Let’s say to each his own done deal

In the Front Porch of March 26, Sandra Babcock talks about the “indecisiveness” caused by the disincorporation effort. She says that despite the fact that incorporation passed by a narrow margin, it was her understanding that “a majority vote equaled a done deal.”

That’s such a perfect example of selective logic that it would be hilarious if not so sad. If I’d seen that column on any of the online forums I participate in, I would have instantly assumed it was from a troll, who is someone who seeks only to stir up conflict. Can you “troll” a newspaper? If so, I just bit.

Many years ago, a group of developers and political wannabes got together and managed to get enough signatures to put incorporation on the ballot. We voted it down. Did they take that as a done deal? You gotta be kidding. They tweaked the proposed boundaries a little, tuned up the propaganda a little, and put it back on the ballot as soon as legally permitted.

We voted it down again. Now surely after two defeats the proponents would call it a “done deal.” Wanna buy a bridge? A little more tweaking, some more misleading propaganda, and back it went on the ballot once more.

We voted it down again. OK, I’m getting repetitive, so I’ll stop here. And in fact I can’t remember whether it passed on the fourth try or the fifth, I just kept going to the polls and voting against it.

Babcock is correct that only a little over 40 percent of the registered voters were still energized enough to vote the last time. So incorporation passed on the votes of less than 25 percent of the registered voters. The rest had given up fighting it as a lost cause.

So let’s not talk about any “done deals.” I figure disincorporation should get at least four tries to get even.

I did ask some of the incorporation proponents if they knew the meaning of “no,” and was told they’d never give up. Now when somebody is willing to put that amount of time and money into an issue, I have a real problem believing they’re doing it for altruistic reasons. They plan on getting a return for that effort. And given the number of new subdivisions going up or being approved, I’d guess they’re getting their return.

But the ordinary citizen certainly isn’t. Did our taxes go down as promised? Not to mention the blarney about Spokane annexing us if we didn’t incorporate. I’m still selling that bridge.

Kipling wrote a poem with the lines “And the Gods of the copybook headings limped up to explain it again.” In this case they’d be explaining that nobody ever saved money by adding another layer of politicians and it’s only a “done deal” when your side wins.

As for me, I don’t give disincorporation much of a chance. Even if it passed, the same group would just start the same incorporation effort all over again. But as long as the post office lets me, my address is still Otis Orchards. That’s my “done deal.”