People, Not the Technocrats, Should Be Trusted on Land-Use Planning

It might be wise to pull the editorial staff back through the looking glass to reflect upon what is happening around them. Their microscopic-tube vision evidently hasn’t been tempered by first-hand observation of our world nor vicarious awareness reported in your paper.

I’m referring to “Land-Use Planning Is No Job for Voters.” Do you really believe the “expertise” of elected councils (with their appointed commissions and boards) to be the ultimate of how our planet should be utilized?

Elected officials are no experts other than how to get elected. And that decision is usually made by a corporate sponsor (as related in “ ‘PAC Man’ Points Way to Power” (June 2).

I question the premise of your opinion that a representative government of special interests is also proficient. I’ll agree that this form of government is more efficient and less expensive than a participatory democracy. The costs of a check-and-balance system by the citizenry seems to be a factor in your thesis.

Huntington Beach is finding that Proposition C is going to cost taxpayers money for every election called to check moves by elected masters to develop public parks and beaches. “Parks, Beaches Initiative Makes an Impact” (also appearing June 2) might also question the premise that elected officials know best.

Concerned citizens have the legal initiative process to temper or slow the mad development of vested interests via elected officials.

How to use our land and sea--our environment--has become an issue for all the people. Through The Times’ articles,the people are becoming educated to an expertise that questions decisions made by legally elected special interests.

Maybe you should pull your heads back out of Alice’s mirror and have a look at a reality you have helped create.

HOWARD WARNER, Huntington Beach