Town Meeting happened this week and there is the usual complaining about the lack of participation – only 200 people stuck around for the full three hours.

I didn’t show and neither did Ron. The way I figured it, all but one Warrant article had the support of both the Select Board and FinCom. So, why blow an evening just to rubber stamp their decisions?

The monthly or semi-monthly meetings of the Select Board and other committees might be better venues for discussion and getting answers to questions, but would we really be welcome?

With one or two exceptions, I haven’t found anyone, either elected official or private citizen, who really wants to engage in respectful two-way conversation about civic matters.

I don’t think that’s unique to Williamstown, by the way. My theory is that American public education doesn’t include training in civil debate or analytical thinking and it should. “We” are a combative, over-competitive society. Sad.