This letter was forwarded to me and I thought it should be shared. While the events being used as examples are last week's news, the message that underlies the letter is quite timely.
The letter was written by Will Manly, who is a young reporter with the Hays Daily News and The Stir (will@thestironline.com)
Dear Barack: You’re wrong about small towns
Dear Barack Obama:
I grew to like you over the last year. I’ve always thought of you as dangerously naïve at best. Eloquent, gifted, genuine, yes. But dangerously naïve at best.
I couldn’t vote for you – but not because of your funny name or your lunatic pastor. I couldn’t vote for you because you say we should raise taxes (even on the rich, who I’m convinced already pay too much), and because you say we should abandon Iraq (which I’m convinced would be surrendering a war we must win), and because you don’t respect the Second Amendment (which I’m convinced should disqualify any politician from any office).
Still, I’ve liked your message of unity and your ability to inspire. And since your rise I’ve hunted, quite frantically, for young conservative leaders with your talent. (To my relief, I found Bobby Jindal.)
And I’ve said if you beat Hillary Clinton, you will have done your country a tremendous service. But anymore I’m having a harder and harder time rooting for you.
First came your wife’s comment about being proud of America for the first time –conveniently right after you started winning primaries. Then came your own words about your grandmother, who is just a “typical white person”-a racist, or at least someone with racist tendencies. (I’m a “typical white person”, I suppose, and I’m no racist. In fact, little makes me angrier than when it’s insinuated I am.)
Sometimes people say things they don’t really mean. But this is a pattern.
Last week, we heard your comments about small-town America. Someone at a San Francisco fundraiser asked you why it’s so hard for Democrats to win rural areas. You said: “you go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them…So it’s not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them…
Is that a minority? HEY CLETUS, GET THE GUN! (If only we had a job to go to, some time in the last 25 years…)
Here’s a thought: Maybe gun rights voters know gun control laws kill people and steal freedom.
Here’s a thought: Maybe some of us have moral objections to an immigration system that forces rule-followers to wait for decades for legal status, and rewards border violators with amnesty.
Here’s a thought: Maybe some Americans cling to their church because their pastor is a nice person, because they find love there, because there they have something they can believe in.
Here’s a thought: Maybe, just maybe, us simpletons in small towns find it harder to be bigoted than all o’ y’all cityfolk. Maybe, in small towns, where everybody knows your name- and how hard you work, if you pay your taxes, how well you treat your neighbors, how often you volunteer in the community, and whether or not you’re a good parent- people see the content of your character, so they don’t give a hoot about the color of your skin. (But I grew up in a small town where about a third of the population is of a different race then me. What do I know?)
And here’s my favorite thought of all: Maybe small-town folks are – really – capable of thinking all on our own.
You’re wrong about why small-town Americans don’t vote for Democrats.
We don’t vote for Democrats because we’re self-reliant so we don’t like the government trying to “solve” everything for us. And because you tell your rich friends in San Francisco that we’re dumb. And because, each election, whichever one of you is running for president traipses all over the country telling us you have all the answers, that you’re the one on our side, that you understand and respect our way of life.
But each time, a little bit here and there slips out- and by the end of the campaign, we can tell what you think about us. And we manage to learn who you really are.
And we see you’re just a horse’s ass.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Saturday, August 16, 2008
At what point...
At what point in history did Americans decide that self-governance was less important than trying to control others? At what point did common sense and intuition give way to knee jerk decision-making? When did we lose sight of what freedom really is- a wild ride full of unknowns and limitless possibilities, full of risks and personal responsibility?
As a child I don't recall my parents ever taking part in a town meeting. I am sure they did, if something riled them up bad enough, but not as a regular part of their lives. I remember them voting every year and instilling in me the importance of voting, but not once do I recall sitting in a town meeting and watching democracy taking place, so that I would understand my own true obligation in local self-governance- to be an active observer and participant.
I lacked the awareness that I had a personal obligation to myself and my fellow townspeople, and fell into the typical behavior of only showing up at meetings when I had something to complain about, which wasn't very often (mainly because I had no idea of what was going on unless I heard it through the grapevine). The sad part was that, many times, the information that I had heard was fraught with misinformation and personal bias rather than fact. So, occasionally I would show up to give the elected officials my two cents, only to find out that I had bad information or a completely distorted picture.
I try to pay attention to what is being said, ask questions and challenge mindsets, because I really want the truth. I want the opportunity to understand the issues, figure out what the provable facts are, and get some reasonable sense of what the results and consequences of choices will be on all of us -BEFORE we jump off the bridge. Sadly, too many others at these meetings don't seem to be there for the same reasons. They come with the smell of blood in their nostrils and their brains full of misinformation and all the facts in the world are meaningless, because they have already made up their minds and no amount of truth will alter their "reality". They come as mobs, fueled by misinformation and the personal politics of a few, apparently lacking the ability to actively listen and understand the consequences of the choices they are supporting.
