(Op-ed by Peter Children)
We fit that discripition; we live in a community with all the accoutrements that belong in such settings. Schools, hospital, college, various stores to fill our needs. But we do not have harmony in our ideologies; we do not agree very often on the best way or the best direction for this city we live in. Most of this contention centers on the council table where half of a six member panel cannot think for themselves. This baffles me to no end.
Three of these council people vote together on whatever the mayor wants…makes no difference if he wants it, they vote in favor of it. What is that all about? You’d think after awhile they would be embarrassed, I mean the citizens who elected them did not expect this puppet like behavior. What are they going to say come re-election time, if they are brave enough to run again, are they going to say; “I did everything the mayor wanted, I know I did not pay attention to you but after I got in office you were no longer important.” Is that what they will say? The mystery of it all is what they are after; there is nothing to steal, the chairs are all counted I imagine and the tables are too big to get in your car so what is it?
Weaver seems to be the main target, the one with the sign on his back, but he is the only one it seems that is on top of everything from dying apple trees to gasification plants and everything in between. You have to admit that there is quite a gap between a dying apple tree and a proposed $35,000,000.00 burning facility….but Weaver gives them all the same attention And when he gets into it he does not stop, before he is through he will know everything there is to know as these gasification people will soon find out. A lot of his critics say he is against jobs and wants to stop progress, but if you or you child ends up with lung cancer from fumes, you will quickly think differently.
As to other matters such as Sandy Servantez and her quest for the council. I have never seen such venomous rhetoric directed toward a young housewife who volunteers for HRC and lives her life well within the boundaries of decency. Just what is it, what drives this sort of behavior? We are all fortunate to have a news outlet like this in our community, one that offers a more frank and unbiased view of life around us. The local paper won’t print anything unless you give full disclosure of your name and address, but here you can speak your mind without that….and that anonymity allows people to often go on the attack and spew forth bile. If you cannot state something factual, something that can be proven; then move on to something else. For example; When the mayor gets wacked at the Country Club and or other drinking establishments, I often mention it just to remind all of you that this behavior shows not only poor judgement but a deep lack of self esteem. That is an example of factual reporting. The Globe-Gazette would never in your lifetime print that.
The Globe is selective in what they report, let me offer yet another example; a while back a local area elected official’s son was drunk, stole a car and drove it into the ditch. Of course the police were involved, but the young man was not arrested and no story ever appeared in the paper. Chances are if it had been your son, the outcome would have been much different. Do I know who the official is? Of course I do.
If you just signed your real name to your blog you would sleep better, your appetite will improve and your car would probably run better as well. If you tell the truth there is really no reason to hide. You should never be afraid to voice your opinion in a free country, people will respect you for it. Criticism comes mostly from those who do not agree with you or want to degrade you for revealing the truth in hopes their negative response will defuse what you have stated. That does not work.
Remember to vote, but do not vote for a yard sign, or a billboard or a television ad or some paid advertisement that appears in the paper. Vote for the person you feel would be an independent thinker not aligned to the three yes votes that are already in the mayors pocket. Remember if you want your voice heard, then vote.
Peter Children
