The modern trend toward the familiar use of a first name and the grandiose description of municipal officials as visionaries combines to produce unintentionally funny results.
An example is when a member of our Common Council, without irony, can describe our city manager’s plan for Whitewater, Wisconsin as the “…vision of Kevin.”
The combination of the supposed power of vision and the first-name basis description of a municipal manager make the designation more, not less, odd and ridiculous.
Why does every municipal official in America insist on proclaiming a vision? I am sure that Edison, Marie Curie, and Salk were visionaries. I am less confident that the designation or ability resides in the thousands of municipal officials across America.
It’s an intoxicating designation, though, that belies a self-effacing manner.
Imagine going to work each day as town visionary – that’s something comforting and believable only to the foolish.