Dear Anonymous and Others:
Thanks for your honest replies to my posting.
I have to tell you, that while you think brandishing the truth as your weapon at Council meetings and in Letters to the Editor is the best way to further your cause, it is not the most effective.
In order to defeat a political ''machine'' of this depth and disorder, you have to take that truth to the people in every way possible, and sometimes in not so traditional ways.
You have to understand, the people at Pickerington City Hall have a ''foxhole'' mentality; they will do everything and anything they can to maintain their positions, and to defend themselves against what they perceive to be an attack.
Revenge? I don't think so. Since when is telling the truth revenge? If you had any idea how little truth you had access to, you'd be shocked, not to mention fuming.
You have to win the battle of public perception to win this war, which I think is what you have here in Pickerington--a war, of sorts.
The key word is perception. Perception is reality, especially these days, like it or not.
You're up against people who will do anything to win, and will pay anything they need to in order to win, whether it be to their own personal pundits, experts, lawyers, developers or statisticians.
They've got deep ties to people who are in very tight with opinion makers across the media, and they have deep pockets, too. Let's face it, when you are talking about posing a threat to someone's pocketbook or livelihood, you are in for a very tough fight, whether the ''attack'' is legitimate or not. Add that to the dubious character of the people you are up against, and you have to admit, it is a pretty powerful combination, otherwise, you all would have been able to end this pompous reign of political terror long ago.
Mr. Brinson is right--the longer this goes on-if even for a year until the 2003 elections--the heavier the damage to the community and the quality of life will be. If you doubt that, just think about how much has changed since this time last year, from City Council appointments, to plat approvals, to this ill-conceived house building boom we all find ourselves in the middle of each day.
Traffic is getting worse, ''public servants'' are getting rich at the public's expense, and that is what you should find offensive.
Don't get too hung up on the tactics used to accomplish your mission. Just be relieved when they work.
By Joan D'Arc
Thanks for your honest replies to my posting.
I have to tell you, that while you think brandishing the truth as your weapon at Council meetings and in Letters to the Editor is the best way to further your cause, it is not the most effective.
In order to defeat a political ''machine'' of this depth and disorder, you have to take that truth to the people in every way possible, and sometimes in not so traditional ways.
You have to understand, the people at Pickerington City Hall have a ''foxhole'' mentality; they will do everything and anything they can to maintain their positions, and to defend themselves against what they perceive to be an attack.
Revenge? I don't think so. Since when is telling the truth revenge? If you had any idea how little truth you had access to, you'd be shocked, not to mention fuming.
You have to win the battle of public perception to win this war, which I think is what you have here in Pickerington--a war, of sorts.
The key word is perception. Perception is reality, especially these days, like it or not.
You're up against people who will do anything to win, and will pay anything they need to in order to win, whether it be to their own personal pundits, experts, lawyers, developers or statisticians.
They've got deep ties to people who are in very tight with opinion makers across the media, and they have deep pockets, too. Let's face it, when you are talking about posing a threat to someone's pocketbook or livelihood, you are in for a very tough fight, whether the ''attack'' is legitimate or not. Add that to the dubious character of the people you are up against, and you have to admit, it is a pretty powerful combination, otherwise, you all would have been able to end this pompous reign of political terror long ago.
Mr. Brinson is right--the longer this goes on-if even for a year until the 2003 elections--the heavier the damage to the community and the quality of life will be. If you doubt that, just think about how much has changed since this time last year, from City Council appointments, to plat approvals, to this ill-conceived house building boom we all find ourselves in the middle of each day.
Traffic is getting worse, ''public servants'' are getting rich at the public's expense, and that is what you should find offensive.
Don't get too hung up on the tactics used to accomplish your mission. Just be relieved when they work.
By Joan D'Arc
