Our View: Breathe

Take a breath.

Times are chaotic. There is tension and uncertainty everywhere. With less than three weeks to go, the Nov. 5 presidential election is sucking up all the oxygen in the country. The polls — which, frankly, we don’t have much faith in — say the race is essentially tied, which is astounding. A fascist, racist felon has the same support as a sitting vice president and former state attorney general? Times are indeed chaotic.

Locally, tensions are high at both the regional and town level. The Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates and Board of County Commissioners are feuding over a ballot question sponsored by the assembly that would alter the county charter’s budgetary provisions. County government flies under the radar for most Cape residents, so interest from the public will be minimal (learn more about the ballot question in our story on page 11), despite the county’s many important functions (health, environment, dredging). The commissioners and assembly, already often in opposition, are growing more polarized over the ballot question. We oppose the ballot question and believe that the changes should go through the county charter review process, set for next year, to ensure a full and fair airing of the issue and allow public input. 

Although not as strident, conflicts are also showing through the usual collegial atmosphere local boards and committees tend to enjoy. A clash over housing at the former Sea Camps properties is brewing in Brewster. The Chatham Select Board is at loggerheads over whether the board or the affordable housing trust should oversee the development of affordable housing on two town-owned properties. And in Harwich, officials grumbling about the loss of key department heads over the past several years and disagreements between the select board and the town administrator seem a regular occurance.

It’s easy to forget that we’re all in this together, from the humblest town advisory committee to the candidates for president. At the local level, disagreements seldom become divisive, although we are seeing that more often in recent years. In a sense we are lucky that we have largely escaped the fractiousness found elsewhere in the country. But when we become frustrated, whether at contentiousness at town hall or inflammatory speeches in swing states, it’s important to take a moment, close our eyes, and breathe. Despite what one candidate for president is saying, our towns, counties, states and country will still be here on Nov. 6.