The fact that we are having this debate about the effects of Measure 37 is testament to fact that our tendency to overlook individual interests in favor of a common good are in critical danger.

Danger from people such as Lars Larson, who never met a developer he didn’t like and would gladly vote to abandon the Urban Growth Boundary and Luis Palau, most of whose followers believe that the land and its natural beauty are there to be mastered.

Add to that an army of grouchy suburban sourpusses, who view themselves as having worked hard all their lives, and don’t want government restricting the business strategies available to them to make money on their investment. Some give up and move to Clark County. Good riddance yes, but too many of these folks are still around.

Sensing this shift, phalanxes of suburban developers and realtors who once bit their lip and worked within our growth management system, now see an opportunity to loosen those strictures in the service of mammon.