Dear Futurwise Whatcom,
They hate you. Oh, how they hate you. They hate you with the passion of a thousand suns. They hate you long and they hate you hard and they hate you deep. Dear God how they hate you.
You want to be better liked? By them? Well, you don't want much, do you.
You don't know who I'm talking about? You don't know who they are? They are them. Them that hate you.
Be advised, running away from the label of Environmental is not the solution to your image problem. Your "image problem" is that you think you have an "image problem". You seem to believe that if you "rebrand" yourselves then you will stop experiencing such bitter hatred from the business community and the development community.
They don't hate you because you are Environmental (I know... I know... you're NOT environmental. Blah-biddy-blah.)
They hate you because you are effective. It's not your image that is the problem. It is your actions that are the problem.
See, Futurewise Whatcom, if you were just some paper tiger that issued some press releases and occasionally staged some public events to "raise awareness" then the so-called Pro-Business forces in the County as well as the Development Community at large would be able to see you as just a bunch of harmless and amusing neo-hippies, whom they could dismiss and patronize and to whom they could pay lip service without substantively changing their business model.
But that's not who you are.
There are a lot of environmental groups out there who are unapologetically environmental who don't attract the vitriol that Futurewise Whatcom attracts. These are environmental groups that the developers and business community can "work with". Those environmental groups are also not able to affect how the business community does its business. Those environmental groups are not as effective as Futurewise Whatcom is. It is easy to "work with" someone when you can do it entirely on your own terms.
Futurewise Whatcom's critics and opponents hate Futurewise Whatcom because they can't "work with you" without also doing so on some of your terms. This is unforgivable.
This recent Determination of Invalidity is just one case in point.
The Determination of Invalidity has had an astounding impact on Whatcom County's rural element. And while it wasn't easy, you made it look easy to the untrained eye. There they were (Them That Hate You) chugging along and getting their way with that rubber stamp that is masquerading as a County Council... and then you step in with a few sheets of paper and suddenly bring a big chunk of this party to a crashing halt.
So, for 2011, I recommend that you stop trying to "rebrand" yourselves, or to find a way to extend an olive branch to the development community and the property rightistas.
Those that hate you will warm up to you the day that they can safely ignore you.
Do you want to be liked, or do you want to get something done?
Do you want to win an argument, or do you want to solve a problem?
Do you want to improve your image, or do you want to continue taking substantive action?
You can't do both.
And you have already decided.
To paraphrase Shakespeare, you can't be an honest hero to these people... the best role you can get is that of a plain dealing villain.
So keep dealing it plain, Futurewise Whatcom. Keep fixing what is actually broken (the County's Comp Plan) and stop trying to fix what isn't broken (your Image).
Sincerely,
ApexNerd
They hate you. Oh, how they hate you. They hate you with the passion of a thousand suns. They hate you long and they hate you hard and they hate you deep. Dear God how they hate you.
You want to be better liked? By them? Well, you don't want much, do you.
You don't know who I'm talking about? You don't know who they are? They are them. Them that hate you.
Be advised, running away from the label of Environmental is not the solution to your image problem. Your "image problem" is that you think you have an "image problem". You seem to believe that if you "rebrand" yourselves then you will stop experiencing such bitter hatred from the business community and the development community.
They don't hate you because you are Environmental (I know... I know... you're NOT environmental. Blah-biddy-blah.)
They hate you because you are effective. It's not your image that is the problem. It is your actions that are the problem.
See, Futurewise Whatcom, if you were just some paper tiger that issued some press releases and occasionally staged some public events to "raise awareness" then the so-called Pro-Business forces in the County as well as the Development Community at large would be able to see you as just a bunch of harmless and amusing neo-hippies, whom they could dismiss and patronize and to whom they could pay lip service without substantively changing their business model.
But that's not who you are.
There are a lot of environmental groups out there who are unapologetically environmental who don't attract the vitriol that Futurewise Whatcom attracts. These are environmental groups that the developers and business community can "work with". Those environmental groups are also not able to affect how the business community does its business. Those environmental groups are not as effective as Futurewise Whatcom is. It is easy to "work with" someone when you can do it entirely on your own terms.
Futurewise Whatcom's critics and opponents hate Futurewise Whatcom because they can't "work with you" without also doing so on some of your terms. This is unforgivable.
This recent Determination of Invalidity is just one case in point.
