“The County Fence” is a metaphor for matters that concern all the residents of our county: our policy, governance, and shared infrastructure, land, and services. It’s a place for us to discuss things that are likely to have differing and conflicting viewpoints, and yet need to be discussed in order to arrive at outcomes that take care of all of our residents as best as possible.
A beautiful illustration comes from a parable “Chesterton’s Fence” proposed by GK Chesterton in 1929:
There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, “I don’t see the use of this; let us clear it away.” To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: “If you don’t see the use of it, I certainly won’t let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it.”
This is the kind of thoughtful discussion we are hoping to have at The County Fence. Let’s seek to understand the situation before we propose a solution. Let’s hear the perspectives of the different people who are involved and will be impacted by a change. And let’s make informed decisions that respect people’s rights and property.