I know, I harp a lot about voting; about the importance of going to the polls to vote your choice in all matters that offer that option. There is nothing more important if you live in a collective society than freedom of choice.
As you move through your day and are confronted with the events taking place not only locally but internationally as well, you can easily see the turmoil taking place in the Arab world where thousands are dying daily for the chance to govern themselves…just to vote.
Although there are no one on streets here with guns and mortar trying to suppress you, know for a fact that there are other ways to do that very thing with out guns and mortar. In this community we have recently experienced the defeat of a measure to allow a waste to energy facility from being built. This was done by opposing the city administration who were hell bent on putting it in regardless of the consequence to the health of the community. It was a prolonged fight that was headed by a group of citizens who would not give up, and in the end we can now all breath more freely now.
Wasteful spending was recently brought to the attention of the citizens living here who support this community through their property taxes. This issue involved painting symbols and stripes onto pavement. This administration awarded a contract to an out of town firm to implement this task rather than having it done locally. They made their argument which in my opinion was concocted to appease the citizenry when in truth we all know differently.
Normally a city council in this town would have checks and balances built into it, there would be more discourse, more for and against, maybe some give and take….but not here, not now. This council is in lockstep which is never good for the voters. When you throw into this mix the current mayor it only exacerbates the situation further. Don’t forget the Fire Department and the Sanitation Department are in the sights of the Beermister, as is the remodeling of his temporary home in City Hall. All of that and more will hit that table soon….and will it be the Globe Gazette who will step up and say enough is enough? You know that answer. It will be expose at the very place you are at now. If I am going to risk watching the next council meeting I have to go back to my doctor and get my nausea medicine prescription re-filled first.
Peter Children
Oh please stop beermeyer fans the humanity of it all. God what a bunch of wimps. My niece can put up a better argument than that. I think you should call your leader and go have drinks and try to come up with a better strategy. I’m sure he will just put it on the taxpayer credit card. Until then this ego freak will continue to give us plenty to comment on.
Wow just wow.How can anyone argue with logic like this.You are right Matt you might not be politically correct but you call them like you see them.WOW
Peter – included in your piece is a reference to the recently downed waste to energy project, which you cast as being promoted with regard to the health of the community. Quite frankly you are wrong on that assessment. That this was defeated because a group of citizens would not give up is also incorrect. It was defeated because participants in the landfill as currently constituted did not want to contribute even trash to a project not in their own communities.
Peter and Matt-It certainly seems you have gotten the attention of the “A” team as the are flooding the blogs with insults trying to discredit you. Let them try. The truth is hard to discredit and they certainly are not smart enough to accomplish it. It is so obvious what they are trying to do. It would be interestin to see the IP addresses they are using. Peter-I don’t always agree with you or necessarily your methods, but you are brining up valid issues. Keep up the good work. Information and opinions are important.
Larry, I am certainly not a member of the “A” team yet I find myself still thinking that Peter and yourself are complete morons. The voters made their decision, and it was in response to the ridiculousness that prevailed at council meetings for years. Get over it!
You are awfully free with the name calling and insults while hiding behind your keyboard. We can expect nothing else from a limited inteligence such as yours. Voters my ass, less that 10% of the people voted and the people who faught to help out the everyday taxpayer just got tired of fighting the idiots that now sit on the council. If the poeple ever heard the facts about what is happening in their city they would run people like you out of town on a rail. That is why NIT is so important. Now go pout in the corner with your drunken boss, you deserve eachother.
Larry, thanks for the kind words. The Mayor and the A-Team have tried for months to destroy NIT. It is only getting more popular, more unique visitors every month. Their plan is futile. I can only chuckle at the insults, they make my day. I love the challenge of debating and bringing truth to NIT readers, all in the hopes that more people vote and stay informed so Mason CIty and North Iowa can be a better place. Thanks again for your support.
Matt ,I DO NOT want to destroy NIT.I just wish the discourse was more civil.Name calling usually means one has lost an argument.I too like the issues you bring up,just not the name calling. I will keep reading and commenting AND calling you, Peter and other bloggers out if they disrespect others.Really Matt ,this is what YOU should be doing.
Reggie, did I say you did? The A-Team does. I call it like I see it. I am not always nice and politically correct. I am blunt sometimes. I do not fear these people as most folks do. They have called me (and others) names, threatened me, and set out to damage my livelihood. I will not be playing nice with people like that. If that bothers you, don’t read NIT.
