Opinion: Dykes Getting Ahead of Himself

Editor's note: Chip Dykes responded to this letter Monday. .

Since they are so fresh, innovative, and inspiring, we in the masses need to look at Chip Dykes’ deep depth and lofty goals (North County Times 6-30-12).  He’s going to ”... solve problems facing Oceanside residents.”  Like for example, the problem of having the equity in our homes gutted?  Unlimited rent hikes for fixed income folk?  Maybe our river and water supply contaminated by a garbage dump?  The menace of having privatized emergency medical care arrive after the coroner has been called?  I, a member of the masses, remind Chip that these problems were not problems until – well, being extremely well informed, he needs no further explanation.

Chip’s already calling himself a “fellow councilmember.”  Getting a bit ahead of himself, he said he has “some disagreements with my fellow councilmen – and women.”  Um, may I remind Chip that we out here in the masses have something to say about that word “fellow.” One doesn’t get to be a “fellow” councilman – or woman - until we out here in the masses give our vote.

And some of us out here in the masses take great exception to Chip’s macho-fueled code against the only woman on the council.  Actually, many of us out here in the masses support her not because she has the courage and principles to resist the bought-and-paid-for minions of profiteers.  We like the way she “incites the masses.”  We are really, really tired of councilguys who ignore us, disregard our voices, disparage our concurrence at the voting booth (cf. E & F), and lecture us about what is good for us as though we were, well, masses that need to be led.

Then again, anyone who casts himself as “leader of the masses” (reminds me of former regimes in middle and eastern Europe) and promotes his candidacy for city council using drill sergeant experience would suppose we need lecturing and the peculiar style of leadership of a drill sergeant.  I mean twenty years in the Corps and raising oneself to the esteemed position of drilling raw recruits?  I have to wonder with all that experience in leading, why the Corps didn’t see fit to make Chip a leader of veterans.  Perhaps veterans aren’t considered part of the masses.

Speaking of experience and preparation, I want to gently remind Chip that many of us out here in the masses do not consider service on the Chamber of Commerce as community service.  It may be service to a particular sector of the community, but hardly considered community service.  I’m guessing this will come as a shock to Chip, but some of us out here actually consider the interests of the Chamber to be adversarial to ours – in the community/masses. 

Returning to Chip’s deep depth and lofty goals, let me quote him,  “Look down the road and see what’s coming and plan for that.”  Gosh darn, I’m just taken away!  Though merely a member of the masses who needs leadership, I have an idea for Mr. Dykes.  Follow your suggestion.  Look down the road and see the masses.  Plan on not being a fellow councilguy.

Mike Croghan is an Oceanside resident.

For more about Dykes, read