Taking task with column on SB2

The town meetings like the Deliberative Session are just the final chance for the public to provide input on the articles before they vote. With SB2 the vote comes 30 days later on Election Day. This gives the public an opportunity to read, study, ask questions and generally educate themselves as to the various issues. Mr. Caldwell seems to think this is not the proper format for education. Has he no faith in the printed media? In most communities the local paper prints a copy of the amended articles in question after the Deliberative Session with a place to check off the voter's choice. Thus by taking this with them to the voting booth they will complete their task of voting … educated, quickly and by a secret ballot. I assume the Citizen would enjoy the opportunity to provide that service, were they to be asked.

The argument Mr. Caldwell puts forward regarding too few people showing up at the Deliberative Session is a bit disingenuous. As it is now, a businessman that would vote against an issue stays home. Parents with kids in school that would vote against a school issue, stay home. Folks that have neighbors that are on the other side of the argument, stay home. Intimidation by the stacking of the town and school district meetings with all available employees, staff, teachers and their families is the name of the game. That is what takes over the voting process if not the discussion process as well. That is what "stifles and stilts the decision making process". You failed, Mr. Caldwell, to indicate the huge increase in the voting on the final product that will eventually have an effect on the town or school district.

Two other points that Mr. Caldwell puts forth, as does the local fear mongers, is the ability of amending an article's funding to $0, thus eliminating the article, and the old "default budget" argument. The first case is rarely an issue because, like town meetings, the majority of those attending the Deliberative Session are usually those most affected by it … town/school employees, their friends and families. And the "default budget" issue is applicable with town meetings just as well. A call I placed to the DRA (Dept. of Revenue Administration) proved out of 136 towns and school districts that enjoy SB2, there are less than a handful with default budgets.

The scamming and intimidation that is ever present today goes away with SB2. Those who protest SB2 too much are usually the ones that do the scamming and intimidation in order to have it their way. The auction-like atmosphere that is in attendance even at the best of town meetings does little to educate the voting participants who would set policy for the whole town or school district. Amendments flying back and forth and amendments to the amendment, motions to reconsider, all followed by a quick show if hands vote … yeah that is "real education of the issues before the vote" to say nothing of the "purest form of democracy".

Two points I would like to make while I have Mr. Caldwell's attention: (1) It is more than a little duplicitous to place a piece of OPINION under the heading of NEWS. I learned back in junior high school Current Events class the difference between news and opinion and the separation that should take place in the media. I realize that was more than a few decades ago and few obey the rule but the fact remains … opinion is opinion and news should be factual. (2) There are more people that live in NH with SB2 than live with the old, inefficient and railroading style of Town Meeting. Of the 136 towns and schools I mentioned above there have been no school districts and only three towns to rescind their decision and return to town meeting. Two of these towns have a population of less than 500 … town meeting is more of a social event with that sized town.

Rick Heath
Moultonborough

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