Post your response to the LO 5 17 Council Candidate Guide!!

[Jim DeVito]

Please post your response to the Council Candidate Guide, That can be found in the latest issue of the Lakewood Observer.

[Jim DeVito]

Edward M.
McCartney

you are a maniac.. a homophobe.. a racist.. and will never be on city council.. as long as I live in this city...

Please Click Here To View Picture

The above picture is my response. It is about how seriously I take Mr McCarthy.

[Grace O'Malley]

Why bother with the hyperbole and mockery? Any rational person can quickly and clearly discern that the man is not all there. Making fun of him seems not quite right to me and reading his words and what has been written here about him is about as pleasant as watching an accident scene.

[Colleen Wing]

My "You lost me at Leviticus" t-shirts will be on sale soon

I held my breath when I check his registration but he is an Independent . I know he called and asked me those types of questions when I can for council.
He does attend all the council meetings. Hopefully this will help voters be informed of their ballots.

Even more reason for a pre-primary forum.

[Jim DeVito]

Why bother with the hyperbole and mockery? Any rational person can quickly and clearly discern that the man is not all there. Making fun of him seems not quite right to me and reading his words and what has been written here about him is about as pleasant as watching an accident scene.

Grace, It is not mockery. It is a statement that people like him deserver to not be taken seriously. Does he have a right to think and say those things? Sure does. Does he even have to have that nonsense published? Again, he does. However, we need to keep the context in mind, he is after all running for a public office. That kind of bigoted drivel has no place in government.

Now be fair, the best way of dealing with these people is to simply ignore them and let their own words speak for themselves. Is that the higher road?

[sharon kinsella]

I get tired of listening to him blithering. One of these days I'm just going to tell him to shut up.

[Missy Limkemann]

I have not personally met the man, but I have been to many council meetings so I do know of him. I will say that I normally don't pay attention to what people are saying (yeah I said it...LOL) I do however give anyone points when they can stand up for what they believe in. No matter what you personally think of his beliefs, you have to give points for him speaking them. I think we do need more people who can do that. There are many times that I just sit around, bite my tongue and never say a word. I wish I was strong enough to not be that way.

I am not endorsing him or anyone with this random thought. Thank you.

[Gary Rice]

And here I was, thinking that they stopped feeding Christians to the lions long ago....

People...no offense intended for anyone, but....

Are we a chat room here, or are we virtual spectators at some virtual online colleseum?

Like Missy, I'm not going to necessarily endorse anyone's candidacy here, but I do endorse the right to express one's opinions and to advocate for one's own beliefs. In fact, in politics, it seems almost refreshing to me.

Some of us might be understandably uncomfortable mixing religious opinions with political viewpoints. There's a good reason for that discomfort historically, as any Roman gladiator would probably tell you, if he could spring up out of the past and speak. The bloody history of political and religious persecutions is well known in our world. These are topics that would seem to require handling with some caring and compassion these days.

Still, to advocate FOR one's own religious convictions is not NECESSARILY putting down the views of others, nor, I would think, would it necessarily be offensive, unless EXPLICITLY stated as such.

It will remain to be seen how many Lakewoodites will vote for this platform.

Back to the banjo....

[Thealexa Becker]

While I agree with you in sentiment Mr. Rice, I have read this candidate's proposal and was a little unsettled by how he seemed to care more about promoting religious beliefs than actual policies.

I'm sorry, I believe everyone should express their opinion too, but putting down groups of people is not something that a candidate in a small city such as Lakewood should be doing. I distinctly got the impression that he has little toleration for those who do not share his religious beliefs and moral affectations, like myself. And regardless of what someone says about the rights of candidates to affirm their opinions, I cannot help but be put off as it were.

[Gary Rice]

Toleration...morality...

Interesting words.

Particularly in a political campaign.

Those words work well too, when one is in full agreement with someone else.

But...

There's more in play here than one person's perception as to how a political campaign should be launched.

As long as we have a ballot box, or for that matter, the ability to speak our minds, we will be able to discuss and even decide how much of this type of thing should apply to public leadership in our community.

Was there at one time, possibly was a less tolerant, and perhaps more objective moral compass in America's past? I think that might be the perception here....but....are we so sure about that?

Are we "better" now? More "enlightened" as a society?

Ummmmmm.....

More to the point, Is there still an "objective" moral compass? Or should that compass needle perpetually move with the winds of societal change?

Or... should a society intentionally move that needle, and if they do, does there even remain a "real" morality at all, or is it all merely an exercise in subjective ethics?

In the '60's, there were high school courses dealing with this sort of thing. We were given complex moral scenarios to consider, and then were asked to "play God", as it were...

...supposed to make us think...

...yeah right.

Kinda like those so-called "death committees" deciding who should get the health care, that they talk about in these medical debates lately...

Well, to some people, ethics and morality are not, and will never be subject to the whims of whatever ruling elite is in power.

Whether or not one agrees with their point of view, they at least stand for something.

Persuading them to change their minds is one thing, but trying to intolerantly belittle their ideas, or to coerce them into silence?

Then I think that we, as a society, would end up being no better than any other tyrants who have ever walked the face of the earth.

And tyrants always fall.

Back to the banjo...

[Justine Cooper]

I believe in freedom of religion, but please don't ring my doorbell to shove your religion down my throat. I would never in a million years ring my neighbors door to convince them of my religious beliefs. I don't want to ever be interrupted again from reading about the latest teen (not yet 14) who committed suicide because he was tormented and called gay by his peers at school, by a man running for council on a ticket that sends an underlying message of hate for the gay community.

I want to answer my doorbell to someone running for local politics who tells me positive changes he/she wants to make in our community.

I was not rude to this man and am not rude to Jevoha Witnesses when they come, but I don't agree that coming to our doors to preach their religions is in way right.

[Dan Shields]

It's interesting to note that, so far, it seems that Mr. McCartney is the only candidate generating any discussion here based on their responses to the Observer questionnaire. Darn.

[Justine Cooper]

Sorry Dan, you are right.
The others are all impressive so it will be hard.
We are lucky to have so many positive candidates!

[Jim DeVito]

It's interesting to note that, so far, it seems that Mr. McCartney is the only candidate generating any discussion here based on their responses to the Observer questionnaire. Darn.

Dan, Valid point. Perhaps the next thread will be titled "Post you thoughts on the LPL candidate/public forum."

As you pointed out.

Just a reminder to come to the Lakewood Public Library this Tuesday, Sept 1, 2009 for an open candidate/public forum. The forum will take place at 7:00 p.m. in the Auditorium of the Main Branch. All residents are invited to come have their say, and question your at-large candidates for council prior to the upcoming Primary Election on September 8, 2009.

Remember to Vote!

[Jim DeVito]

That said.

The responses to the Observer questionnaire were, IMO for the most part lacking substance. There was a lot of vague "there is too much crime", "the hosing stock needs to be kept up", "people drive to fast. All things we know. With the exception of my candidate of choice (to remain nameless, and they even failed a bit at getting the point across) the was missing a short list of ways to fix said problems. Was that what to expect for a short blurb in the local paper? Perhaps, however I would expect more from the candidates. I hope the above referenced forum will solve that problem. Too paraphrase Justine, It will be interesting.