Lately it's occurred to me that Astoria has several organizations that run Rogue and do whatever the hell they please because, well, they can.

Here are just two examples (yes, there are many more - just think about it):

A Rogue Chamber of Commerce:

The Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce thinks it's OK to get involved local politics, which is contrary to the charter of any chamber I've ever heard of, and certainly a no-no for U.S. Chamber of Commerce members.

Guess what? They don't belong to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. They don't belong to ANY governing organization, and consequently, do whatever the hell they please, including touting a local politician at a public event.

It's bad enough the chamber board thinks they can get involved this way, but what's really galling is they clearly don't give a rat's ass if their members espouse the same causes. They can't even obey their own bylaws (maybe they've changed them by now, so they can do whatever they want - officially). I'm just one artist who won't be joining any time soon.

The Rogue County Commission (except Dirk Rohne!):

Oh, this is by far the biggest and baddest of the bunch. Since the list of transgressions against the will of the County residents is so long and egregious, I'll just go straight to the most recent topping on the cake:

They let Bradwood Landing run up huge debts that the taxpayers will have to absorb, now that Bradwood has gone belly-up and declared bankruptcy, leaving the commissioners holding the bag. I don't even want to think of all the implications of this, because they make the commissioners look like utter fools, on a good day, and that's about the nicest thing that can be said.

Let's just say the situation smells. No, it's actually a stench of ... well, I'll let you figure that one out.

Anyway, at least there is hope for the rogue County Commission.

Three businesspeople are running for the commission - Scott Lee, Peter Huhtala, and Debra Birkby. I don't think they, or anyone, with even a grain of business sense would have let Bradwood "run a tab." Hell, I think even my 5-year-old granddaughter would have known better.

If Huhtala, Lee and Birkby win, I'm damn near certain I'll be able to take the Clatsop County Commission off my "Rogue" list. And I'd be more than happy to do that.