The County Vision Statement

In order for a collective vision to succeed, it must be absolutely simple and basic. God and Country are typical examples.

The County Vision Statement, as with many group-authored documents, suffers from a vague but well-meaning inclusiveness that covers far too many bases.

Too many of its' assumptions and assertions border on fantasy, or carry implications that are only hinted at by specific choice of wording and subject matter.

If it's intentions are admirable, we need to remember what the road to hell is paved with. As a legal document, it is far too general in scope and all-encompassing in purview to serve as anything other than the most general of guidelines. It's language is so vague and sweeping that to attempt to enact it literally into law would be impossible.(it would probably bankrupt us as well...)

Despite attempts at inclusiveness, it is safe to assume that the vision statement does not speak for all islanders. Both the language and conceptual framework raise questions about interpretation or the depth of the jurisdiction being delineated.

Perhaps the most important function of a "collective vision" is that of supplying legitimacy. Such a vision statement, once authored, will be cited as the mandate to empower administrative actions carried out under its' banner.

The rule of law, by which we hopefully still abide, requires far more precision and detail than this document provides, so to cite it as the ultimate authority in questions of land use is to give it a power and a status that is neither warranted, advisable or justified.

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