The Most Dangerous Apathy

Published on:

March 17, 2025

Chairman's Monday Message

“Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” — Attributed to Albert Einstein

Recently, we had a neighborhood precinct event to address the coming Dallas County municipal elections. When you do your research on local/municipal elections, you will find that most have a 6-8 percent voter turnout. It is time we realize that the level of governance that affects you the most is the one closest to you. Everyone can say who the President is, Senators, Governor, and maybe Congressional Representatives. However, when it comes to knowing state-level Representatives, Senators, county-level commissioners and electeds down to City Council, School Board and such, many are clueless. Judges, boy howdy do they struggle for attention.

Therein lies the most dangerous apathy.

Soon baseball season will be in full swing and understanding local elections is much like understanding Major League Baseball. I grew up in Atlanta and was, still am, a loyal Atlanta Braves fan. I remember Hammerin’ Hank Aaron crushing home run number 715 against the LA Dodgers and their pitcher Al Downing, I think in the third or fourth inning, deep left field into the Braves bullpen.

But, I digress. The real strength of a major league baseball team is in its farm system, A-AA-AAA-Majors, and player development. It is no different in the political arena because the local level of elected positions is the single A level where you develop future talent. I remember a young fella named Roman Garcia who became the youngest elected City Council member in Texas. He won an election a few years back in Kerrville, when he was 19 years of age.

If you have not noticed, Dallas County, seat of which is the City of Dallas, is one of the fastest growing population centers in the country. Heck, I reside in Garland, and the population here is a very deceiving almost 250,000 and is recognized as the “Hat Capital of the World.” Even the Canadian Royal Mounted Police hats are made here in Garland, ten minutes from my home, at Dorfman Milano. The Chicago branch of the NYSE is relocating to Dallas, not to mention the already expanding financial sector that is coming to Big D. But, when one peels back the onion, Dallas and Dallas County are some of the worst run metroplexes in the country.

Just recently, Truth in Accounting gave Dallas a “D” rating and labeled it a “Sinkhole City.” Here are the facts: Dallas is labeled as such because it lacks the necessary funds to pay its bills. Dallas has a debt burden of $5.9 billion translating into a $14,700 burden upon every taxpayer. The City only has $3.4 billion available to pay $7.1 billion worth of bills. Yet, the Dallas City Council found it prudent to spend $6.1 million on counting trees. Dallas has set aside only 61 cents for every dollar promised in pension benefits, and we all recall the first responder pension crisis. Now, why would you reelect the same people, or their ideological ilk, if you want something different?

The state of safety and security in Dallas is quite troubling, and it is not the fault of the rank and file law enforcement officers. When you have an Interim Police Chief named Michael Igo, who admits that he will not cooperate with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), that is troubling. Especially when you consider that ICE just arrested an illegal immigrant who stabbed a man to death and then set his body ablaze, and he was freely walking the streets of Dallas. As well, we all know about the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, who are freely operating in Dallas, and have been terrorizing the North Dallas community, as well as others. Dallas is also one of the worst cities in America for sex trafficking, something that Tren de Aragua specializes in. So, why would the chief law enforcement officer of Dallas not seek to enforce the law, US statute and code? It is simple: because he is carrying out the will of the Dallas City Council. A city council that fought tooth and nail to not be held accountable to staff the Dallas Police Department at its own specified staffing levels . . . something that a citizen petition called for in a charter amendment.

If there is one thing we should all agree upon, it is a desire to live in a safe and secure community; one that is run fiscally well and efficiently. But, the most dangerous apathy enables these incompetent charlatans to continue in these positions.

When reviewing the last municipal-level elections in the city of Dallas, there were individuals who won city council seats with as little as 800 votes. Basically, they are banking upon you, the subject, the serf, to continue to be apathetic and resort to the excuse, “I did not know there were elections.” Or, “I do not have the time.” This municipal election cycle will begin with early voting on April 22-29, and Election Day is the first Tuesday in May, the 3rd. There really is no excuse. 

The author of the Declaration of Independence and our third President, Thomas Jefferson, stated, “the government you elect is the government you deserve.” He codified in our Declaration of Independence that government exists only by the “consent of the governed.” If you are happy and willing to give your consent to what is happening in Dallas and Dallas County, well, stay in the Matrix world. But, I am challenging you, for the sake of your children and grandchildren, make a stand with your vote. Just think about it: if 250 years ago when Paul Revere rode from Boston to Concord in his night ride, men would have said, “Ahh, it is not my fight?” Or, what about on October 3, 1835, when the Mexican cavalry showed up in Gonzales and demanded their cannon back? I guess they should have said, “Wait, let’s clean it up real good for you, and here it is.” If you truly know the greater history behind the words “Come and Take It,” you know that those words were first uttered in 480 BC by Spartan King Leonidas at the Battle of Thermopylae in the Greek words “Molon Labe,” translated, “Come, take” when the invading Persians demanded that they lay down their weapons.

Texas has a spirit that was exemplified 189 years ago on March 6th, 1836, when 183 crossed a line the day prior realizing their impending death. But they took to heart the words of their Commander, William Barret Travis, that were written in a letter on February 24, 1836, ending with the words “Victory or Death.”

Super Bowl championships, World Series championships, NBA championships, and Stanley Cup championships mean nothing here in Dallas and Dallas County if you are being ruled by ideological buffoons who rely on your dangerous apathy.

Let’s end this cycle and show up for this year’s municipal elections. Precinct Chairs, my challenge is a 25-30 percent turnout!

Steadfast and Loyal.