I am looking forward to September 10th for a number of reasons. Yes the obvious reason is the election will be over.
I am looking forward to hopefully being wrong about the turnout. Completely wrong in fact. My guesstimate meter is hovering at around 17%. Despite indications the needle is stuck in the wrong place, I too will stick at that number. The history of these types of elections. The low volume of the buzz on the street, and the nature of the buzz and the fact that apathy runs rampant in the electoral process does not provide a reason to get out the W-40 to unstuck that needle at this point.
Yet the uniqueness behind the reasons for the election, along with the persistent nature of the buzz by both sides, does provide potential for the unexpected.
Call me an optimistic pessimist though, as while I see hopeful signs for a larger than expected turnout, I can't see it realistically happening. Would be glad to be wrong, but am figuring anything within 3% either way makes me right.
But besides the election being over, other reasons for that date will include getting down to the other middling details that need to be dealt with in town. The never ending budget process. Projections. Maybe even this year an administration game plan.
The talk about money which everyone seems quick to label as the evil that fuels the engine that runs government. In some ways it is hard to disagree with that description. Yet money is at all times the necessary evil that does in fact make things run.
Before I wander too far off on that, I will stop it there and save more for another day.
I suppose part of the point here is the simple fact that come September 10th, the Town of Fairhaven will still exist. It must still run. How it runs and who will be involved in specific aspects will certainly be influenced by the outcome of the vote, but run it will; and, it will run in accordance with the decision of the voters.
That is what I suppose I am truly looking forward to. A decision. Hopefully one that is challenge proof.
No matter the winner, the Town continues to exist.
Some will not like the outcome. Some will rant about it.
The intelligence and the concern of those who vote and don't vote will be called into question, lambasted, vilified and and a host of other things. That will certainly happen no matter who the winner is.
Maybe despite some indications to the contrary I am a bit to complacent with the entire democratic process. I am willing to live with the outcome of elections. Life goes on in a democracy. Sometimes not as smoothly as we as individuals may like; sometimes not along the path we as individuals may want.
There has been so much rhetoric lately about majority rule and minority rights. I am not going to get into a dissertation of majority rule versus the protection of the rights of the minority.
Jefferson summed it up as good as it gets.
“All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will, to be rightful, must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal laws must protect, and to violate which would be oppression.”
The argument today on that subject seems to be in totality a complete perversion of the concept of the founders of our government, by both sides of the argument. The crux of the matter seems to be the inability of both sides on any issue to define reasonable.
Of course part of that problem is the fact what the founders considered a reasonable action is certainly not what people today seem to consider reasonable.
Being as smart as they were however the founders understood that potential of the reasonable problem and thus why we were left with three separate but equal branches of government. Expounding upon that civic lesson is a matter for some other day perhaps.
Moving on ...
It seems that the Government Study Committee is down another member. Looks like the two alternates, one of which has been appointed "full" members, will both have that status. Hopefully the remaining seven can stay with it. This is an important committee. Long term ramifications make it the most important one in town right now.
I know that has been said that before, but it is that important in my mind to keep repeating.
What else ...
Actually, enough for today.
Be safe.
I agree it happens, that the intelligence of those who vote and those who don't vote will be called into question.... Wouldn't it be great if after an election was over, everyone accepted the result without question and life went on?
ReplyDeleteBut suppose they did? It wouldn't be the end of the political turmoil, because not all of the elected govern with fairness to all.
The decision to make the block of Adams Street between Rte. 6 and Bridge Street 'no parking' on both sides was done without being an agenda item or public hearing. Three days after the meeting, the signs are already in place.
Who can predict what we'll find in our own neighborhoods when we wake up some morning?
It's just another Friday and we are all looking forward to the September 9 Board of Health election.Let's all hope we don't hear another excuse from local officials about the April election mistakes.It's time to concentrate on the election and may the best candidate win.
ReplyDeleteWe do need to talk about money as the evil that fuels the engine that runs government. Fuel is actually the big news on the SouthCoast today and not so much the renewable energy story. But are they tied together in any manner ?
There is a loud buzz on the street about the fuel spill in New Bedford Harbor yesterday and an ongoing investigation by state and federal authorities.
New Bedford Harbor averages around ten oil spills every year. Yesterday we saw two oil spills of equal amounts of bright red number two oil. The two spills took place near the Rte 6 bridge. Both oil spills were reported around 7 AM . An environmental group just happened to be marching over the bridge yesterday morning on its way to protest fossil fuels. What are the odds on this many coincidences ?
It sounds like conspiracy theory madness about the timing of events yesterday and the visit to the Fairhaven wind turbines. Any investigation results or findings in the next week or so could throw a wrench into the Fairhaven Board of Health election. Let's hope no one has done anything foolish.
My understanding is there was a spill of fuel oil on the New Bedford side of the harbor and a bilge discharge froma boat/ship on the Fairhaven side. Unless there is info other than appearing in the S-T story on happened (New Bedford side)as was discovered at around 7:30 a.m. and the other was discovered/reported at around noontime. the earleir one was estimated at up to 200 gallons. The other, apparent bilge discharge was deemed non recoverable and no estimate given.
ReplyDeleteSo if you have other info please share it because your "report" appears to be factually incorrect on numerous points.
But as to your theory, are we now suppose to believe that someone is intentionally dumping oil into the harbor, on opposite sides at two separate sites to garner support for the turbines?
I came very close to not posting your comment but I did simply because I have to ask: Are you really being serious about this?
There are far too many coincidences going on in Fairhaven.
ReplyDeleteRecently in a news article the day before the Board of Health debate the Fairhaven Town Clerk offered another excuse about the April election failures "save the poll workers time because they were tired."
A Superior Court Judge long ago said the Fairhaven election was a public disgrace.
Why now is the Fairhaven Town Clerk offering excuses for a failed election that was a public disgrace the day before the Board of Health election ?
Well I suppose the answer to your question of "why now" is found in your comment. There was a story in the newspaper. I am pretty sure it is a safe guess that the town clerk didn't contact the paper and ask if it could put an article on page two so she could explain things.
ReplyDeleteBetween this comment and the one on the oil spill it sounds like some are all ready trying to find reasons for why they didn't win.
I always thought my imagination was a bit overactive in the political spectrum. Seems like I must be extremely dull witted because I am seeing scenarios drawn up by others I haven't even come close to imagining.