JWC approach: Local, local, local

It was a Friday in June 2022. A big national story — really big — had broken and caught everyone’s attention.

The blog was in its first full year of operation. I was still trying to figure out what’s what. I saw the big story and was about to share it, when something stopped me.

I had to take a serious moment and think. Did I really want to start a conversation on an issue we don’t control?

---

Decided against it. Instead, I posted today’s photo of the headless dinosaur near Istachatta and suggested we all have a pleasant day.

Several readers noticed. Some weren’t happy and they let me know. I posted this note to readers a few days later:

“Don’t mean to interrupt your Sunday, but something I want to mention before the work week starts.

I caught some grief from folks on Friday because I didn’t post about the big national story of the day. One person said he was ‘ashamed’ of me for ignoring it.

OK, so let’s talk about that for a quick moment.

I didn’t miss the news. I know what happened. And damn right I have opinions about it. But those are my thoughts from afar and they belong on my own personal page, if I decide to share them.

Just Wright Citrus is not for that. This is a place where we discuss issues specific to Citrus County. It’s all local. There are plenty of social media sites where one can rant and rail about anything, but the only ranting we do here is about things we can see, touch and experience as a community.

This really boils down to 2 things:

• What makes the Just Wright Citrus relationship work is your trust that I (usually) know what I’m talking about. That comes from 35 years of experience and insight into Citrus County politics. I have zero experience and insight on nearly every single national issue, no matter how volatile. All I’d be doing is adding noise.
• The REAL reason let’s be honest, that folks wanted me to post something Friday was so that THEY could spout off. Someone can’t just willy-nilly say anything random on my blog. I have to supply the forum with a post, and then folks can comment. Don’t think I’m unaware of that. I’ve deleted comments that are off topic.

Look. I realize that abortion, gun laws, gay rights, Jan. 6 insurrection, gas prices, war in Ukraine, etc. get everyone riled up. Gets me riled too. But not here.

I’m not saying it’ll never happen, but my mission is Citrus County. Instinct says to stay in my lane.”

That was then. It’s truer now more than ever.

The noise is deafening beyond our Citrus County region. Every day, breaking news. Tariffs, firings, and Ukraine. Twenty-four hours isn’t enough to contain today’s news cycle. It’s insane.

Boy, do I have opinions. And I’d love to show how smart and insightful I am about national politics. But that’s a waste of breath. Cuz there isn’t a damn thing I can do about any of that.

I had a Cattle Dog chat with someone Thursday who asked the aim behind One for All. One goal, I said, was to avoid Citrus County becoming like everyplace else. That’s why “American Freedom Canal” riled me so much. Can we possibly avoid bandwagon jumping?

We have plenty on our plates. Taxes, growth, pushy developers, traffic nightmares, affordable places to live, a safety net for our needy, making sure our kids are educated — that’s just off the top of my head. Everyone I speak with has opinions about Citrus County and those opinions are getting stronger. That’s a good thing. Means folks are tapped into their surroundings.

It’s just too easy to get distracted. We need to stay on point. Don’t look to Just Wright Citrus for a deep dive on tariffs.

Nope, we’ll continue our focus on Citrus County and our immediate surroundings. I’m not discounting the significance of national and state news. I’m simply saying this blog isn’t the place to debate it.

Have a tremendous Citrus County weekend, friends.

​Join the discussion on our Facebook page.
​
Enjoying the blog? Please consider supporting it at Venmo, PayPal, or Patreon.