Notes to Consider… Current Events: Local (“Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”)

Now that Election Day ‘26 has passed, let us keep our eyes upon a couple of pressing local issues. As you do so, beware the claim, “I'm only one vote!” It's a tired crutch used by our public servants post-election season; but history shows bold leadership attracts company.

“That's not a ‘solution’ to homelessness!” First, that response belies an ignorance of Jesus’ promise the poor would always be amongst us. Secondly, charity to the temporarily down on their luck should always be left to the private sector (where the laws of economics are self-regulating).

An unchecked professional vagrant class poses a very real threat to the general welfare. “But we're powerless to act locally!” That excuse is now simply a lie. The 2024 Safer Kentucky Act made public camping a state offense, carrying with it fines and potential jail time. Are you (freshly elected mayors and sheriffs) making sure this statute is being vigorously enforced? Are county/city codes enforcement officers aggressively condemning any dwellings lacking state-mandated minimum plumbing systems?

You can't “solve” vagrancy (see Jesus, above), but that’s not what’s required. Simply make your city or county such a pain in the neck for the loitering indolent that they move it on down the line to places such as Lexington which unwisely subsidizes the behavior.

I once heard a professor allay fears of American demise by urging his students to sit on the bank of the mighty Mississippi sometime and count the barges full of foodstuffs floating their way to New Orleans and the world. It’s indeed an important trump card we hold over our adversaries, but American farming is under increasing domestic threat today from a perennial source: mercenary land speculators.

There's a wide gap between what you “may” do, and what you “should” do. As an example, according to state statutes, I “may” charge $50 per head for hunters to shoot deer from my back deck. But “should” I choke the neighborhood street with parked pickup trucks or send hemorrhaging deer barreling through nearby children’s playgrounds?

“Should” county fiscal courts reply with: “How high?” every time developers request an agricultural zone change jump? “But it's their property and they should be able to sell to whomever they want!” Slow down there, Mr. Magistrate. No one said property owners “may” not sell to whomever they want; it's just that it's in this county/nation's best interest that the buyer “should” continue to raise crops and/or run livestock on that strategic national security piece of ground. Besides, what benefit are zoning restrictions if they don’t also provide long-term stability of property usage for adjoining neighbors/potential neighbors?

Wish to gamble on commercial, residential, or industrial properties, Mr. Developer? You “may” go out there and buy yourself as much ground already designated for such purposes as you can afford; just like the rest of us.

Next Week: Man-at-Arms

Shane Morris is a retired soldier and teacher. Contact at sigm11@yahoo.com (Subject: “NtC”)