Dear Source:
In response to LCA commissioner Rutnik's letter, I'd like to add some perspective. I won't argue the view that laws should not be respected. They should. But law must earn our respect by being fair and generally non invasive. Citing Mr. Rutnik's examples:
A $1000 fine for littering is a stupid law showing frustration of government at being unable to deal with a problem. "Gypsy" taxis are people willing to work and offering a good service. The "licensed" or "Medallion" taxis are people protected by government's unfair law barring healthy competition. If they were doing an adequate job, "gypsies" would not exist. Worst of all, Mr. Rutnik's unfair and prejudiced ravings about "illegal immigrants" filling the job market, paying no taxes, sending income home and creating shantytowns were un-called-for and generally showed a severe lack of respect for a generally hardworking group of people.
The list goes on and on. Mr. Rutnik's letter had very little to say which we can use to solve our admitted social problems. Lack of respect for law is not the problem. It is the symptom. Government in the VI has become too distant from the people who should BE the government. Healing our society will require some harsh medicine. Mr. Rutnik and the government he is working with will have to take some healthy doses of that medicine soon.
Only when we have a government of the people will the people begin to respect the government.
Sincerely, Terry Conklin
Coral Bay
