and recall is a TYPE of democracy. Direct democracy. At some point the electorate becomes a mob, or votes itself benefits that others are expected to pay for.

A Republic as a TYPE of government is an indirect vote of the electorate to select representatives to do the governing.

Please don't confuse this use of the words Republican and Democrat with the Republican party which, in my opinion, does not believe government should govern anything. Please don't confuse this with the Democratic Party which, in my opinion, believes that government should govern everything.

The result is that the electorate gives up and stops voting. Worse yet, the electorate stops participating in the process of governing.

Democracy or Republican as a FORM pf government degenerates into mob rule or snob rule. Depends on which faction has the high ground.

I think we need a recall effort in Yuba County in addition to a referendum. Maybe not a recall of elected officers, but a recall or greater supervision of hired staff and consultants.

In my opinion, the people that are doing land use planning and control, are doing neither planning nor control.

In planning how many houses to build, I would think there would be an estimate of how many people are going to buy houses.

I did not see such an estimate, other than the wild guess based on what happened last year.

I commented on the population pyramid and was ignored.

I commented on the erosion of property values when more houses were built than there are buyers. I was ignored.

I think I was ignored because I was the only one of the opinion. A minority of one. What I said was ignored because it did not fit the popular opinion of majority rule.

DickBoyd@aol.com

No disrespect DickBoyd but maybe you were ignored because you write a novel rather than a few statements on the subject and no all will take the time to read it.

I would have to agree with pikouchs' post. If Mr. Stocker wants to have a credibal survey, he should speak clearly and allow for questions. Mr. Stocker is known for his random surveys that target an audience that he wants for his "own" agenda.

 

Recently, some members of the Oregon House/Dobbins area were sent a survey regarding the reopening of the Oregon House Farm Store. From a very reliable source, the majority of the returned surveys were in favor of the reopening of the Farm Store. Despite this favorable response, Me. Stocker twice voted against the reopening. So does Mr. Stocker do what the people want?

Everything I've ever heard about Hal - good or bad, supporters or detractors - is that he does vote the will of his constituents. One thing I can say for him is he has posted his phone number and asked people to call him about anything time and time again. Instead of complaining, call him and talk to the source. You don't have to agree to have a discussion.

This initiative is being backed by a Nevada County activist, namely Laura Obermeyer. Yes, the same lady Hal got caught with exchanging emails with over land use policies during the General Plan update. Now she's back at during the county's zoning update. Ms. Obermeyer's agenda is to control land use in Yuba County by manipulating Stocker. Ms. Obermeyer, GET OUT OF YUBA COUNTY.

I will just always remember Mr Stocker at a meeting regarding the general plan last year. There were about 150 people at the community center and there was overwhelming support and a request made to Mr Stocker that he vote against the passing of the General Plan in its present form. He stood up and said that the people in that room didn't represent his constituents!!!! Several of us looked at each other and said "REALLY"?????? If we aren't his constituents who are???

"HAL STOCKER'S PHONE SURVEY"

Why don't we just call it what it was? "HAL STOCKER'S PHONEY SURVEY."

A politician doing his own survey................anybody remember the fox in charge of the henhouse?