A Trojan Horse

There are comments from people who believe SB 180 has many benefits. Of course, it offers advantages, which is why it was passed without opposition. However, in the rush to approve it, the negative aspects were overlooked or deliberately ignored. Remember, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Granted, SB 180 offers tangible benefits, but these advantages exist even without the bill. Supporters praise its goal to cut red tape and reduce costs, especially when resilience should take precedence over bureaucracy. What’s missing is the understanding that local governments can and will adapt during crises.

The belief that those good qualities need to be implemented and controlled by state legislation, rather than by local control, is a deliberate submission to authority. What are we supposed to say, “Thank you, sir, may I have another?”

Local planners and officials, who understand the vulnerabilities and needs of their communities best, now face a legal straitjacket just when creativity and responsiveness are most needed. The passage of SB 180 with almost no opposition reflects a troubling confidence in state solutions, but perhaps too much faith. The lesson here: good intentions can become dangerous when they override practical wisdom and accountability. Central planning may streamline processes, but it risks ignoring important context, turning a tool for safety into a blunt instrument that stifles adaptation and resilience.

But peeling back the silver lining reveals a less reassuring truth: people's resolve is weakening. Instead of submitting to the state, we should be standing up for ourselves. We need to reject the lazy attitude of letting the nanny-state make decisions. If you’re not willing to fight for local control, then step aside and let others take care of what needs to be done. That’s how progress happens.