Editorial: The problem of the Common
Dear Neighbor,
Many of us were lucky enough to learn about the “Problem of the Common” in school. Remember? The idea, ostensibly first used in Boston, was that there should be a plot of ground near the animal market, where sheep, goats and cattle might graze while waiting for a sale to occur. The problem arose when a few decided they could graze their sheep on that land every day, whether they were selling or, “just thinking about it.” The Commons quickly became overgrazed and muddy, and the waiting animals again stood in the already crowded streets to await their new owners.
How could the Commons be protected, to be of use to all, instead of succumbing to the greed of a few? Perhaps via enforcement of a rule saying the animals grazed on the Commons must change ownership on that same day? Thus was born one of the first “Regulations” on life in America. (The very first concerned where to poop!) Who would enforce such a rule? What if the previous abuser of the Common happens to be the biggest guy in town? It became another one of those jobs left to the government (because it was already known that all of us can overpower, out-vote and publicly shame the few of us).
“Few” is how many now herd animals afoot into the marketplace; a common grazing area isn’t as important as it once was. But we have other Commons that we hold as a community. It would behoove us to attend to those Commons, as they are under attack. The buildings, furnishings, equipment, records and organization of the federal government are being degraded and discarded. Most of all, the people who recently served the public are being interrupted in their duties and barred from fulfilling their usual activities. For example: after closing most field offices, the Social Security Administration was instructed to discontinue telephone support services. Instead, they should direct those who can’t manage their problem online to travel to one of the remaining field offices. In spite of the greatly reduced capacity at regional field offices, ending telephone support would increase visits to those field offices by as much as 50,000 visits per week. Wait time for an appointment at those offices now exceed one month.
Elon Musk’s goal is to eliminate the ability of the federal government to continue its investigations into his several businesses. He further wants to evade any future requirement that he abide by the regulations that exist to protect the Common. Under the pretext of fighting waste and fraud (still waiting for the receipts, Elon!) Musk has degraded the ability of the federal government to fulfill its mission of service to the American people. Musk has Trump’s backing in his efforts to diminish the government. Whether Trump’s motivations are his own or he acts as the agent of another, his interests are not America’s. He displays his disrespect for the nation we have built, by undermining its credibility and its capacity. Republicans in Congress say DOGE has fired no one, that each department made its own decision to fire all probationary employees — most women, and people of color. Our own representative went on the record, saying anyone who thinks they were wrongly fired should call DOGE. (Although they’re not doing the firing.) OK, Congressman Van Orden, do you have a phone number for Elon Musk? I have a few neighbors that would like to speak with him.
