[Grovenet] Reflections on Minority Rule

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

I agree, Allen, if anyone's looking. And that's a big "IF". 

What usually happens in situations like this is that there are a lot of
initial gnashing of teeth and predictions of doom for a while until people
adjust to the new reality. Firefighters and police, like most people
everywhere, so their best to make the situation work in spite of shortages
and problems. And if the public is even aware of the greater risk posed by
the reduced level of services, they'll soon accept it as "normal". 

After all, people lose buildings and even their lives in fires today. The
police don't always arrive in time to prevent a crime or catch the crook on
the spot. Who is to say that the person who suffers a loss next year did so
because of the cutback? 

My biggest concern is that the reason we didn't see a greater voter turnout
was because people were simply apathetic. Recently a 91 year old WWII vet
was brutally beaten in a parking lot by a robber while a group of bystanders
stood and watched. The gentleman was wedged between the edge of his car door
and the car in the next parking place and couldn't move while he was
hammered senseless by the young punk. Finally the punk too his keys and
stole his car. 

Not a single bystander lifted a finger, cell phone or their voice to help or
get help. They just stood there, watching. Like thousands of voters in this
last election just "stood there" unwilling to left a pencil. 

Apathy is at least as big a threat to our country and our communities as
terrorism, or crime, or fire.

Ron D'Eau Claire



-----Original Message-----
From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com] On
Behalf Of Allen Warren
Sent: Friday, May 18, 2007 9:39 PM
To: Forest Grove local interests list
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] Reflections on Minority Rule


But back to the original subject line . . . it's terribly unfortunate we did
not have greater than 50% of the registered voters actually exercising their
right to vote.  Maybe this issue wasn't important to them.  Or maybe it was
important and they decided not sending in their "no" vote was the same as
actually voting "no".  But I'm guessing we'll never know.

I'm still wondering if there will be additional cuts/no-hire backfills like
with the 2 firefighters who left on their own but will not be replaced.

I say it again: time will tell us just how bad, or not, the situation truly
is and/or will become.
 
Allen Warren