Sep
25
More About SB2
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PLAINFIELD TRADITIONS or (CLUTCHING TRADITIONS) or (AND NOT JUST IN PLAINFIELD) or ?
by John McNellis
In Plainfield the traditional annual school budget meeting no longer serves the majority of citizens and needs to be changed.
We live on traditions. We always pass on what we consider good and discard what is no longer good or useful. Parents and school teachers are purveyors of traditions. The human race is constantly learning new things, abandoning former ideas and techniques for new science. Automobiles supplanted horses and buggies, clothing styles change, etc. Now how do we decide what traditions to relinquish and what to retain.
We readily alter time schedules, meeting places, voting procedures to meet changing needs but not imperishable things like values and ideals (honesty, dedication, reliability), ideas, truths, beliefs.
America became a sovereign nation by challenging traditions. The Revolution of 1776 challenged a tradition of obedience to the British crown. Our ancestors chose to break with the English governors, at the cost of their lives. Those who favored traditions and remaining loyal to the King eventually returned to England. Our ancestors made many difficult choices, breaks with tradition; and the changes were costly. There were many advantages in remaining English citizens. But ancestors broke with tradition when they realized the system no longer fitted their needs but actually impeded freedom and democracy and progress.
Today why should we even consider altering the annual traditional school budget meeting?
It is a fact that, for whatever reason, a majority of citizens no longer attends half-day or all-day long school budget meetings. Attendance has declined to15-20% of the eligible voters. Since the vote is the prime essential element of citizenship—the one tradition we will not relinquish–, it is the duty of a responsive civil administration to accommodate citizens with a voting system that matches their needs. A convenient opportunity to vote. The fundamental feature of New Hampshire Senate bill 2 (SB2) is an all-day opportunity to vote one’s will, after having had more time to reflect on all ramifications before we vote – a feature not present in the current system. (In Plainfield the change of system will apply only to the annual School Budget meeting, not the Town Meeting.)
Some attendees respond that those who neglect to come have no one but themselves to blame if they want to complain. But neglect by 80-85% of eligible voters? And year after year? This is occurring around the entire State, not just in Plainfield.
No one really knows why a majority fails to attend the meeting. (A good survey might help). We all know some of the reasons. And we all know who some of the “no-shows” are: our friends and relatives. And we know they are good, responsible citizens. It is wrong to assume they are just plain careless or lazy.
Change the tradition? Loyalty to traditions has limits. We readily change time schedules, meeting places and voting systems, but not imperishable things like values and ideals (honesty, dedication, reliability), ideas, truths, beliefs. These last are sacrosanct.
But not all traditions are sacred. And a false loyalty may disguise other motives, often selfish. If your Plainfield ancestors were alive today, would they persistently continue a failed voting system? My ancestors hailed from Ireland, then Canada, and on to Illinois; but some current residents’ Plainfield ancestry goes back to the late 1700 and 1800 hundreds. These living descendants want to remain loyal to their forebears to whom they (and we) owe much.
Can we change a voting procedure and still remain loyal to our ancestors? Would our ancestors maintain a voting system that no longer fits their society? Today, with the old system, 15-20% –sometimes as little as 8% ! — of the populace attends the meeting and makes decisions for all of us. Not right. And the old system permits and even encourages small interest groups in the school community to dominate. Very undemocratic! Furthermore our old system effectively disenfranchises those who don’t/can’t attend the meeting.
But, opponents to change argue, it is important to inform oneself about the proposals and hear the discussions prior to voting. (And certainly understanding what you are voting about is essential [although some citizens could admit they know little about the voting issues and, honestly, vote the way they do because a friend or neighbor votes that way])
Yes, SB2 does permit citizens to vote without having heard the proposals in the meeting. However in 2008 there are many other ways, not available in 1908, to learn about the voting issues. But the sine qua non is the vote, not the meeting, as informative as it always is. (Instituting SB2 will not eliminate the traditional meeting; so, attend, if you can.)
Another, and partial, solution suggested is “let’s shorten the meetings.” This and other recommendations miss the point and merely attempt to prop up the failed past. It is not the length of meeting but the actual meeting structure itself that needs changing. Like Caesar’s Gaul, three parts 1) Warrant articles, 2) discussions, 3) voting. Continue to do #1 and #2 of the above but do (#3) later –vote later. The SB 2 provides a voting solution, already installed in 30% or more of New Hampshire communities.
We cannot ignore another intangible element in the traditional meeting: i.e. the passion and conviction of the speakers, which stirs the emotions. But our votes should not be based upon emotion but upon reason. Thus voting on a day separated from the discussions and emotions can produce more rational decisions. (And who would not opt for totally rational decisions? But if a dose of emotion could sway votes a bit, well….)
In Plainfield the traditional annual school budget meeting no longer serves the majority of citizens. Let us change it. The traditional arguments favoring the old system tumble before the cold facts. And, I submit, many cities and towns in New Hampshire are struggling with the same problem
Who opposes such a change? Entrenched bureaucracies like local school boards and their friends, teacher unions, and all those who profit from the old system.
Next March the opportunity to approve SB2 will again be offered in Plainfield. Consider it carefully. See the reprinted article in this issue entitled Traditions and SB2.) March will be here before you know it. Think about it; talk about it now. The benefits for all of us will be immeasurable. It could even prevent you from being taxed out of your home !
John McNellis for Plainfield Taxpayers Alliance