Bill Earngey [Order this photo]

The Eureka Chamber of Commerce Attractions and Visitors Guide lists 324 businesses, many of which have two or more business categories, like Lodging and Restaurant.

Keep in mind the Chamber lists only dues-paying members, of whom 116 (36%) live and/or work outside the city limits.

Given these givens, so to speak, the statistics, as listed below*, provide an interesting touchstone of what drives Eureka's economy, and therefore its politics, which includes lobbying various commissions and the City Council, as well as electing political representatives to them.

Also, the statistics show the number of business types that could be in competition with each other, in the sense of having a positive or negative affect on each other, like, at the extremes, the wedding business versus the motorcycle business (both diametrically opposed), and upscale lodging versus B&Bs (both complimentary markets).

The point here is not the Chamber (thanks for the statistics) but the general comparison of its membership, which helps us understand economically who is the dog and who is the dog's tail, and who is wagging which.

Eureka, like most of America, values two concepts: democracy and capitalism. Democracy is a system of government, and capitalism is an economic theory. Not ironically, the two are at odds with each other, and if you don't believe that, check out the cost of gasoline. Who would vote for higher prices?

Eureka is a valuable experience for all of us because we can actually see how democracy and capitalism work together, sort of, and we personally know who's who. When we vote, we know the person, or should.

This year let's try to balance what's good for us, as residents, and good for business. Often, both are the same, but generally there is an accepted principle, recently overlooked, of not stacking commissions and the Council with all writers and no editors.

Politics is all about compromise, trying to reach a consensus despite well-intended, various conflicting opinions.

*The statistics: Shops & Galleries (23), Spas & Massage Services (13), Attractions (46), Hotels & Motels (47), Meetings & Conventions (11), B&Bs (33), Cabins-Cottages-Suites (99), Chapels & Churches (21), and Campgrounds (9).

Bankers, attorneys and real estate agencies, have been omitted because, politically speaking, they have too many varied and entangled conflicts of interest.