Dan Horton wrote:
That's awful harsh, Dan.

Ernest, I've already apologized to the councilman's assistant on
behalf of myself and my peers (meaning you).

I can apologize for myself when necessary, thank you very much.

In a city the size of Jacksonville (huge), 16 councilmen don't slam
dunk new legislation just to deal with a single individual unless they
are ****ed. My point is that we (pilots and builders) are just plain
stupid if we **** off city officials. Even when wrong they hold all
the cards. The cards are called votes, and we are a tiny minority.

I've drank a lot of beer with some of the city councilmen who run my
airport. I helped a few more get elected last time around. They
return my phone calls. Maybe it is a better way?

Dan


Some places call that the "good ol' boy network". Councilmen passing
laws impacting the 15th largest city in America, stripping possibly
millions of their rights (even if they choose not to exercise them),
because the are '****ed' is no more excusable than the use of all seven
words. Worse actually. We elect officials and expect them to act like
adults, not spoiled children. The idea of outlawing a specific
activity, because of one incident is reprehensible.

Yes, elected officials should follow the consituents wishes, but doesn't
it seem funny that they only outlawed an activity that wouldn't be
objected to except by a small minority. If building manufacturing
prototypes was the problem, why not outlaw building manufacturing
prototypes. As such, I will reiterate my original opinions and feelings
on the issue:

If I were a lawyer (and I'm not...don't even play one on TV), I would
push the equal protection under the law ideas. First, take issue with
their definition of just what is "keeping with the nature of a
residential neighborhood". And then bring up the issue of people
changing their own car's oil or airfilter, or even painting a lawn chair.

Personally, I see this as a continued trend in the transformation of the
American public from citizens to consumers. (You're only allowed to do
it if they sell a kit for it at Home Depot.)

--
This is by far the hardest lesson about freedom. It goes against
instinct, and morality, to just sit back and watch people make
mistakes. We want to help them, which means control them and their
decisions, but in doing so we actually hurt them (and ourselves)."