The Determination of Invalidity has had an astounding impact on Whatcom County's rural element. And while it wasn't easy, you made it look easy to the untrained eye. There they were (Them That Hate You) chugging along and getting their way with that rubber stamp that is masquerading as a County Council... and then you step in with a few sheets of paper and suddenly bring a big chunk of this party to a crashing halt.
So, for 2011, I recommend that you stop trying to "rebrand" yourselves, or to find a way to extend an olive branch to the development community and the property rightistas.
Those that hate you will warm up to you the day that they can safely ignore you.
Do you want to be liked, or do you want to get something done?
Do you want to win an argument, or do you want to solve a problem?
Do you want to improve your image, or do you want to continue taking substantive action?
You can't do both.
And you have already decided.
To paraphrase Shakespeare, you can't be an honest hero to these people... the best role you can get is that of a plain dealing villain.
So keep dealing it plain, Futurewise Whatcom. Keep fixing what is actually broken (the County's Comp Plan) and stop trying to fix what isn't broken (your Image).
Sincerely,
ApexNerd
Well done, ApexNerd. I agree. To be sure, the more FW-W is liked by the development and business communities, the less effective they must be.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize FW-W is in the process of re-branding its image. Can you tell us more about that? I suspect Wendy is opposed?
To the best of my knowledge, Futurewise and Futurewise Whatcom are not officially trying to "rebrand" themselves explicitly. It is more of a constant effort on their part to distance themselves from being defined as an environmental group. They are so self-conscious and defensive about being defined in that fashion.
ReplyDeleteAnd as far as I am concerned, that label has been stuck to them with political epoxy... fairly or unfairly.
I have rarely seen a group experience such vitriolic loathing... and the groups who find themselves on the receiving end of such hostility are usually the groups that are making a difference.
Let Futurewise be Futurewise. They "rebranded" themselves before, and they are still being labeled.
They afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted. And this shall not go unpunished.
I hope that someday they come to terms with the image that others have of them and just continue to make a difference.
Well -- on the other hand, how fun is it for volunteers, who still have to live in this community, to be "loathed" on behalf of everyone else? All those everyone elses who are comfortably sitting in their chairs? All those everyone elses who couldn't even be bothered to vote against the no-guvmint-contingent during the last election? Does the public have the right to demand that Futurewise should do all the dirty work?
ReplyDeleteLabels are like poorly made clothing. They never really fit comfortably.
ReplyDeleteThe various groups whose mission is to protect the resources that sustain life (air, water, soil, forests, etc.) will always be mis-labeled by those whose mission is to exploit those resources for personal gain.
I don’t agree with every position and every action taken by Futurewise, but I appreciate what they stand for. Will it ever be popular to fight to preserve the goose that lays the golden eggs (or the environment)? Won’t it always be more fun to exploit the gold (and the planet’s resources)?
Is it enjoyable to be “loathed” by those who want to exploit those resources? Certainly not. Is it fun to volunteer for that job? No. Do these volunteers deserve support from those in the community who benefit from Futurewise’s work? Absolutely.
The battles over preserving our life sustaining planet and its environment are fought in two settings – the court of public opinion and the court of law. Fortunately, where it matters most, labels are irrelevant.
Although many of the planet’s resources are renewable, the pace at which renewal occurs is finite. We cannot exploit those resources - at a rate that exceeds renewal - forever.
A certain amount of land needs to be preserved for agriculture and forestry. We are suffering a death by a thousand cuts every time we permanently convert raw land to concrete and asphalt.
Is it really so difficult to understand that there are limits to growth and exploitation?
Perhaps it’s not Futurewise who needs to rebrand itself…
Perhaps it's not Futurewise who needs to re-brand itself...
ReplyDeleteIt's been a long, uphill battle for citizens who are seeking balance or responsible stewardship of public lands.
One can be branded a "trouble maker" and have difficulty finding employment, because they took the time to challenge a plan or development project that may or may not be in the community's best interests. The clean up of the former Georgia Pacific West site is one such project that comes to mind. I'll never forget people calling me a "Syre puppet" because I wanted to see 11 tons of mercury removed from the site, before construction of new buildings is started.
I mean, think about it. I'm collecting signatures to clean up 11 tons of mercury, and people are accusing me of being a developer shill. Just saying...that's the mindset of people who live in this community! It's not rational or based on facts. It's based on rumors and myths.
I agree, it's not enjoyable to be loathed by people who prefer business as usual politics. But one becomes accustomed to it, if one lives in Whatcom County.
