Have you ever noticed that folks who that say they’ve had past lives – those who believe in reincarnation – usually say they were once some famous person? Seems like they were never Joe (or Josephine) Shmuck from a small village in the colony of New York.

Then there are people who think the president they like isn’t corrupt, while the one he replaced was a crook.

If it isn’t the guy they like, he must be a crook. (I say “he” because as of yet, we’ve not had a “she” as president.)

I’m just as guilty of saying the previous politician in any office was better than the one there now. It matters little what political party. They all seem the same now.

So I am trying to look at the good that is happening in our city, county, state and nation. Sometimes that isn’t so easy. Well, that isn’t right. It is very easy.

For example, a recent response to one of my commentaries stated that at least three members of City Council should be investigated because they are obviously corrupt. Please give details as to why you believe this. It isn’t so obvious to me.

All of our City Council members – yes, even TimBen Boydston – are serving us in the best way they know how to serve. If anyone can show proof of how any of them benefited financially from being in office, reveal that to all of us – because I’ve read the election reports on campaign finances and the required financial reports as individuals, and I’ve seen nothing illegal. The various election commissions haven’t, either. Show us the proof, or move along. No conspiracy here.

Another gentleman said he could have negotiated a better deal on the billboards. OK. Go volunteer your skills and services at the next round of negotiations on anything the city does. What the heck, I’ll do the same. Since a lot of the negotiating occurs during the daytime, I’m available. I’m retired, you see. The billboard negotiations took about three years. Does that gentleman have time and money for that? OK, move along. No conspiracy here.

For all of the gripes about the landscaping in the median of Railroad Avenue (formerly called San Fernando Road), it is sure looking good now. And it was accomplished within budget. Move along now. Still no conspiracy here.

Lest we forget the gnashing of teeth and words of the roundabout in Old Town Newhall (formerly called downtown Newhall), which joins Newhall Avenue and Main Street (formerly San Fernando Road, and before that, Spruce, and before that, it was just called “Main” even though it was Spruce). Well, it seems that just about everyone likes it. It works well, and traffic flows a whole bunch better. Move along. No conspiracy here.

We can list all of the good that has happened in our city by the work of councils past and present. It is a long list. There have been a few mistakes. Those have been mostly about trash.

Conspiracy? Backroom deals? Show us the whatever proof you have. Please keep moving along.

Do you remember the proposed development at the junction of the 14 and 5? Our City Council, L.A. County and L.A. City stopped that together. Move along. No conspiracy here.

Most conspiracy theory folks thrive when something happens that isn’t what they wanted to happen. Sort of like some poor sports at any game. “Throw out the umpire” or “Get some glasses, ump,” and “If I can see the strike from here, why can’t you see it behind the plate?” They can call people various names, but heaven forbid if someone tags them with a name they dislike. Well, keep moving along. Still no conspiracy here … or there … or over there.

No matter what, this is what makes us so great as a city, county, state and nation. We yell and argue. We stomp our feet and dig in our heels. We gesture wildly and get red in the face. In the end, we do what we do best. We seek compromise and we move along.

There was no conspiracy here. Just us Americans exercising our rights.

Ain’t that great?

Darryl Manzer grew up in the Pico Canyon oil town of Mentryville in the 1960s and attended Hart High School. After a career in the U.S. Navy he returned to live in the Santa Clarita Valley. He can be reached at dmanzer@scvhistory.com and his commentaries are archived at DManzer.com. Watch his walking tour of Mentryville [here].