Jeff Dreger wrote:this thread is a decent example of why I have generally stayed away... not a very civil debate imho...
Jeff
Let me explain why the Lakewood Observer was constructed, especially The Deck. There
was a time in this city when the discussions were really nasty, cruel,and quite honestly
completely filled with lies, untruths and misrepresentations. It was these discussions that
pointed the way to not just the founders of the Lakewood Observer, but also certainly the
first 100 members who believed the only way to stop not just the vitriol, but even more
importantly at the time, the lies, the mistruths, and the very nasty backroom dealings
of ideas and plans that would have NEVER stood for one minute in the light of day, was
to create a project that not only insisted on real names, but looked at other ways for the
ideas and views of a city to be broadcast to everyone for FREE. That through open discussion
and ownership of words and ideas a city, and the democratic rules of this city would have
a better chance to serve, and educate, while discussing all ideas, thoughts and emotions.
This would not have even been necessary had some very powerful people at the time
not lied and misrepresented their plans and efforts to the residents and businesses
of this community. Again the hope was, invite all into a common ground and at least
there would be a chance to serve a community, not just a select few that either had
power, and/or a phone number and connection to the powerful. That a resident, business,
even school kid could weigh in with their thoughts, ideas and hopefully make ideas and
plans better, and stop the cancer that had divided the city at the time which was a
secret agenda that pitted class against class and preyed on those with no connections.
Simply put EVERYONE had/has one equal seat at a table large enough and strong enough
to fit everyone and serve everyone. In other words a virtual democracy.*
I would ask you to look at the names of the first 100, and those that are still in this city
ask where their ideals and dreams went? I would answer it was not the vitriol and rough
comments that sometimes appear, but that many of their ideas either DO NOT HOLD WATER,
or SERVE SUCH A SMALL GROUP OF SO CALLED POWER BROKERS that they are embarrassed
to even walk into a public discussion they cannot control and grab the talking stick.
Right now we have four pretty serious things going on in this city that desperately need
public debate and full disclosure, but the merchants of these ideas are afraid to stand
in the light and even whisper their plans.
1) Election/Future
2) Safety
3) Schools
4) Housing/Development
As underlined here, a few have been told, "just keep quite say nothing, do not answer
questions and NEVER go to a public forum, and our machine will deliver the votes."
This is not the way Americans would like to pick public officials, but in this city it is
a proven way to win, if all you care about is WIN AT ALL COSTS.
I have to agree it can get a little rough here, but not as rough as other places. After all
I myself and my board have been the target thousands of times, and every time I and
my board have learned, and moved on. Some of the civic leaders that signed on from
day one left not because they were called "pimps of progress" or worse.They left because
for some ungodly reason they could not answer what they did with money, votes, plans,
ideas, etc. These are honest and legitimate questions by people that end up paying the
bill at check out time.
There is massive difference between "civic discourse" what the Observer was built for
and "civil discourse." While one would hope not, the fact is when the discussion changes
from what color to paint a wall, to what school to close, to turning residential into strip
malls, it gets a little more charged, and potentially rougher. So be it, as adults we know,
stick and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt us, or more importantly,
CONSIDER THE SOURCE.(why we use real names)
Finally what always brings a smile to my face is a post like yours,which is actually an
attack against some who post. As you say "In My Honest Opinion..." which is good enough
for me, and should be good enough for all that do not FEAR the public discussion of their
ideas, plans, platforms and projects. Because all that we ask of all that contribute is
that they are willing to take ownership of their ideas, views and HONEST OPINIONS.
SO ALL OF US SHOULD ASK WHAT THE REST ARE HIDING THAT THEY FEAR STEPPING
INTO THE LIGHT AND SHARING THEIR THOUGHTS WITH THE CITY, OR ESPECIALLY THOSE
WILLING TO OWN THEIR COMMENTS EVEN WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING WRONG.
Jeff, thanks for the post, thanks for taking part your comments and thoughts have given
us all food for thought. All of us respect you for taking the time, together hopefully we
make the city, and the discussion better for ALL.
* This is why you do not have to register to read or use the website. You only need
to register if you comment. The Lakewood Observer does not share names and/or
information with anyone else. We do not abuse your mailbox with endless "blasts"
about what award we just gave ourselves, who said what, or taking credit for things
we had nothing to do with. WE RESPECT YOUR TIME AND PERSONAL INFORMATION.
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