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To BBW
Nice to have you back. I know this is the authentic BBBW, for this is the quality of response I have grown accustomed to receiving. Are you the BBW taking credit for the 10 reasons; you are usually more thorough in your answers than the ones that were listed. I do think you have some impersonators; as someone has said, it is becoming easier to distinguish between you and the others.
Doggone, BBW, I certainly hope the increase in corporate properties does not also affect my market value.
By Br Anonymous
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To WW
You pose the question of voter apathy; and how can the country again learn the value of their input at the polls. I am of the baby-boomer generation; I grew up with the remnants of world wars in my history; the Korean War; the Viet Nam conflict. I had grandparents; uncles, fathers, brothers, and cousins who were all involved in these events; and being of German heritage; relatives who were ostracized because of the horrible atrocities of Hitler. Freedom and democracy were not "idealistic" goals, but real tangibles worth protecting and defending; tangibles that were felt not only on a national defense level; but in the workplace where unions became the equalizer for human working conditions, salaries, and benefits. If you have any relatives of my parents generation (who are not in their eighties); it would be useful to learn this history of their lives. Whatever, one of thier driving purposes in life was to create a better world for us, thier children, to live within. And, with the Viet Nam war; we, thier children, said enough is enough, this is a peace-keeping mission; we will not fight. Other areas of independence were sought; recognition of women, the mobilization of America from the industrial age to the technological age.
With change came mobility; the loss of traditional values in search of a better life; the family circle was splintered; traditions such as home, country, church, and apple pie were long distance. Financially, we acheived the better life; rural America and industrialization have all but disappeared; legal divorce is "no-fault"; and simplified; democracy is no longer a system to defend but take for granted. Russia is not a threat; there is not a east/west war; no longer the identification of political party affiliation to determine economic scale or personal characteristics. In my mind this is good; people have to work at being themselves more; in Boulder County, approximately 40% of the electorate registers as Independent.
What was lost? The pride of the democratic process, the value of family, the traditions. Many families now communicate with cell phones; day care centers overflow, history is no longer taught in the schools from the colonial days; the fight to win the freedom to vote is no longer a mandate which requires skills from all. We are a technology driven society; using technology instead of family dinners and neighborhood gatherings to communicate. Yeah, one of my neighbors and I do on occasion, communicate my e-mail; it is simply easier to find "the time".
Unfortunately, it may take something catastrophic to bring out the voters again. Look to Columbine, parents left work instead of using a cell; churches became popular, all of America called for gun-control.
As you can see, I have no answer, only thoughts. But you have a standard of action; that action being involvement at the high school level when most are approaching (or are qualified) to vote. This is good; but you have to give them value for the vote; the idea that "you can make a difference" by voting. I don't know how to instill that; it is not in the student's personal history; and like my parents; the owners of that struggle are now elderly. How do you make someone understand that war was mud, dirt, fear, and surrounded by death, sadness, and loss when the only "war" most have been exposed to is air attacks with "smart bombs". The first description of war won and protected democracy; now democracy is taken for granted.
By Br Anonymous
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To WW
I agree so much with BR Anonymous. We grew up during many wars/disputes, WW II, Korean, Nam, Panama Canel, etc... For some this became a very uplifting thing, to be a proud American, become involved, take action. Where has all this enthusiasm gone???
I too am from a military background, but I will not go into those details. However, I am sure this is one of the reasons that I fight so hard on these issues. I believe we have been fighting an undeclared war right here in Colorado for over a decade. It has become the people against corporate.
Take for example the Columbine incident, I was actually surprised something like this did not happen earlier because this incident is only the tip of the iceburg.
Our youth, environment, and people from all ages across the board are dealing with a tremendous amount of stress that simply does not need to occur.
What if I were to spread the word that our communties could be different. That we could eliminate isolation, reduce drugs and alcohol abuse, traffic, crime and pollution? That the issues of day care were not managed by corporate profiteers but a government that is responding to the needs of the community? What if I could tell you that our taxes over time would actually go down if the government implemented programs in a more effective manner.
People are not motivated to become involved because they no longer try to realize their dreams. They have become lazy in their thinking and action. If you so dare, walk into the next council meeting with a list of "this is what I want" continue on with a list of problems and issues you are concerned about and ask them (council and staff) what they intend to do about it! You would be surprised how many people feel exactly as you do, they have just forgotten or are fearful of how to go after their needs.
Why did the BF County issue pass? I use to be in a business where I investigated many stupid things that people did, simply because they want to believe it is right. They want to believe that those elected to represent them are on their side and doing things in their best interest. They want to assume that they (elected officials) know better. These people were given unsubstantiated guarantees, these people do not know what they are getting. I think many people have changed their minds.
By Joan
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To WW
On the second part of your question; what happened during the vote in Broomfield. Yes, both sides sought to give a point of view. However, if you had been on Vote No; now that you know the vast amount of information and resources of information; how would you have correlated this in less than two months?
The other factor is the chronological order of the events. Take for example, Boulder county open space. During the March 24 council meeting; BF council made the decision to eliminate this from the city/county boundaries. The Master Plan revision took place in August 1998; the complete revision in the paper December 8,1998. The revelation to the public was October 28, 1998. How, as a Vote No supporter would you receive this information in a timely basis to make an informed decision for a vote? I would like to point out that Vote No WON 40% of the vote; in two months on $1000 dollars.
The listing of the ten reasons is a prime example; use human services. Human services would also be inclusive of the senior center; the strongest of the two groups. The seniors would told they would get more attention; a modernized center, etc. What the seniors were not told was that human services would be an outsourced department; that county status did not mean a mandatory, modern senior center, and that more monies were not allocated to seniors in that budget. In fact, the entire department would cost a minimum $700,000 more in operating costs at the current levels of service; because it would become an outsourced entity. By the time vote no was formed; the seniors were collecting donations for vote yes. One senior, whom I consider an acquaintance, reminded me that Cooper himself made the promises; and Larry had always been good to them before.
Again, I have to go back to the fact that the council did have a good reputation; that there had always been public forums and several hundred volunteers building this community; until the county issue. From Feb 21, 1998 the council never needed the community input; we were too incredibly small to fight the state; granted 60% voted yes; but the apathy was so what, it will be the state vote that is the determining factor.
The cost of the buildings would be acheived without an increase in taxes; the sentence was not completed with the incredibly high interest rates to pay back COPS. Look at the timing of this information; September 1999.
Vote No had 1400 or 1500 dollars; Vote Yes had over 300,000 dollars. According to election standards; a message has to be seen at least 8 times for people to remember; this is why fund-raising is so imperative. By the time vote no formed; $220,000 was in the bank for Vote Yes. I think Vote No knew the odds were very hard to overcome; but with their meager funds; they won 40% of the vote. Remember, as you go forward, a MINIMUM exposure of eight times. Check out that flier for the election that was mailed to the majority of the state; see how many times you see Vote Yes On C.
CVLEG has the time to organize the facts in a chronological order that can be understood by the public; timelines, etc. Make every moment count up till two months before the election; and then bombard with the message Vote No on 199.
By Br Anonymous
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