Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

This Tuesday Joyce Bushman gave a speech to the Chamber of Commerce. In the speech she advised the business community that the ?“City of Pickerington?” opposed the passage of Issues 17, 18 and 19. This one act exemplifies the problems with our current government and the reasons it should be replaced, presumably with a group of citizens who have the sense to make the first act of the new government the firing of Joyce Bushman.

When the City Manager professes to speak for the ?“City of Pickerington?” it raises a fundamental question. Who exactly is the ?“City of Pickerington?” whose opinion she is articulating. The first definition of the City of Pickerington could, of course, be the actual residents of the City. If this is the case, then Ms. Bushman should be fired for lack of intellectual fitness. It is clear that a substantial number the citizens themselves have put these issues on the ballot. Accordingly, while there may be citizens who adhere to both sides of the issues, it is clear that there is no single voice that Ms. Bushman can claim to represent. To pretend to speak for the entire citizenry of a community in opposing proposal that the citizens themselves have raised is either the act of an idiot or a delusional megalomaniac. Either qualifies for removing her from her current position. citizens

Moreover, even assuming the existence of a single voice, which is Joyce Bushman to voice the position of the citizens. The citizens have elected representatives. Albeit, some of the representatives (read all but one) have a very dim grasp of the pulse of the electorate, but they are nevertheless elected representatives. If one of these elected representatives should speak his opinion on these issues that is his prerogative. They can even claim to represent a particular constituency that shares his opinion. That is their proper role. Even these individuals, however, cannot speak for the entire citizenry, but could each legitimately articulate the views of a particular constituency of voters. It would be arrogant and irresponsible for even the elected officials to claim to speak for the entire community. It is even more egregious for a city employee, who has not been elected by anyone. to portray to the public that she represent the view of the City. By abrogating this power to herself, she demonstrates her disdain for the proper role of a non-elected official and shows her disregard for democracy in general.




By Robspierre

Donuts

As it is clear that Ms Bushman cannot be speaking either directly for the community as a whole or for a particular constituency of the community as an elected official, she must conceive of the City of Pickerington as something entirely apart from either the community itself or the representative government of the citizens. In fact, this is the truth of the matter and the primary reason she should not hold her current position. Joyce Bushman and other members of the government, including most of the elected officials, think of the City of Pickerington as something that exists apart either from the community of citizens themselves or the citizens operating within a democratic framework. These people truly think of the ?“City of Pickerington?” as their own fiefdom that exists apart from the people and democratic process. This is the only explanation for why they continue to conduct themselves as feudal lords that do not need to be concerned with the ranting of the peasantry, who must be kept from disturbing the peacefulness of the realm.

In plain, short words, Ms. Bushman and her fellow travelers believe that they are the ?“City of Pickerington?” and that we are serfs who should be thankful we are allowed to live in the Kingdom and pay taxes into the Royal Treasury. Let us eat donuts.


By Robspierre

Off with thier heads

By the way, shame on the Chamber of Commerce, for allowing this to take place without allowing, or even inviting, anyone representing an opposing view to speak. No wonder people think the name should be changed to the ?“Friends of Darryl.?” . You can count one businessperson out next membership drive.



By Madame DeFarge

email from Ted about meeting

I received this email as did many others. I passed it on to all Pickerington Residents in my email list, please feel free to do so with it too.

----- Original Message -----
From: Ted Hackworth
To: Ted Hackworth
Sent: Thursday, October 24, 2002 9:22 PM
Subject: Pickeirngton Chamber of Commerce


Dear Pickerington Area Residents,

I received a copy of a 20 page document that Pickerington City Manager handed out yesterday during a Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Neither Mrs. Ricketts nor I were invited to speak or at lest explain our position concerning these three issues 17, 18, & 19. The Chamber is suppose to be a non-profit organization that promotes the business community here in our area. They also accept large sums of money from the City and I believe they (PACC) in turn protect and promote this city government just so they don't lose those large sums of money donations from the city. Folks this is one of the most corrupt towns I have ever lived in. Anyway those of you that know Chamber members then you know you should ask them about this meeting. Let them know that it was a set up to help Joyce Bushman gain back some political capital that she has lost over the last year or so. It also was to help pay back their gifts from the City. Regular citizens aren't going to win with organiztionals like this in town. I will soon publish the down right lies she promoted in this 20 page handout at the chamber.

Thank you all,

Ted Hackworth

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October 24, 2002



Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce

Attn: Chamber President

13 West Columbus Street

Pickerington, Ohio 43147



Dear Chamber President,





I just received a copy of a POLITICAL handout that the Pickerington City Manger, Joyce Bushman, handed out during a luncheon meeting with your members on October 23rd, 2002. Mrs. Bushman?’s handout is clearly an attempt to influence the election on November 5th, 2002. Her handout clearly is trying to get the Chamber and others to vote against the three issues contained in her handout. Your organization also allowed her to speak against all three of these ballot issues.



The issues I refer to are issues 17, 18, & 19. All three issues were placed on the ballot by initiatives circulated by citizens of the City of Pickerington. It appears that the Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce has now become a political wing of the Pickerington City Hall political machine.



I know you were asked during the meeting of why the proponents of these three issues were not invited to speak and explain our side of the argument. I believe the reply was that we didn?’t respond. The fact is you didn?’t call nor did you write us to invite Mrs. Ricketts or myself to attend this meeting to give a balanced view of these three issues. The handout that Mrs. Bushman passed out did not have the required political disclaimer on it that the Ohio election Commissions requires.