Fire burn and cauldron bubble

Let’s see. If it’s Santa Ana time, we must be burning. Check; we’ve got at least six fires in North County.

I have updated my “evacuate” inventory from 2007. If it’s nearly election time, we get these “pick me” mailers and now, “robo” calls. The effects of these activities and events are stressful. Fires are dangerous and so are politicians. Both need to be treated preventatively and systematically.

Fire response was greatly improved from 2007 with a real command and control capability and response from diverse units integrated into a single incident commander. We got 22 Marine helos and were treated to the DC-10 Supertanker. We’ll need all of this later in the traditional fire season.

The flyers and robocalls give me a great opportunity to determine who I am not going to vote for. I won’t vote for a candidate who claims personal credit for something done collectively; for indicating a party preference in non partisan races; for engaging in sleazy attack ads; for speaking in party-line slogans; seeking office for personal benefit and not for the electorate; over focus on narrow issues and demonstrate insufficient understanding of issues and their curative measures. Just keep that campaign literature coming; it helps me decide who not to vote for.

Having a government is expensive. We have plenty of those who surf the swell of noise and fail to cut through the noise and instead exercise constructive or curative leadership. They get my vote.

John Watson