The Observation Deck

As a retired HS English teacher, I've always been enthralled by Greek tragedy. One of its key elements was that most of the key characters had an essential "hamartia"

"The term hamartia derives from the Greek ἁμαρτία, from ἁμαρτάνειν hamartánein, which means “to miss the mark” or “to err”. It is most often associated with Greek tragedy, although it is also used in Christian theology. Hamartia as it pertains to dramatic literature was first used by Aristotle in his Poetics" - Wikipedia

Usually this tragic flaw was "hubris" or inordinate pride but if you think about it, not telling the truth, either to others or oneself was tied in with pride. We as a country and a community are inundated by lies, some by omission, others by commission.

This lies at the heart of our distrust of law enforcement - some cannot be trusted to tell the truth. Politics has as its engine the driving force of disinformation, just another euphemism for lying. It seems that in order to participate in politics, one has to either be a passionately false sycophant or just plain false.

The Biblical commandment: "Thou shalt not bear false witness" is essentially a sanction against lying and is at its core articulated in some degree with the other remaining nine commandments. Excessive lying will usually lead to another element of Greek tragedy and that is "peripetia" (a sudden reversal of fortune or change in circumstances). Have you heard the phrase, "Oh! how the mighty have fallen?"

They (the mighty) may not see their fall in the present but it will surely happen in their future. Another connection I see and I was overwhelmed by it when I was a NYC photojournalist covering Bronx politics, is how the Biblical admonition, "The love of money is the root of all evil." Surely lying and money are bedfellows and not strange ones either. Actually they make for very good companions.

Is this what is happening in Lakewood? I haven't been here long enough (only 6 months) to have any personal experiences to speak of but I sure have heard a LOT of second hand accounts.

If you're reading this and you are a member/participant in Lakewood politics, do yourself a favor.

Don't be a tragic Greek figure.

"You cannot serve two masters: God and money. For you will hate one and love the other, or else the other way around."

“If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only kidding yourself. You are really not that important.”

When politicians intentionally withhold information from the public that is true, then they are being untruthful.

Mayor Summers and Council President Madigan have been actively withholding information concerning their plan to divert hospital money that is currently used to help our most vulnerable citizens and instead use it to support the still mostly secret plans of the Recreation Task Force headed by their friend Jay Foran.

Certain LHA Trustees, including Mayor Summers, have stated if the hospital money is not ultimately used for the Recreation Task Force purposes, then the LOI/Master Agreement to demolish Lakewood Hospital will be a complete failure. Mayor Summers has characterized his plan as "risky." I agree.

So Alex, you are wise and ask thoughtful questions. My answer is that politicians in Lakewood are being untruthful as they withhold information from us about what they really want to do with our community money. Their love or coveting of money that does not belong to them may motivate them and it may also be simply pride. They apparently view themselves as too important to help the people in need, i.e. those they have sworn duties to protect. They are not really that important.

Hubris has definitely set in at City Hall.

The previous Mayor was delusional enough to run for Governor, naively believing that the GOP attack machine wouldn't discover his lack of a drivers' license.
He simply believed that he was "special" and could get away with it.
His previous smooth climb up the political ladder made him think he was bulletproof.

Likewise, the current administration thought noone would question this disastrous Hospital proposal.
They assumed that everyone would blindly follow their lead and buy the lame "nature of healthcare is changing" mantra.
Unchallenged in the last election, this Mayor lost touch with the voters.
One only needs to count the "Save Lakewood Hospital" yard signs to see how wrong he was.
(if you're wondering, there are 600 yard signss out, and more are coming....we can't keep them in stock!)

Hopefully a new broom will sweep clean in November.