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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 … Continue reading