The Charter Review Commission published the following in its “findings”: “The Commission finds logically that the ability to make decisions in a group of three is more efficient than with six members.”

For a change, they are exactly correct. Not only is three more “efficient” than six, but two is even more efficient, and for that matter, one is the most efficient of all. It’s called a dictatorship.

The CRC has missed the point entirely. “Efficiency” in decision making is not what we want. We want effectiveness, soundness and fairness to all citizens.

Fewer deliberating council members is naturally more “efficient”, since there are fewer viewpoints, and in reality, if two of the three members have a similar ideology the decision-making process does become a dictatorship with all of its “efficiencies”.

Democracy has always been recognized as being a bit messy, but we accept that characteristic because history has proven the disastrous nature of narrow focused decision making versus broad, inclusive, decision making.

You are in a position to decide what we want for our county. Please reject amendments No. 1, No. 2, No. 3.

Charlie Bodenstab/San Juan Island

– Editor’s note: Charlie Bodenstab is a former member of the Board of Freeholders, which crafted the Home Rule Charter approved by voters in 2005.