A few years back, for a variety of reasons, I became more active in local politics. I didn't grow up in my small town, but moved here 20+ years ago and consider myself a piece of the changing town tapestry. I realized that I had a responsibility to take part in the democratic process, to get a real sense of what self-governance means and to instill in my own children the importance of being part of the solution. I agreed to do my part and have tried to raise the awareness of our politicians and townspeople, so that the decisions being made truly were based on facts, not gossip, innuendo and rumors.
It has been a very difficult couple of years- not because the issues where difficult or insurmountable. The difficulty lies is getting people to understand facts, not rely on gossip, before throwing their support to the 4 winds. To this observer it appears that people are easily whipped into emotional mobs by individuals whose personal politics have their toxic roots buried in personal slights, some stemming from childhood. That, I have learned, is a big problem with all local politics – too often political power is used as a payback tool for personal differences. Too often, political decisions are not based on careful consideration of the real consequences. Once the mobs are stirred, open discussion disintegrates into eye poking and faulty information takes center stage. The important discussions and information that people need to consider about the real issues, are lost in the mess.
The rest of the local residents who want their elected representatives to make sound decisions, not surprisingly, have detached from the political process altogether. What should, ideally, be the exercise of common sense and well thought out decisions devolves into knee jerk decisions made for all the wrong reasons. The results are less than desirable -a look at the state of our government- at all levels- today will confirm that. The sad part is that this dysfunctional process lends itself to all of our elections- local, state and national. People rely on gossip, innuendo and the media for political enlightenment, rather than doing their homework and asking tough questions – to insure our government works for us all, by electing the people really committed to fixing the problems.
2 1/2 years later I realize why our state and federal governments have become what they have. Nothing meaningful will happen in Albany and Washington until the majority of Americans rediscover the importance of taking part in the democratic process locally, actively seek the facts and invest themselves in finding solutions rather than being part of the mindless mob or the clueless masses.
As a child I don't recall my parents ever taking part in a town meeting. I am sure they did, if something riled them up bad enough, but not as a regular part of their lives. I remember them voting every year and instilling in me the importance of voting, but not once do I recall sitting in a town meeting and watching democracy taking place, so that I would understand my own true obligation in local self-governance- to be an active observer and participant.
I lacked the awareness that I had a personal obligation to myself and my fellow townspeople, and fell into the typical behavior of only showing up at meetings when I had something to complain about, which wasn't very often (mainly because I had no idea of what was going on unless I heard it through the grapevine). The sad part was that, many times, the information that I had heard was fraught with misinformation and personal bias rather than fact. So, occasionally I would show up to give the elected officials my two cents, only to find out that I had bad information or a completely distorted picture.
I try to pay attention to what is being said, ask questions and challenge mindsets, because I really want the truth. I want the opportunity to understand the issues, figure out what the provable facts are, and get some reasonable sense of what the results and consequences of choices will be on all of us -BEFORE we jump off the bridge. Sadly, too many others at these meetings don't seem to be there for the same reasons. They come with the smell of blood in their nostrils and their brains full of misinformation and all the facts in the world are meaningless, because they have already made up their minds and no amount of truth will alter their "reality". They come as mobs, fueled by misinformation and the personal politics of a few, apparently lacking the ability to actively listen and understand the consequences of the choices they are supporting.
A few years back, for a variety of reasons, I became more active in local politics. I didn't grow up in my small town, but moved here 20+ years ago and consider myself a piece of the changing town tapestry. I realized that I had a responsibility to take part in the democratic process, to get a real sense of what self-governance means and to instill in my own children the importance of being part of the solution. I agreed to do my part and have tried to raise the awareness of our politicians and townspeople, so that the decisions being made truly were based on facts, not gossip, innuendo and rumors.
It has been a very difficult couple of years- not because the issues where difficult or insurmountable. The difficulty lies is getting people to understand facts, not rely on gossip, before throwing their support to the 4 winds. To this observer it appears that people are easily whipped into emotional mobs by individuals whose personal politics have their toxic roots buried in personal slights, some stemming from childhood. That, I have learned, is a big problem with all local politics – too often political power is used as a payback tool for personal differences. Too often, political decisions are not based on careful consideration of the real consequences. Once the mobs are stirred, open discussion disintegrates into eye poking and faulty information takes center stage. The important discussions and information that people need to consider about the real issues, are lost in the mess.
The rest of the local residents who want their elected representatives to make sound decisions, not surprisingly, have detached from the political process altogether. What should, ideally, be the exercise of common sense and well thought out decisions devolves into knee jerk decisions made for all the wrong reasons. The results are less than desirable -a look at the state of our government- at all levels- today will confirm that. The sad part is that this dysfunctional process lends itself to all of our elections- local, state and national. People rely on gossip, innuendo and the media for political enlightenment, rather than doing their homework and asking tough questions – to insure our government works for us all, by electing the people really committed to fixing the problems.
