Another beautiful bright morning. A bit chilly, but still beautiful and bright.
Town Meeting went exactly according to the script. No surprises.
A surprise as you know is when something unexpected happens. Nothing unexpected happened by way of the results.
Motherhood and apple pie still lives. People freely exercised their rights within the constraints that are good government. Something we should all be striving for. Something we all must accept.
Votes are votes folks. The outcome of the same make the realities of life. This is the system under which we live. This Town Meeting. Our representative body has spoken, and we abide by its decisions and move on.
I read the article online in the S-T today. Not quite sure there isn't a boo-boo in it. I thought the motion to have the selectmen appoint the town study committee failed. If it didn't no biggie, and if it did fail, well read on for some thoughts on why it did, and why maybe one or two articles didn't go the way some might have wanted them to.
Truth be told I have to be mellowing in my old age. Either that or a bit of wisdom is actually creeping in.
There is a whole lot more that could have been said on several articles that wasn't.
In the end, everyone needs to know exactly where that line is that you don't cross.
Never cross it when there is nothing to be gained. Be extremely careful even when putting a toe on the line when there is. Once you step on any part of that that line, you are committed and there is seldom if ever an exit strategy.
Sometimes all it takes is one misstatement to swing an entire debate the other way, even if the way the debate was going the right way.
Never present a statement as fact, if in fact it isn't.
Never point out when someone is arguing apples when the issue is oranges unless you believe it is absolutely necessary.
Never take another kick at the can, or something else, simply to prove a point.
Simply never, ever make it personal. It is unavoidable that some may actually think your arguments are personal. It is unavoidable that some may draw certain other conclusions about your arguments.
But believe it or not, that actually works to your benefit. Because when someone gets up a take it to that level in the old tit for tat philosophy, it works to your advantage. Especially on a 2/3 vote.
Most importantly, absolutely never let your argument go into an area where you directly state or even remotely allude to the fact that a decision is yours to make and not anyone other than you to decide. Town Meeting does not like the implication that it should be nothing more than a rubber stamp.
As far as yesterday's meeting, it is in the record book at this point.
One annual down, and two left.
Enjoy the day. Be safe.
I too am under the impression that the motion to amend the article in order to have it read that the select board will appoint the study committee failed, so it remains that the town moderator will do the appointing. Either way, I'm fine with it. Now it's time for margaritas!
ReplyDeleteThe article 11 passed as written in the warrant. The amendment failed overwhelmingly.
ReplyDeleteSome people want members of a committee to reform government, only if they do not serve on any committee or board. No government experience needed I guess. No bias. Yea, that will work. That will somehow ensure we end up with pure, unadulterated government. But first we will need to explain to them how government works…
I think that anyone in WindWise or formerly should be excluded as well. Definitely.
Other Town Meeting Members don’t trust the moderator. Really? You can’t trust the moderator? Wait, we can’t trust the Speaker. Wait we can’t judge his brother. But we should trust her judgment above all others. LOL.
The 1986 Town Meeting created the three member government study committee. One member selected by Selectmen. One member, who would be the chair, selected by the Town Moderator. One member selected by the Finance Committee. I guess Mr. Washko was not aware of the above.
Maybe if we kidnapped 3 people from another state, blindfolded them and brought them to town, where they would be held in a windowless room, not to exit until creating a new town government, then and only then brought back to the place of kidnapping and the person doing the kidnapping is to never come home and never divulge the location of the kidnapping, we could then trust the outcome as pure and untainted.
ReplyDeleteYou're getting extreme and far fetched, now.
DeleteThe lesson to be learned here is a simple one. Those in office must be open, fair, and honest with those they serve. Once any doubt of their character or motives is realized, trust on all levels is lost.