For every action there is a reaction. In other words, there are consequences for even the most minor decisions we make or allow to be made for us by others. In West Marin, like everyplace else, consequences come in all shapes and sizes.
For example, erasing the vegetation from hillsides or putting blacktop on a semi-steep down slope often has the consequence of creating a waterfall below. Duh. Restricting the flow of a stream in order to illegally build something on a flood plain just pushes the water along faster, increasing flooding elsewhere. Consequences. I have watched the low portion of Mesa Road in Point Reyes Station (starting at the old Red/Green Barn) flood regularly for quite a few years now. At the beginning of January, I saw a change in the normal pattern of flooding. It is stronger and quite a bit wider. I wonder why that is? It's the consequence of something. What?

Consequences. Electricity goes out all over West Marin on a pretty regular basis. Which is why I rewired my house to add a generator backup system. My purchase of the generator and paying for the rewiring was a consequence of the electrical outages. But why does the electricity go out in the first place? Take a drive along Mesa Road, again in Point Reyes Station (where I live), and a partial explanation is before your very eyes. The electrical wires are often deep within evergreen trees, prone to move around wildly in a storm or even keel over, taking wires with them. So there are consequences of not trimming those trees or putting wires underground in such areas. Is PG&E listening? Are the residents of Mesa and Cypress Roads listening?

Consequences. Soldiers died because our own government failed to provide them with effective body armor for their task as well as provide their vehicles with sufficient armor protection. The government had the armor available since 2003, but didn't let the troops have it even when those in the field asked for it. Who is responsible for those unnecessary deaths? The government is made up of people who make decisions on our behalf. Why is there no outrage or public demands for resignations or jail for those responsible?

Consequences. Miners died recently, underground, at a mine where management had stonewalled upgrades and safety, with un-enforced federal regulations. So who killed those miners? I want to know why the government bureaucrats who gutted so many hard-fought-for workplace safety regulations are not in jail for murder? Think murder is too strong a word? I don't. It's time to call a spade a spade.

I could go on and on. There is an endless supply of consequences because there is an endless supply of personal actions and inaction. For West Marin, most of our "consequences" come about from the failure of residents to speak up and take action. Talk is cheap. So is ranting. I know it is easier to turn a blind eye or "just not know." But there are, and will continue to be, consequences down line you may not be happy with. And no fair complaining later. Later is too late. I am continually amazed at the disconnect between what West Marin thinks of itself and the reality on the ground. We prize diversity and are not diverse: we allow two separate communities to pass in the night (take a look at the people using the two clinics in town - one in Spanish and one in English). We prize the environment, but support environmental groups fighting internecine battles and/or "spinning" to play the money game. We support affordable housing but don't "do it ourselves," allowing EAH to give us a snow job via dog and pony shows --- then do not pay enough attention to make it really affordable for local workers; instead, the developer imports low-income residents from outside West Marin and even outside of Marin to fill its empty housing. Not to speak of ticky-tacky buildings overlooking the town. Residents are pissed, to say the least.

The all time West Marin prize, however, has to go to the Inverness architect who built the 15,000 sq. foot home in San Anselmo for the head of an environmental organization, touting it as "an environmental masterpiece." The house is indeed beautiful, and uses recycled materials, etc. I am not knocking his architectural skills, which are substantial. But some of those "recycled" materials were shipped here from thousands of miles away. Am I the only one that sees a kind of elitist, touchy-feely disconnect with that? And, frankly, a 15,000 sq. ft house is obscene for so few people. I don't care if the owner is a "good" person. He is also out of touch with the real world. Prince Charles is a "good" person too, but he has a lackey to put the toothpaste on his toothbrush in the morning and overcharges for his organic biscuits. Let's get real here.

It is raining as I write this. My dog is sleeping by the fire. I feel better having typed the above. One more thing, however: last week, Judy Borello wrote about the refusal of the Palace Market in Point Reyes Station to allow both the Coastal Post and the Pacific Sun space in front of the market, as was traditional. While I think the decision by new market management to just ignore the issue is short-sighted, especially since I myself usually spend beaucoup bucks there even for seriously over-priced items, I would think it would be best just to put the papers across the street near the Bovine. After all, the bread is better there anyway. And I can shop in Petaluma and save some money.