The Observation Deck

Pam Smith spoke at City Council and read a letter which purported to be "signed" by more than 100 people. The names were typed, not signed. That letter has now been published in the Observer under the title "I Can Speak For Myself." Its seems from Jim O'Bryan's post yesterday and some a few weeks back that some folks claim they really didn't "sign" her letter. If so, Ms. Smith may speak for herself, but she is also speaking for people she does not speak for.

I "triple dog dare" Ms. Smith to post the actual signatures of those she claims to speak for. Please prove me wrong.

As I will explain in an upcoming post, I fear that Ms. Smith and her supporters have fallen prey to the Clinic's calculated plan to divide and conquer our City. The Clinic has read them like a book and is playing them for fools---dangling a carrot, "a significant parcel of real estate" pandering to their longstanding goal of "economic development" as any cost. This is textbook strategy staright from the "Idiots Guide to How Hospital Systems Demolish Community Hospitals"

Who are the people claiming their names were appropriated? Can someone contact them and get details and verify this story because if it is true, and I do not doubt it, it needs to be publicized.

Most likely, these people are in a bind - going against their peer group can be very difficult. There is a groupthink mentality there where they believe all of their friends and associates are in this with them and they arrogantly assume they can appropriate their names at will.

I also question why this group thinks their 100 signatures are somehow more important or legitimate or bear more weight in this matter than the thousands of signatures presented by the Save Lakewood group. Are these 100 people more important, smarter, richer? This is, to me, another example of how arrogant this group is - forget those thousands of average citizens, WE know better than they do. It's so alarming.

Bridget Conant wrote:Who are the people claiming their names were appropriated? Can someone contact them and get details and verify this story because if it is true, and I do not doubt it, it needs to be publicized.

Most likely, these people are in a bind - going against their peer group can be very difficult. There is a groupthink mentality there where they believe all of their friends and associates are in this with them and they arrogantly assume they can appropriate their names at will.

I also question why this group thinks their 100 signatures are somehow more important or legitimate or bear more weight in this matter than the thousands of signatures presented by the Save Lakewood group. Are these 100 people more important, smarter, richer? This is, to me, another example of how arrogant this group is - forget those thousands of average citizens, WE know better than they do. It's so alarming.

I can't speak for whether the people who offered their signature feel they are better than others or not but I do wonder if other backlash could be coming due to the exposure. (I do understand that those who willingly signed the paper must have known that their names could be exposed.)

If it is the case - I would also like to see the names that should be retracted or removed, sooner than later for their own sake.

I noticed many of the names are owners or affiliated with private businesses in and around town. I wonder how placing the list of signatures in the paper will affect their business(es). I wonder if this has escalated publically further then the people who signed on had imagined or expected.

Corey

Corey

You know, in Lakewood sometimes you can get two different answers from the same
person within seconds of asking them.

The three I have are all very clear about not wanting to be on the list.

From there it gets fuzzy, one hates the idea of the hospital closing, but is part of the
group, so obviously someone thought she would want to be...

It is like Dave Slife, he never signs a list, but openly had talked of support for Mike Summers.

Someone else made the quantum leap.

Personally I gives list very little weight, look at the names. By the time you match up
husbands and wives, kids, and then draw lines to friends of... Only 10 names have no
lines that I can see, but I didn't know them easy.

It was shocked to read that Jay Foran signed.

I might have to reconsider.

.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Corey

You know, in Lakewood sometimes you can get two different answers from the same
person within seconds of asking them.

The three I have are all very clear about not wanting to be on the list.

From there it gets fuzzy, one hates the idea of the hospital closing, but is part of the
group, so obviously someone thought she would want to be...

It is like Dave Slife, he never signs a list, but openly had talked of support for Mike Summers.

Someone else made the quantum leap.

Personally I gives list very little weight, look at the names. By the time you match up
husbands and wives, kids, and then draw lines to friends of... Only 10 names have no
lines that I can see, but I didn't know them easy.

It was shocked to read that Jay Foran signed.

I might have to reconsider.

.

Agreed about the light weight of a list.

My first take on the list was that it was passed around at a meeting or group and/or family members.

I also know that friends will sign friend's lists without thought or consideration of consequences.

Aside - I do think it is good for the community to have parties on both sides of this fence. It helps fill in the informational gaps, on both sides.