That’s Incredible, Out of 12,000 Not Even Three

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
— Edmund Burke
Oh, yes, how great a world it would be if only everyone thought like me. How undeniable would the pleasures be if we all would enjoy our coffee with a few shakes of non-dairy creamer and no sugar? Think how glorious would be each Saturday morning if we would all shun cars and ride our bicycles for an hour or two.
This would be a near perfect world if we all thought exactly alike, worshipped in the same huge house of prayer, and drove the same gas-saving misconception of an automobile as I do. That’s not reality is it?
I really like rye bread with seeds, my wife cannot stand it. Call me uncouth and uneducated, but I like ketchup on my scrambled eggs and yes, sometimes on steak. Everyone should be like that; they should also like peach ice cream. They should feel special when they eat hot corn bread with butter and grape jelly. Do you mean some do not?
Everyone should have the same dress code; all ought to wear pressed shirts and wear clothes that are exactly the same color. The armed forces have a pretty good idea when it comes to dress; everybody dresses in the same stuff all the time every day. Oh, if only everyone could be just like me, how good this world would be.
What’s that you say? That isn’t the world in which you live? You don’t like seeded rye bread or ketchup on eggs? Imagine that! We have different ideas, how, well, unlike what is happening here in Cape May County.
No, I haven’t gone daft just yet. My feet are still planted squarely on the ground, but I have my doubts about some people who should be questioned by members of their political party.
While some detractors believe it a lie, I carry no political party card or registry. Still, I felt like someone punched me in the gut when I learned that the Cape May County Democratic Party effectively died last week.
No Democrat could be found in the one-time party stronghold of Middle Township to run for township committee. Deputy Mayor F. Nathan Doughty had enough, and bowed out of the upcoming race after 12 years, some of those as chief executive. Not one person could be found to seek the seat. Not one!
Republican Committeeman Tim Donohue, go ahead and order your party trays now, and start looking at invitations for the swearing-in ceremony in January.
Mayor Dan Lockwood, get used to that title, you’ll get blasted for snow removal, potholes, raised taxes and barking dogs. Don’t take it personally; it’s what comes with being mayor.
Coming quickly on the heels of that announcement was one more shocking, that county Democrats, there are some 12,000 registered, did not file for two freeholder seats or for sheriff.
I really think everyone ought to start to love rye bread with seeds and peach ice cream, ketchup on their eggs and dress the same, because that’s exactly what this county has come to, politically: plain vanilla, like it or not.
Want in on a little secret? Even some of the top GOP brass was shocked. No race for freeholder? Frankly, it is dangerous, and could soon slide into becoming un-American.
Where will be the checks and balances in Middle Township or in county government?
It takes a grain of sand in a smooth oyster to produce a pearl. A little aggravation is good, and keeps everyone honest, especially in government.
This is not a criticism of Republicans in control. Nor should GOP Chairman Michael Donohue gloat over the Democrats’ demise. Regardless of party in power, at every level, there needs to be dissension for a healthy government to thrive. There must be an opposition or bad things happen, and no one will know or care.
People do, indeed, get the kind of government they deserve; so it’s time Democrats start asking really hard questions of their Chairman James Pickering Jr. The buck stops with him. Imagine, not three people from among 12,000 who claim to be Democrats could be found to run on a ticket headed by the “winningest” state Senator — Jeff Van Drew – in this Republican county’s recent history. That’s a meltdown of monumental proportion.
Whichever column Democrats have on voting machines and mail vote ballots, it’s going to be embarrassing to see “State Senator” and “Assembly” with candidates followed by Freeholder (vote for two) “No nomination made.” Sheriff “No nomination made.”
Member of Middle Township Committee “No nomination made.”
On the flip side, since there won’t be a contest, may I be the first to introduce, for the first time: Freeholder Kristine Gabor and Freeholder Will Morey.
Skip the money wasting campaign and all the worthless handshakes and just go ahead, order two new nameplates for the freeholders’ meeting room. At least we’ll not have to be pounded by endless slick mail pieces about how dirty the other guys are and how clean “we” are.
Since it takes two to tango, there just won’t be any dancing this year. Thank you, Dems. So tell the band to go home and put away those dancing shoes.
Your honor, Sheriff Gary Schaffer, order more business cards, and keep on keeping on.
This should be a boon to Spout Off. There won’t be many other places to let off pent-up steam that I can see building in the hinterlands.
Back in those terrible Cold War days when we Baby Boomers were coming of age, we heard about those awful Communists in the Soviet Union who had to vote in elections that only had one candidate. I used to wonder what that was like, to have no choice in who was going to run your government.
We have lived long enough to find out, and it’s not the America we once knew.
Congratulations, and, to the victor go the spoils.