"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Monday 29 July 2013

Things Are Not Always As They Seem

I think, in time, the blog will become  the great leveller  in society.

We all know about  current  stratas; wealth,  profession, wealth,academe, wealth, address and so on and so forth; all the credentials needed for some to feel superior to others which appears at times to be the greatest need of all.

The  comment  no doubt has  been noted that I do not publish all  I receive.
It's true.
It's not wrong.
I  do discriminate.
I do not publish comments that  call me a snob or a hypocrite.

I've  been writing the blog for six years; since  the second year of the previous term of Council.

At the time, it was the ends justifying the means.

Since then I have slipped into a comfortable routine.

There have always been readers who hate what they see here.

 At first I gave them leeway. Then I thought; how  stupid is that?

If they want uncivil comments  to be read about  my blog, let them write their own.

I do  allow critical comments about politicians.

It's one of the hazards of the occupation.

I think that while it may be uncomfortable, it is also useful for elected representatives to know how people are reacting to decisions  and how they are being made.

It's better than a poll. Questions are not contrived to skew the answers.

It appears  readers think of  this as their own blog .

That applies  to those who  don't like it and complain about not being able to freely express their hostility .

Well it is yours. You are free to say  what you want. As I am free not to publish if I don't want.

But I read your comment before making that decision.

I simply refuse to allow you to accuse me of being a snob and a hypocrite.

I do not have to believe I am something I am not ,to feel good about myself.

I am content to be who I am.

I do not believe a Council that thinks as  a block is an effective  Council. .

The opposite is true.

It is entirely reasonable to expect a nine member Council might reflect several different
perspectives and a deal of work  is required before a reasonable majority can be obtained.

That work should be open and plain for all to see.

Obtaining a majority for the sake of it, by back room deals ,and  slippery , underhanded means is not my idea of good governance.

An appearance  of "unity" is not necessarily a reflection of integrity or  intelligence.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

It sure would be nice to have a fresh clean new project to which all councillors could contribute their strengths. I thought for a wee while it might be a multi-use building on the old Library lands that would include space for kids should they decide to use it. Didn't happen. So, we are back to arguing about what Brock Weir called the possible painting of the Titanic. What a flipping waste of time, money and angst.

Anonymous said...

"It sure would be nice to have a fresh clean new project..."

Yeah, you're right. Hmm, something like the heritage park, for instance.