from Jonathan
During my adult life in Connecticut, there have been occasional reports of Ku Klux Klan activity in northeastern Connecticut. Many years ago, there was a large rally in Scotland, CT which got national press as they invited some major KKK leader to attend and made it quite a show. (Quite an embarasment to the Fairfield County set.) But these instances were rare, usually it was just troublemaking, drunk rednecks running around in pickup trucks creating a ruckus. I have often thought about those old news rerotps when sitting through the towns interminable meetings, and observing the antics of the CPS characters. Angry, ignorant, often dirty; catcalling and intimidating (mostly female) attendees; making the entire scene too ugly for the participation of well meaning people. One man is regularly, clearly drunk; one man’s eyes looking so glazed he appears psychotic; another stinking of diesel fuel. And then there are the old stories people being hit by trucks in the town hall parking lot; pet goats being stolen and staked out in the woods to starve; lawns being run over by trucks in the night; sabres found staked in front lawns; rumors that some CPS members carry guns to the meetings. And the context the vice-like grip of the registrars and poll-workers on the voting mechanics during elections and referenda; the intellectual leadership of Gus Massiello, Ernie Wetzel and Jay Livernois publicly articulating their conspiracy theories; the massive turnout of senior citizens at the budget referenda who have been terrified about losing their homes. This town has a strong air of intimidation. Worst of all is the sense that the town’s public education system has been politically surrounded by the seniors; by CPS; by the Fire Department; and by Woodstock Academy continually pilloried so that everyone gets their share of the money except of course the victim the Woodstock Public Schools. As with any victim, many want but are hesitant to help; someone else will certainly do it. Only more discouraging is that after the last election, when the town appeared to elect a more enlightened, educated Democratic ticket, the same old dynamics continue to play out just with better articulation. And most of those people pretend its not so bad, or not to notice; become too busy; develop a rationale for inaction; look away from instead of at the problem. Anyway, that’s what I think about when I look at this town. It reminds me of a small town in Mississippi with a Klan problem. And then I consider that Woodstock Academy, the area high school, manipulates these political dynamics to the advantage of their football stadium, and it seems almost sickening. And I feel embarassed that I raised my children here. But, hey, I sure am glad you got to see a turkey, John, and thanks for helping us reminisce.
Jonathan, why do you think the group of “Victims” fails to mobilize like other groups (as you call the “Surrounders”) such as Seniors, the Fire Dept., WA, and of course Football? These groups gather at meetings and vote to support causes that are important to them. That’s what support groups do. How can you help the group of “Victims” be heard? Why don’t you turn your embarassment and passion into something positive for your cause? Others do.
Jonathan, it’s a shame you live in that Woodstock….(see Rich’s new article. Admin).
Johnathan, You truly are a dope.
Frank – if you want to know why the myriad of people disinvolved themselves from the town’s education politics, just read the article again. In the words of one seasoned local politico, “eventually, you just get sick of it”.
Could we have more discussion of reasons to update and expand the limits of Proposition 46. Why is Proposition 46 failing to uphold the best interests of the town and all of its residents?
Justthisonce,
Just give up then? That’s the spirit! “did we give up when the German’s bombed Pearl Harbor? Who’s with me?”
“We gotta take these bastards. Now we could do it with conventional weapons, but that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part! “
That is great scene in that movie as John Belushi (“Bluto”) goes running out of the room shouting “COME ON!!!” and the whole rest of the fraternity just sits there staring at the floor.
as you can see from the string above, no one can even discuss the WFD’s financial needs relative to the town’s ability to pay and other competing demands without the discussion immediately being emotionalized. In this case, the entire string is based on a complete misnomer – that someone is bashing the WFD volunteers – and off we go again on an emotional roller coaster.
When the Navy Seals go in for funding, they justify their budget needs based
on our national security needs. The Marines don’t go into budget hearings reciting events at Iwo Jima. And when the country is in difficult economic straights, and cannot meet it’s overall financial obligations, the Secretary of Defense orders them to make reductions and they do the best they can.
It’s a shame It’s not like no one ever addressed these problems before. And this isn’t the first rural Connecticut town to suburbanize and face growing public service demands that compete for funding. There are rational, objective and
fair methods to assess these problems that have been developed by public finance professionals. Too bad we cannot even discuss them here.
What I had in mind are the factors that the authors of Proposition 46 were not aware of. Those factors have been mentioned on the Cafe and,I presume, talked about in the Fix 46 discussion group. I was hoping that they could be explained and developed here.
Just,
You should take your own advice and “read the article again”. Not “emotionalizing” the conversation or talking about WFD’s financial needs. Just lamenting the “complaining” without focused and sustained action. If “victims” of the seemingly overwhelming support of opposing groups can’t gain support for their cause, then stop belly-aching. Don’t criticize Seniors, WFD, Woodstock Academy, and even CPS because they show support on issues they feel strongly about. Thats what supporters should do, support their cause.
I think you are proving my point Frank.
frankincensed,
To play Devil’s Advocate – your comment applies with equal measure to ‘the other side’, as there is both a marked lack of meaningful, comprehensive information; and information that is free from Bias and Spin.
The average resident has a very hard time getting truly disinterested, objective and unbiased information on all of this.
What are your ideas on dealing with this problem? Residents deserve the actual Truth of the matter in addition to exposure to the various arguments on both sides with invariably portray their own side as “clearly in the right”.
Con,
My point is if you feel stongly about a subject , instead of crying about it, do something! I felt strongly about starting a football program at WA (I know, that makes me evil) and I did something about it. I didn’t say (after the multitudes of dissent vs. starting the program, mostly from WA itself) Oh, everyone is against us, we can’t do anything about it. We worked and got it done. That’s all I am saying…stop crying and DO Something!. I’m also involved with WFD. When we need to support action, we do. Again we don’t sit and say “what will be will be”, we organise so our voice is heard. Thumb sucking isn’t a strategy to get something accomplished. If people feel that the schools are being short changed or “surrounded” then you (Jonathan) must do something about it, or stop crying.
Frank, when people organized and did something about underfunding of public education the first thing they ran into was Citizens for Prudent Spending, a small group of mentally disturbed individuals who circulated malicious, personalized about them and publicize false allegations of financial fraud throughout the town. And I and many, many others witnessed their behavior in public meetings as Jonathon has described. Is this what you call “supporting their cause”?
It is simply shameful that Woodstock Academy, in the persons of Ernie Wetzel and Jay Livernois on their Board of Trustees, and through Russ Dowd and Ernie St. Jean of the WFD, these “support groups” associated themselves with Citizens for Prudent Spending. These false and malicious CPS attacks on the public schools were supported by WA and WFD to justify re-allocation of funds from the schools to their own “causes”.
It seems very telling to me that republication of an article written five years ago about the poor behavior of Citizens for Prudent Spending at public meetings would be responded to so defensively by the current members of WFD. I mean, talk about bellyachin’.
And WFD isn’t still politically aligned with CPS – is it?
Just,
I understand the frustration of of those who try to make a difference, I just have difficulty with “giving up” on something you feel so strongly about and then continue to complain. That’s all I am “belly aching” about. Put up or shut up sums it up. Frankly, I don’t care about the political views of any other members of WFD, I have mine and support WFD causes when I feel my support is needed. If they need to support budget increases for equipment/training, or to search for a missing child at Bigelow Hollow i will be there. If I feel the Academy needs my support, and I agree with the cause I will support it. I don’t care what others say, go ahead and threaten me, yell at me, or call me names… don’t care, if I believe in it I will support it. No hiding, no complaining, and hopefully no thumb-sucking.