Wednesday's something or other

Looking forward.

Who is running for what in April?  It is only the end of October you might say. True, but never too early to get a start on, right?

Truth be told, what appeared like a potentially heated local campaign season, now has the earmarks of a rather dull one.  

While the time span might still be a bit long for the cracked crystal ball, the tea leaves are always swirling.  The incumbent selectman held his first fund raiser last night.  Despite all the soft chatter out there, I am not hearing even whispers of any serious candidate looking take on the challenge.

Truth be told, again, one would be hard pressed to mount such a campaign. 

If you read this blog regularly, you are aware of the points raised regarding the present board.  A very large part of the problem of this present board is I think due to inexperience.  Two of the three members are presently in their first terms.

Like it or not, like any other "job" there is a certain learning curve. Eventually that little scenario plays itself out.  The point is reached eventually where you can either make the curve or not.  Not quite there yet.

At this point specific point in time let me note that this is not, I repeat is not, any cry to recycle any past selectman, myself very much included in that.

Indeed, with the TA concept on the cusp of becoming reality, hopefully at the December 9th STM, one could argue a board that a majority still on the learning curve might very well be a good thing.

We are going to be heading into a period where flexing muscle is going to happen.  Turf wars will flare up a bit. Battles of will, points of view, goals.

You might say nothing new, except for the fact that what we experience presently and have so experienced in the past have been geared really toward specific issues, while the ones yet to be fought are going to be over direction and consolidation of control.

The most interesting and in some ways significant of those little confrontations will in fact occur in April on the first Monday of the month, It won't involve the election of any individual, but it will involve the casting of ballots.  

But I do digress somewhat.  My point is I don't see anyone coming out of the woodwork who could muster the support and have the appeal, along with the background, organization and likability to unseat the incumbent.

Keep in mind this is tea leaf reading and not a view from the crystal ball.  There is a difference.  That and the time factor could change all within a heart beat.

Anyway ... enough on that.

Midterms are on week away.  From a purely observational point, you have to love the fact that people in one state steadfastly believe they understand what is needed by people in another state.  I get Dems support Dems and Repubs support Repubs.  But seriously, if you don't live in Iowa, how do you know what people in Iowa want?

It may be that in 2012 there were more total votes cast for Democrats than Republicans in all the congressional races.  The fact of the matter is so what?  That isn't how a representative government works.  Neither is it hard to figure out why urban votes tend to go left and suburban and rural right.

Even in blue Massachusetts that trend exists.

So what is the point on this?

What happens after next Tuesday is the point.  I doubt any of us are in the mood for any deep discussion on that point right now.

Anyway ...

This should be a time of great anticipation for our town.  A period of great expectations.  Instead, if you speak with people and there are willing to speak with you, there is more than a little trepidation about what the future holds. 

Some of it justified, some of it not.  Nothing different than what we as individuals may experience and feel about change.

It will take time for us, as citizens and as a town, to adjust to the change from a system of semi-autonomous fiefdoms under a loose confederation to adjust to a true centralized government. It will take time for some to understand that the stick they wield has been cropped, and for some others to realize that they are going to actually have to do a whole lot more on their own.

As each day passes I look back on the days that are gone.  Stealing the lyric line "I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then" weighs heavy.  

You reflect. You begin to understand that a different move, a different decision 5, 10, 15 even twenty years ago could have meant an entirely different course.  You at times kick yourself.

Truth be told, if there is one mistake I regret most in 20 years of service, it is a mistake of omission. What we are about to do, implementing the TA, should have been pushed, prodded, fought for at least 15 years ago.

Yes I realize I am not a blind supporter of the present act, but it is what was voted on. It is a step in the right direction and it can work out.  Simple fact of the matter is many communities end up tweaking their first stab at it, so will we.  So eventually we will get to taking care of the 10% that isn't quite there.

What we need now however is focus and commitment.  We have to resist the temptation to cast to wide a net to cover everything.  Keep in mind that the TA doesn't even exist at this point, so any changes to the concept of what will be have to be looked at extremely carefully. 

Don't get me wrong.  I am not opposed to certain tinkering.  Even with Fin Com.  As I have said, going forward, I really have no dog in that show.  Put out a proposal.  

In the end, the makeup of that committee, as with any committee will be dependent up the membership. I have heard numbers from 5 to 9 to the present max. of 13.  Its all good.  Moderator appointment, selectmen appointment, special committee for appointment.  All good.

Truth be told, conceptually some systems are superior to others. Reality soon enough shows that it isn't the concept that makes anything work, it is the people.  We see that in all levels of government.

In the end, it is we the people who make a system great or mediocre. 

Periodically, and probably not often enough, we take a look at the rule book for the game.  We revise it hopefully for the better.  Where we often get into problems stems not so much from the rules, but the often failure to apply those rules consistently and really to a certain degree fairly.

But as oft said, it is what it is.  What it is, and not just under the microscope here either,  is a big part of the contributing factor of apathy.

Anyway ...

Enough rambling for now.

Be safe.