I really try not to use this space to rant or air out things that grind my gears very often.
But, this week there are three main things weighing on my chest that I just have to share in some way.
Firstly, I’m tired of hearing people complain about not being informed of something that this newspaper has been covering for YEARS.
I know it’s my job to stay as up-to-date with information as possible, but I’ve reached that point in my career where I feel like I’m trying to lead the most stubborn mules to water.
Every time a friend of mine brings up something they’ve seen on social media, I tell them that we already had that story featured weeks or months ago and offer to get them a copy so that they understand the historical record of something.
It just really irritates me when someone finally jumps on the bandwagon to shoot down something when the groundwork was laid several years ago.
Plus, it tells me that you just want to read the splashy headlines and not care about the beginning of something that has gained momentum enough that a little controversy sparks your interest.
It’s also exhausting to constantly correct someone with the facts and still end up ignored because said person doesn’t really want to be educated or informed with the truth because it doesn’t fit their narrow, opinion-laced world view.
Secondly, I’m fed up with governing entities pushing to have less meeting sessions and structuring their agendas with idiotic lumps of consent agenda items – it’s a smoke screen for laziness and makes everything seem suspect.
Between all of the governing bodies, boards, organizations and committees I’ve covered or been a part of, I can say that you serve the community better with transparency and facts rather than hiding behind restructuring and cutting your public access in half.
I mean, if you don’t like your job then just say that and quit – give someone else the space to take the reins and who wants to do the work.
But, I get it, most of those positions require elections and that gets expensive all the way around.
Still, it’s disheartening when such practices are enacted and it makes the local media’s job even harder.
And, really, God only knows how the normal folks handle it – judging by social media keyboard warriors screeching as loud as possible – things aren’t going so well.
If you’ve made it this far into my rant, congratulations!
Lastly, my third growing peeve is how many people are bringing up the loss of farm land in relation to industrial moves to make use of said land.
Without governmental oversight and restrictions – which you’ll whine about, too – there is literally nothing to be done for a landowner making a private sale.
Is the loss of crop and animal farmland sad?
Sure, but outside of buying the property yourself in the first place, what do you expect to happen?
Taking your fury and disappointment to an informational session isn’t the flex you think it is.
Especially when there is no power at the local level and you’re concerns are better suited for your state or federal elected officials.
Making things harder for industries and businesses to come in or expand is just setting everyone up for failure unless it’s done correctly.
Being rude, just isn’t the way to do it – after all, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar, or did everyone forget that, too?