2 1/2 years later I realize why our state and federal governments have become what they have. Nothing meaningful will happen in Albany and Washington until the majority of Americans rediscover the importance of taking part in the democratic process locally, actively seek the facts and invest themselves in finding solutions rather than being part of the mindless mob or the clueless masses.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Why the Town Clerk's Hours Changed
Most of us do not like change and I'll be the first to admit to that one! However, there are changes all around us, in every aspect of our lives. Seasons change, people change, Town Clerks change and yes....even their hours change. All of these things happen for good and valid reasons.
A few months ago I spoke at a Town Board meeting and voiced my concerns about the Town Clerk hours that had been previously set by the Board for the last several years. I felt there needed to be an increase in the hours during the all important and very busy tax season. January through the end of March is the busiest time of year for the Town Clerk. I felt it was important to increase evening hours as well as day hours during tax collecting time to accommodate the residents of Lindley.
Regular hours for the rest of the year have been shortened for a number of reasons. Again, I realize folks don't like change, but sometimes good reason justifies its need. I took a good, long look at the data, and I mean lots of it! I looked at not only the amount of "revenue" coming in each day for two years time, but also at the number of days when no one, absolutely NO ONE came in, especially on Saturdays. I questioned how much sense it made on hot summer days for the taxpayer to pay for the lights being on, fans running, all to keep me cool. Same thing in November and December—heat turned up because it's cold, lights on, and your tax dollars being spent on keeping me warm while waiting for a customer that never showed up. As a taxpayer myself, it made no sense to me.
During hunting season in August and September, I will be open some Saturdays for licensing. I will advertise the Saturdays that I’ll be open weeks in advance in the news briefs in the Addison Post and the Corning Leader.
I monitored the busiest months and days of the year and the least busiest months and days of the year and developed an hourly schedule that best reflected when I needed to be open to serve the public. I plan to try this for a year and see how it goes. I'm all for cutting costs and serving the public efficiently. I’m sure you'll agree!
Deb Snyder
Lindley Town Clerk
A few months ago I spoke at a Town Board meeting and voiced my concerns about the Town Clerk hours that had been previously set by the Board for the last several years. I felt there needed to be an increase in the hours during the all important and very busy tax season. January through the end of March is the busiest time of year for the Town Clerk. I felt it was important to increase evening hours as well as day hours during tax collecting time to accommodate the residents of Lindley.
Regular hours for the rest of the year have been shortened for a number of reasons. Again, I realize folks don't like change, but sometimes good reason justifies its need. I took a good, long look at the data, and I mean lots of it! I looked at not only the amount of "revenue" coming in each day for two years time, but also at the number of days when no one, absolutely NO ONE came in, especially on Saturdays. I questioned how much sense it made on hot summer days for the taxpayer to pay for the lights being on, fans running, all to keep me cool. Same thing in November and December—heat turned up because it's cold, lights on, and your tax dollars being spent on keeping me warm while waiting for a customer that never showed up. As a taxpayer myself, it made no sense to me.
During hunting season in August and September, I will be open some Saturdays for licensing. I will advertise the Saturdays that I’ll be open weeks in advance in the news briefs in the Addison Post and the Corning Leader.
I monitored the busiest months and days of the year and the least busiest months and days of the year and developed an hourly schedule that best reflected when I needed to be open to serve the public. I plan to try this for a year and see how it goes. I'm all for cutting costs and serving the public efficiently. I’m sure you'll agree!
Deb Snyder
Lindley Town Clerk
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Town Clerk Hours Change
Effective January 2, 2008 The Lindley Town Clerk's Office will hold new business hours.
January 2nd to March 31st
MON: 9 a.m to 2 p.m.
TUES: 1 to 7 p.m.
WED: CLOSED
THURS: 1 to 7 p.m.
FRI: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
SAT: 9 a.m. to Noon
April 1st to December 31st
MON: 9 a.m to 1 p.m.
TUES: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
WED: CLOSED
THUR: 3 to 7 p.m.
FRI: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
SAT: CLOSED
January 2nd to March 31st
MON: 9 a.m to 2 p.m.
TUES: 1 to 7 p.m.
WED: CLOSED
THURS: 1 to 7 p.m.
FRI: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
SAT: 9 a.m. to Noon
April 1st to December 31st
MON: 9 a.m to 1 p.m.
TUES: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
WED: CLOSED
THUR: 3 to 7 p.m.
FRI: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
SAT: CLOSED
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
One Lane Bridge Reconstruction/River Road
Public Information Meeting Invitation
You are invited to participate in a Public Information Meeting for the CR#73 over Tioga River Bridge Reconstruction Project. It will be held on Thusday, December 6, 2007 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Elroy Young Municipal Building located on U.S. 15 in the Town of Lindley, Steuben County, New York. Representatives from the Steuben County Department of Public Works, Fisher Associates (Project Consultants), and the New York State Department of Transportation will be present to accept questions and comments. Aerial photographs and preliminary plans for the project will be available for public viewing.
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