The opinion piece by Supervisor Joan Hartmann and Sigrid Wright, CEO of the Community Environmental Council, on February 8 reveals a profound disconnect from the operational and economic realities of the world. Attempting to bridge the gap between ideological dogma and practical governance is often folly, but the current state of Santa Barbara County demands a return to fact-based discourse.
The praise of China as a “clean energy” leader is hollow; China remains the world’s largest consumer of coal despite its manufacturing dominance. Furthermore, suggesting our national defense could survive without petroleum-based jet fuels is a dangerous logistical fallacy. There is currently no scalable alternative that meets the energy density required for our security.
This gap between rhetoric and reality is mirrored in our local fiscal crisis. It is telling that the county executive is departing just as a decade of “spend, spend, spend” stewardship culminates in a staggering budget shortfall. A “super majority” has prioritized power over solvency, leaving the taxpayers to foot the bill.
Being from the Soviet Union, I know all too well about how the “system” works. What occurs in Santa Barbara politics recently is not far from the way it was when I was a child in Russia. It cannot be permitted to happen in the most wonderful country in the world. I relish the freedom and individualism available to all who are willing to be patient and understand this is the last great opportunity on earth. Don’t squander those opportunities.
The human cost is evident: a county unlivable for the average citizen, persistent environmental issues in Carpinteria and Buellton, and a political structure that prioritizes Peyton Place drama over pragmatic needs. It is time for real leadership that understands how the world works — not more faith-based policy that leaves the checkbook empty. Civility requires honesty about the trade-offs we face; unfortunately, that honesty is missing from this missive.
