Vote with majority against wind turbines The following letter was sent to the Highland County Board of Supervisors and shared with The Recorder.
Editor, The Recorder,
Yesterday (July 4) we celebrated the 229th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence, the historic beginning of our wonderful nation. While watching the celebration, I was reminded of the story of James Wilson, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention from Pennsylvania. Mr. Wilson had previously studied law under the leader of Pennsylvanias delegation, John Dickenson, who was opposed to a final break from Great Britain. As his mentor, Dickenson urged Wilson to support his view and vote against independence.
Wilson was in a bind. He didnt want to vote against his mentor, yet he suspected his constituents favored independence. With the help of three other delegates, he managed a delay on the final vote for three weeks so he could consult the people back home. When the vote finally was held, James Wilson voted for independence, Dickenson abstained and the Declaration of Independence was unanimously ratified.
A more dramatic (but perhaps apocryphal) image of this event was presented in the musical and film 1776 where Wilson is shown to be totally under the thumb of Dickenson, who urges him to vote against the declaration. But John Adams approaches and says to him, Do you want to be known in history as the man who voted against the Declaration of Independence, and thus denied America her freedom? After agonizing about that decision, Wilson decides to vote with the majority and ratifies the declaration.
As I think about this event, I can see a clear analogy with our current dilemma over approving industrial wind turbines in Highland County. The real issue is whether you, our board of supervisors, should listen to the voice of the clear majority of the people you represent or vote for wind turbines to satisfy one absentee landowner who cant even vote in this county.
Like James Wilson, you have taken the time to consult with your constituents and their voice is clearly against such development. Like John Adams cautioning Wilson about the historic impact of his vote, I plead with you to vote against wind turbines. Do you want to be known as the men who voted for these monstrosities, and thus forever changed the rural character of Highland County?
Larry Held
No comments have been posted. Be the first!
| 
