07-06-2014, 04:29 AM
It seems clear Graham Ellis/Space/VGS/Belly Acres/Volcano Circus or whatever they call themselves provided a desired service and did some good and has a good deal of community support.
It also seems clear this entity flagrantly and repeatedly broke, and continues to brake several laws and rules despite numerous warnings; unlawfully took possession of public property and did so for their own monetary gain. It also seems clear they generated a fair amount of ill will in the community.
It also seems clear to all that all of the Government agencies involved, if not all Government agencies in general, are inefficient, possibly incompetent, sometimes corrupt and are often open to manipulation by both sides of this dispute by varying methods.
If one accepts those premises then:
1) When a person or corporate entity is engaging good (provides a public service) while also clearly and knowingly engaging in bad (breaking laws and monetarily gaining from such violations) are we justified in overlooking or ignoring the bad?
2) If the answer to #1 is yes, then who is the judge and by what scale do we judge.
3) If the answer to #1 is yes then why have laws and rules. Our civilization, if that is what it would remain, would be ruled by the direct majority or largest or strongest mob on any issue, not by laws. It would be quicker than electing representatives to make or change laws we feel are needed. However, it might get a bit messier. I think Justice would suffer.
Sure, like traffic laws, many laws are broken without Justice being applied. Many laws are broken without even notice. Of course if you are noticed by those empowered by us to enforce the laws, most of us do expect to face consequences, be it a traffic fine or whatever. Are we saying in this instance, Space/etc, that because of some real or perceived good they do, they are now above the law? Or because of some governmental inefficiency or oversight they are immune from the law? I'm sure there are some anarchists in Puna who think no law is valid. I'd like to believe that such thought isn't the norm.
4) If the answer to #1 is NO, then Punatics need to accept that the entity was in repeated violation of laws and rules several times over and should be closed for the sake of Justice, if nothing else. Punatics should then unite behind some sane representatives who will work effectively to achieve common goals for Puna, to include proper zoning and permitting, in appropriate locations, for desired services, services that include the "Good" provide by Space.
Puna will never achieve the political power to accomplish the changes it needs if it continues to be legitimately perceived as the home of loons and those who have no respect for the rule of law and the mechanisms of legitimate government. Are there any potential leaders in Puna who will lead, not for their own enrichment or ego, but out of a sense of duty and a desire to enhance the lives of their neighbors?
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
It also seems clear this entity flagrantly and repeatedly broke, and continues to brake several laws and rules despite numerous warnings; unlawfully took possession of public property and did so for their own monetary gain. It also seems clear they generated a fair amount of ill will in the community.
It also seems clear to all that all of the Government agencies involved, if not all Government agencies in general, are inefficient, possibly incompetent, sometimes corrupt and are often open to manipulation by both sides of this dispute by varying methods.
If one accepts those premises then:
1) When a person or corporate entity is engaging good (provides a public service) while also clearly and knowingly engaging in bad (breaking laws and monetarily gaining from such violations) are we justified in overlooking or ignoring the bad?
2) If the answer to #1 is yes, then who is the judge and by what scale do we judge.
3) If the answer to #1 is yes then why have laws and rules. Our civilization, if that is what it would remain, would be ruled by the direct majority or largest or strongest mob on any issue, not by laws. It would be quicker than electing representatives to make or change laws we feel are needed. However, it might get a bit messier. I think Justice would suffer.
Sure, like traffic laws, many laws are broken without Justice being applied. Many laws are broken without even notice. Of course if you are noticed by those empowered by us to enforce the laws, most of us do expect to face consequences, be it a traffic fine or whatever. Are we saying in this instance, Space/etc, that because of some real or perceived good they do, they are now above the law? Or because of some governmental inefficiency or oversight they are immune from the law? I'm sure there are some anarchists in Puna who think no law is valid. I'd like to believe that such thought isn't the norm.
4) If the answer to #1 is NO, then Punatics need to accept that the entity was in repeated violation of laws and rules several times over and should be closed for the sake of Justice, if nothing else. Punatics should then unite behind some sane representatives who will work effectively to achieve common goals for Puna, to include proper zoning and permitting, in appropriate locations, for desired services, services that include the "Good" provide by Space.
Puna will never achieve the political power to accomplish the changes it needs if it continues to be legitimately perceived as the home of loons and those who have no respect for the rule of law and the mechanisms of legitimate government. Are there any potential leaders in Puna who will lead, not for their own enrichment or ego, but out of a sense of duty and a desire to enhance the lives of their neighbors?
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
S. FL
Big Islander to be.