Some Insight A
friend with many years of experience in local politics sent an email
offering the following wise words about the workings of our city
government and the efforts of those who try to keep an eye on them:"I
know that things are discouraging on the local public scene. I
remember years ago that I noticed that when citizen watch dogs were
successful, they were never given credit and praised. Instead they were
seen as annoying trouble-makers, and their contributions were either
forgotten or credited to somebody else. We saw this recently when we
were insistent that the Council should be praised for dropping the
conference center LOI. Of course the Council didn't praise us for
doggedly following the issue, and giving them the information they
should have been seeking on their own. We know they would be much
happier if we just shut up and went away. But there's something in us
that won't let us do that. In the end, we know that we help to shape
the city. It's not just the property of a few who consider themselves
the rightful visionaries." |
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