This may surprise many of you, but I am not a huge fan of fireworks.

But I am a huge fan of this country and our rights people have fought and died for.

I don’t like the big booms that shake my house. I don’t like picking up litter in my yard. But to me it is a small sacrifice to pay one day a year to allow people to celebrate our country’s freedoms. To me it comes down to independence or inconvenience.

Many of you are probably tired of me writing about fireworks. Aren’t there more-important issues to write about?

Yes there are. Drugs are a huge problem here. And we just wrote about how hard it is to prosecute those cases. But drugs are a big problem almost everywhere. That and other problems such as homelessness, mental illness, dropouts and so many more are issues nationwide that obviously will be hard to solve.

But fireworks is an issue we can solve at the local level by working together. This isn’t Democrats vs. Republicans at a loggerhead at the federal level. It isn’t the legislature trying to figure out funding for schools at the state level.

This is neighbor working with and respecting neighbor. It doesn’t have to be my way or the highway. The great thing about our form of government is that everyone can have a say and compromises can be made.

It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

Supporters of a ban say they won a recent vote 60 percent to 40 percent. But that was supposed to be advisory only. If it was going to be binding the city should have been upfront about that.

Many people didn’t take it seriously because it was “advisory.” There probably would have been a larger turnout and closer vote if the measure was binding.

Also, that vote only gave two options-a ban or not. Why aren’t other choices being discussed?

Everyone for a ban has one reason or another why they want one. But they may back off if those reasons were addressed in a new law.

Such as:

•Limit more the types of fireworks.

•Limit more the hours they can be set off.

•Limit more when fireworks can be sold.

Government should limit things and pass laws to keep us safe. But there is no pressing reason to ban fireworks now.

Actually, this community did an amazing job last Fourth of July. There was a real danger because of the hot, dry weather, and yet problems associated with fireworks were lower than they have been in years.

Government is supposed to be of the people, for the people, by the people. It needs to be responsive to all citizens-not just the majority. So often government looks out for the minority opinion, respects it and sometimes applauds it. But that is not happening so far when it comes to fireworks.

It is frustrating to not have a voice at the federal level. It’s a little better, but not much, at the state level. But the local level is where citizens still have a voice and can fight City Hall.

I urge all of you not to look at fireworks only as a ban-or-not issue. Think out the box and work together to come up with a solution that everyone can live with. And attend Monday’s meeting at 7 p.m. to voice support for a compromise.

Steve Powell is the managing editor of The Marysville Globe-The Arlington Times.