I read with chagrin of Council person Ulich’s proposal to limit certain chain stores in Malibu for the proverbial “good of the community.” Malibu is known as a solidly Democratic town peopled largely by liberals. I am a democrat. I believe in power of the people. Since when do the people need the power of government to tell us what establishments to patronize? I am a liberal. I believe in the freedom of individuals to choose. Why should we have our personal choices artificially limited by those who presume to know better than you and me?
Doesn’t this smug phrase, “the good of the community” merely mean “what I think is best.” Isn’t it always invoked as a rationale to impose the vision of one group on everybody. In fact, the people will demonstrate with their own voice and will do what they see as best for their town. We will patronize the places we like and those we deem undesirable will fail. Let’s trust the process. Let’s trust the community to decide. That is democracy. That is liberalism.
Thomas Jennett