Michael's Blog

CAVE people -- the pejorative acronym reserved for "Citizens Against Virtually Everything" -- are routinely among the few residents of a community who actually possess enough interest in municipal matters to attend their local city or town council meeting.

Naturally, these so-called CAVE people can be exceptionally vocal when government action - or inaction - sparks their ire. As a result, it's easy for these impassioned folks who genuinely desire good government to be dismissed as the annoying residents who never stop griping.

CAVE people, some say, always bemoan that which they are against and never advocate that which they are for.

A recent CAVE-driven political success story, however, may reflect otherwise.

The level of debate seen across Valparaiso in response to a proposal that would rename a portion of Vale Park Road in honor of President Ronald Reagan was on par with the outrage one would expect if the Popcorn Festival itself had been outlawed.

For numerous reasons that needn't be rehashed again, thousands of residents voiced their objection. Ultimately, Mayor John Costas did the right thing and brought a halt to the controversial proposal.

One must wonder, though, if this outcome would have been realized if a small group of CAVE people had not initially pressed the issue so passionately at City Hall and later on Facebook. The aggressive effort to engage residents about the Vale Park Road dilemma resulted in a dramatically elevated level of public awareness. Consequently, the apparent will of the majority was recognized.

The much larger point, of course, is that by arguing what they were against, Valpo's CAVE people helped expose what the community at large was predominately for - maintaining the name of a street that aptly honors our Vale of Paradise.

Given that local government is where political decisions often exert the greatest impact on our immediate environment, imagine the good that would result from such a vocal, empowered citizenry when matters of more substance than a street name are considered at City Hall. At a time in our country  when elected leaders couldn't possibly be more out of touch with concerns of average folks, perhaps the lesson of our small victory on Vale Park Road will inspire a greater willingness of people - both CAVE and common folk - to get involved, get engaged, and get elected officials back on track.