I seriously doubt the ideological battle over growth Management is over. We still have a conservative council majority that does not believe in or support our state environmental laws. I expect that those members will continue to do what they can to circumvent or avoid the inevitable. After all, they have developer friends and attorneys who are counting on them to help them get projects completed.
The previous "Anonymous" and I differ in that I do think that the ideological battle over growth management is over. The current County Council is an organization of, by, and for property owners and developers. "Growth management" has lost, although Futurewise is valiantly and commendably putting a finger in the dike.
ReplyDeleteFuture generations won't know anything better, since we'll be just like everyplace else between the Canadian and the Oregonian border.
I'm sure organizationally Futurewise would be much more comfortable in a proactive advocacy and educating role than seen as an oppressive litigant aggressively suing our elected government.
ReplyDeleteThey're doing what's necessary now, and bless 'em for it.
The "business community" needs to realize that stability and predictability are at the heart of a sound, dependable economy. The piecemeal approach of WC government--where lawsuits are settled with whomever happens to be iPhone buddies with Sam Crawford or left to languish unless palms are correctly greased--is a recipe for corruption no outside business venture desires or has the time for. A venture looking to locate in Whatcom County would view the piecemeal favoritism very dimly... they don't have TIME or RESOURCES to waste figuring out the maze of nepotism!
When you have county government screaming, "Screw the Supreme Court!" you have a bullhorn to the wider business world shouting, "Stay away from Whatcom County. Take your business elsewhere."
Anon 36,
ReplyDeleteAgreed. The Whatcom County Council might as well take out bill board ads across the nation saying, "Take your business elsewhere."
Anon 36,
ReplyDeleteI agree as well. Sam Crawford’s clumsy, over-the-top, pro-development antics are anything but good for business. Of course, what the development community wants and what’s good for business countywide do not generally go hand-in-hand. It’s a shame that, at least locally, the development community has seemingly hijacked the business community. Business leaders would be wise to distance themselves from developers and resource-exploiters.
I’m not sure I agree with your view of Futurewise. We don’t need another unproductive advocacy & education organization telling us how we can save the planet. The court of public opinion is not always adequate. Those who profit by exploiting resources rarely stop doing so because of public opinion alone. We need organizations who have teeth and are willing to fight in the courts of law.
It's worth revisiting this link:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.whatcomlegacy.org/
This was a real attempt to drill down to community values as precursor to sound public policy. Tragically, the research was scoffed at by an incoming County Council, fat with developer cash and an idiotic property rights mantra, but it is proving to a model for Envision Skagit 2060. What Whatcom government hates, Skagit govt sees as a model for good planning.
Ten years from now we'll look south from our paved and polluted, economically ruined, politically corrupt county and wonder how the hell poor li'l Skagit managed to get it right while Whatcom went so terribly wrong.
Read Jared Paben's interview with Crawford, which is unintentionally funny. Crawford fumes, sputters, and finally bellows. The last line threatens to "go to court to prove that we’ve reached the property balance of growth controls in Whatcom County."
ReplyDeleteWhatcom County has indeed reached the "property balance." Well put, Sam! The next step is to recognize that this is exactly the problem.
http://blogs.bellinghamherald.com/politics/whatcomcounty/state-growth-board-parts-of-whatcom-county-comp-plan-invalid/#ixzz19LsNdtXK
I must be atypical, but I never regarded the Futurewise litigation as primarily "environmental". I tend to see rural sprawl primarily through the lens of economics- replacing a tremendous wealth producer (agriculture) with a short-term wealth-redistributor. Rural sprawl crowds-out agriculture and replaces it with stuff that does not produce wealth in the net. Whether retail or residential, rural sprawl reflects a tragic transition to a non-wealth-producing economy. From a net-producer economy, to internally selling each other a latte or a hamburger, or even worse, some *chotske* made in China!
ReplyDeleteNo, Futurewise is not primarily about "environment", it's about economic production!
Abe Jacobson
Well stated, Abe. Your understanding coincides with mine: We cannot continue to kill the goose that laid the golden egg without, eventually, losing all the gold.
ReplyDeleteThe goose – the resource lands, clean air and water, fertile soil, the ‘environment’… all of it – is the economic driver, the source of all gold. Have we not matured enough to understand we cannot destroy the economic driver without destroying the economy, if not life itself?
Those who profit from exploiting these resources certainly understand it. And, once they’ve extracted as much gold as possible, they’ll move on. How many times do we have to watch this story unfold before we recognize how it will end?