Lets take these supposed failures one at a time.1)He eliminated the public forum before the meeting that was on TV to stop the grandstanding showboats. Citizens can still talk to the council after the meeting but NOT on TV.2)I don’t know anything about.3)That’s a Mayors prerogative4) The Mayor was trying to save the city money.I think we are the only city our size to have a full time staff. All other small cities use the state’s human rights staff 5) He tried to get jobs to Mason City.Was it the right fit? Time will tell.6)I think Trout did this but if the Mayor is the Puppet Master,like Matt and Peter say, he might be behind it and I don’t know why.7)Nobody in their right mind would give info to NIT after all the name calling and character assassination. 8)I don’t know anything about this but if you say so “Anonymous”
It’s obvious beermeyer is getting more of his cronies and pocket palls to try to talk down his ignorance on this site. So lets get an update on what he has done for the citizens.
One of his first moves to eliminate the public speaking section at the meetings. That backfired.
More than one alleged drunken encounter in public.
Replacing every committe member with his yes men.
The open attack against the human services department.
The ram it down our throats trash project.
Removing Pam Myre because she was asking important questions that effected all citizens.
Refusing to give any information to NIT.
And my favorite of standing within ear shot of him at a public fundraiser only weeks after he was in office and listening to him go into a obnoxious vulgar rant about Nelson and Marsters with more swearing than a drunker sailor.
So keep on writing Matt and Peter were not all fooled and take your best shot beermeyer cronies I welcome the debate.
Matt. Why are you blogging under a assumed name. Can’t get enough material going. Too funny. Someday I will let you know how I knew this was your blog.
WOW if this is true,and I only mean IF,it would give new meaning to the word HYPOCRITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have no idea where people get the idea Mr. Children is a “broken old man”. His point is quite valid, and ironically, mentioned today in my travels by someone else in the community.
People care about where we live. Enough so to take the time to write on subjects that effect the community so much.
Personally, I don’t agree with everything in this Op-Ed, but there again, we are not all going to see eye to eye on everything.
Confused hit it on the head. Put pen to paper if you feel so strongly about something. If not, don’t be upset when only one person is always on these pages.
I think the irony in his writings in general is that he NEVER, ever, will suggest a different option because he too could be wrong. This way PC bats 100%. I applaud those that can and do share their opinions, but offer a solution, make it a complete thought! Share your wealth of knowledge. I think most people have more respect for someone who tried and failed then someone on the sidelines chirping at your mistakes. PC doesnt like the Globe, doesnt like our local leaders… we get it! Offer some solutions!
Same bat time same bat channel. Don’t worry folks if you missed this one. You will get to see the rerun soon enough.
I agree.Dead horse meet Peter wielding a baseball bat.
Peter Peter Peter ,if you are going to insult someone at least do it right.I bet you wanted to write beer meister but maybe beer mister was a Freudian slip because you really do respect the Mayor or maybe just his beer.
No, if more people were paying attention it wouldn’t have to be just Peter writing all the time. Most sit on their duffs and bitch, at least Peter is trying to inform the public.
… with all that infinite wisdom, tell us how he could do it better, make it right, etc etc. Waiting… waiting… still waiting… YAWN…. still waiting…
…diatribe with no suggestive solutions to the issues before us by a bitter old man. I SAID BITTER OLD MAN, OLD MAN! Easy to sit there in judgement of others!!! Much harder to actually offer real world alternatives! I cant wait to hear just ONE that you would have. Afraid of the negative response, the fallout from your own highly probable stupidity?? Double, no triple the nausea medicine, I think we will all need it for your next so called column, Op-ed, etc. I think people would give you a little credit if you had an actual thought of your own!! Until then you are just a broken old man, OLD MAN!
Somebody got off their meds again. Struck a raw nerve must have been a close hit.
… the “nerve” of PC is being smart enough to call someone on something but not having the balls to offer anything of value suggestively in return. It gets tiresome so I decided to have a little fun with this one! It will all be over soon enough and we will move on!
I know, I know. All this constant harping- – – city council, city council it certainly gets old.
Do us all a favor Peter and do not watch the next city council meeting. Save yourself and us the aggravation. TY.
I really do think you should run in the next election. You certainly do think you can do better than any one of them. Go for it.
Peter, if your so good and rightest, why do you not run for council or Mayor?