Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Things that matter
BY CHARLYN FINN
Years ago, a school superintendent noted that whether something is true, or perceived to be true, “it’s the same amount of trouble.”
That is a very accurate statement.
Some of the major controversies are brought about simply because the general public is misinformed … actually by its own choosing.
There is no country on the globe where the public is informed as well as in the United States. We have newspapers, televisions, news magazines, websites, you name it - the USA has it. We also have freedom of speech.
Unfortunately, a lot of the citizenry doesn’t appreciate their good fortune.
They are as bad about paying attention to the news as they are about voting. The presidential election had a much improved voter turnout, but it still wasn’t what it should be. What it should be is 100 percent. There are those who don’t want to take some time away from their busy lives to keep informed. Then when something gets close to home and there really is very little time to do anything about it, everyone asks “why wasn’t I told,” or “why wasn’t it in the newspaper.”
At this point, I usually bite my tongue and try to keep my mouth shut. Article after article have appeared in the newspaper about any number of issues. Then some Johnny-Come-Lately complains about not being informed.
Truly, if people exhibited a little more curiosity about the things that matter (I am not talking about your neighbor’s private lives since everyone has a right to privacy and we are only privy to that which is documented), I am talking about that which impacts all of us. Exhibiting curiosity is going to your local government meetings so you will know what is happening from start to finish. Plus, you get an opportunity to ask questions, oppose what you don’t like and express your opinion.
All government meetings have public comment sessions. They may be at the beginning of the meeting, at the end of the meeting and in less formal meetings after each issue comes before the panel. It doesn’t really matter how the panel chooses to allow public comment as long as you are allowed to express yourselves.
But if you never go to these meetings, you never get to express yourselves.
The same thing applies to voting. If you don’t vote, you have no say in what happens.
It is rather disheartening to say that in the past 22 years I think I can count on my ten fingers the number of meetings where turnout was impressive.
So what brings the public out? One time, the school board was in the process of firing a superintendent and wouldn’t let the public into the boardroom. Everyone gathered on the parking lot and stayed out there until about 5 a.m.
Then one day, there was a rumor about witchcraft going on at the high school. We had three meetings in the auditorium at which time some experts were called in. So many people attended that many were sitting on the floor.
Another occasion was when someone misunderstood a statement made by the city secretary when she made a statement to the mayor about the way the Bauer Community Center looked after a party. Neither lady knew someone else was in the building. This resulted in the city manager changing the location of a city council meeting so there would be room for all who attended.
Oh yes, we had a couple of crowded meetings at city hall when a couple of police chiefs were fired.
A couple of budget hearings over a decade ago were well attended.
Today’s newspapers though have found a way to get some public comment. It is called blogging on the website.
How about coming out to some government meetings to witness some history taking place? While the news media thanks you for your comments, nothing takes the place of your physical presence.
That is a very accurate statement.
Some of the major controversies are brought about simply because the general public is misinformed … actually by its own choosing.
There is no country on the globe where the public is informed as well as in the United States. We have newspapers, televisions, news magazines, websites, you name it - the USA has it. We also have freedom of speech.
Unfortunately, a lot of the citizenry doesn’t appreciate their good fortune.
They are as bad about paying attention to the news as they are about voting. The presidential election had a much improved voter turnout, but it still wasn’t what it should be. What it should be is 100 percent. There are those who don’t want to take some time away from their busy lives to keep informed. Then when something gets close to home and there really is very little time to do anything about it, everyone asks “why wasn’t I told,” or “why wasn’t it in the newspaper.”
At this point, I usually bite my tongue and try to keep my mouth shut. Article after article have appeared in the newspaper about any number of issues. Then some Johnny-Come-Lately complains about not being informed.
Truly, if people exhibited a little more curiosity about the things that matter (I am not talking about your neighbor’s private lives since everyone has a right to privacy and we are only privy to that which is documented), I am talking about that which impacts all of us. Exhibiting curiosity is going to your local government meetings so you will know what is happening from start to finish. Plus, you get an opportunity to ask questions, oppose what you don’t like and express your opinion.
All government meetings have public comment sessions. They may be at the beginning of the meeting, at the end of the meeting and in less formal meetings after each issue comes before the panel. It doesn’t really matter how the panel chooses to allow public comment as long as you are allowed to express yourselves.
But if you never go to these meetings, you never get to express yourselves.
The same thing applies to voting. If you don’t vote, you have no say in what happens.
It is rather disheartening to say that in the past 22 years I think I can count on my ten fingers the number of meetings where turnout was impressive.
So what brings the public out? One time, the school board was in the process of firing a superintendent and wouldn’t let the public into the boardroom. Everyone gathered on the parking lot and stayed out there until about 5 a.m.
Then one day, there was a rumor about witchcraft going on at the high school. We had three meetings in the auditorium at which time some experts were called in. So many people attended that many were sitting on the floor.
Another occasion was when someone misunderstood a statement made by the city secretary when she made a statement to the mayor about the way the Bauer Community Center looked after a party. Neither lady knew someone else was in the building. This resulted in the city manager changing the location of a city council meeting so there would be room for all who attended.
Oh yes, we had a couple of crowded meetings at city hall when a couple of police chiefs were fired.
A couple of budget hearings over a decade ago were well attended.
Today’s newspapers though have found a way to get some public comment. It is called blogging on the website.
How about coming out to some government meetings to witness some history taking place? While the news media thanks you for your comments, nothing takes the place of your physical presence.
 |
 |
|
| Inspiration in life | Eyes with pride |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of portlavacawave.com.
crabcrazy wrote on Nov 20, 2008 2:06 PM: