Another great Letter to the Editor at the Chronicle Journal...by a man I know.....
Let us vote on it
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
I take offence to the editorial March 17 tilted On To The Next Stage. It proves that brainwashing works. How can a reasonable, intelligent news service such as The Chronicle-Journal be sucked into the idea that no one on administration or council can come up with a simple one-line question to see if there is truly city support for the proposed event centre? The question is not that difficult: “Are you in favour of building a new event center holding 1,500 people (sic) Yes? or No?”
The concept put forward by the editorial is that there is evidence of majority public support for this venture. I expected more diligence from my local editorial staff. There is no proof anywhere that the majority of citizens support this venture and the true proof can only be gained by a plebiscite.
The concept to not allow a plebiscite is just a ploy to ensure that this passes after the election when it is supported by a small minority of the public.
At every presentation I attended I saw the same faces of at least 40 to 60 people, so by adding the same 60 times 10 meetings does not equal 600 people; it still only means 60.
One of the biggest issues facing our city is voter turnout. The plan to go forward without a plebiscite will guarantee that the turnout in the next election will be worse, not better.
I am calling on all my fellow citizens to make a statement. If this council does not ratify a simple, one-question plebiscite for the upcoming civic election, then no member of this council should receive a single vote.
I will do my part to have a complete purge of the old guard that talks transparency but talk is cheap.
I am tired of being told I cannot make my own decision so therefore I will not be allowed.
I will never be convinced that this concept is a good idea, but if a plebiscite is held, I as a citizen of a democracy will bow to the desires of the majority.
Why is council and administration afraid of that basic democratic concept?
Vern Seymour
Thunder Bay
Let us vote on it
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
I take offence to the editorial March 17 tilted On To The Next Stage. It proves that brainwashing works. How can a reasonable, intelligent news service such as The Chronicle-Journal be sucked into the idea that no one on administration or council can come up with a simple one-line question to see if there is truly city support for the proposed event centre? The question is not that difficult: “Are you in favour of building a new event center holding 1,500 people (sic) Yes? or No?”
The concept put forward by the editorial is that there is evidence of majority public support for this venture. I expected more diligence from my local editorial staff. There is no proof anywhere that the majority of citizens support this venture and the true proof can only be gained by a plebiscite.
The concept to not allow a plebiscite is just a ploy to ensure that this passes after the election when it is supported by a small minority of the public.
At every presentation I attended I saw the same faces of at least 40 to 60 people, so by adding the same 60 times 10 meetings does not equal 600 people; it still only means 60.
One of the biggest issues facing our city is voter turnout. The plan to go forward without a plebiscite will guarantee that the turnout in the next election will be worse, not better.
I am calling on all my fellow citizens to make a statement. If this council does not ratify a simple, one-question plebiscite for the upcoming civic election, then no member of this council should receive a single vote.
I will do my part to have a complete purge of the old guard that talks transparency but talk is cheap.
I am tired of being told I cannot make my own decision so therefore I will not be allowed.
I will never be convinced that this concept is a good idea, but if a plebiscite is held, I as a citizen of a democracy will bow to the desires of the majority.
Why is council and administration afraid of that basic democratic concept?
Vern Seymour
Thunder Bay
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