We did it!

 

I write this post as the news that the New Hampshire State Senate has passed the Bragdon Forrester (HB648) Eminent Domain Bill in Concord. I believe that our own Sen. Gallus was influenced by the fact that several readers and participants on byte&chew wrote letters and sent emails to his office. I come to this conclusion because I saw the interview he gave a day or so before the vote and at that time he certainly was wishy washy about his position and how he was going to vote. I can’t help but believe that if “we the people” would make an effort to become more active in the political process, the complexion of our issues would change and we would see a positive impact in our communities and in our lives. Democracy only works if the citizens are engaged in the process. Without citizen participation “other” forces move in to fill that vacuum and influence decisions in their own self interest. I would hope that we can feel a sense of pride in the fact that we got off our duffs and took the time to let Sen. Gallus know how we felt about the Eminent Domain issue. Just think how different the Mayor and Council would consider issues if they knew that they would be facing their constituents every Monday night! What if their phones would ring off the walls when a critical issue was at hand or they made a wrong decision? I happen to believe that all of us do a better job at work knowing that we will be made accountable by our bosses. Our elected officials are our responsibility and when we fail in our role as their supervisors we create that “vacuum” that gets filled by political ambitions, self interest and special interests. I hope we’ve all learned a valuable lesson on how easy it can be to exercise our duty as citizens of our democracy by just giving a call or sending an email. Thanks to all of you who exercised that obligation.

Comments

[Rocky]

AA, watching the military spending "decline significantly" is like watching your house being swept downstream and saying, "well the river was flowing much faster yesterday". Not much comfort in that is there?

[warren,]

Not too many "buyers" for toonists Redistribution Schemes, I see.
Live by the thrown mud pie, die by the thrown mud pie. Eh Dennis?

[Antonio Andolini]

So Ray Burton and the rest of the Executive Council and Governor Lynch were unaware of any issues the new warden at Northern Correctional Facility had at his old job? Bill Wrenn pulls another one.
http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120129/OPINION01/701299989

[Antonio Andolini]

No, Rocky. All the while, the old bitty behind you is saying, "There goes the neighborhood." :)

[warren,]

Hey Tony, Look on the Bright Side...At Least The People that Triple Mortgaged Isaacsons into Bankruptcy were not appointed to Run the Prison! What Happened there is a Perfect example of Govt. Accounting Practises. At this point, I'm not at all Certain that Isaacsons should even be Allowed to Live! Throw 'em to the Wolves...Including Steve Griffin!
- Nice Job with the Rickety Perspective as well.

[Antonio Andolini]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xfevsc_always-look-on-the-bright-side-of-life_music

[warren,]

Quo Vadis?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2092925/Scottish-independence-debate-Is-end-Britain.html

Play This Loud, Tony.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuGFlP5Duuw

The Cross of St. George has been the De Facto Flag in England for some Years now. But This can not happen in America, can it? After all, That was Decided nearly a 147 years ago... Right?

[Antonio Andolini]

Take His Rights! I Own them - Toonist,
I think your point comes out better in these words by my favorite activist. The interview is more fun, too. (Second link has longer version, but buffers often while playing.)

"I think everybody's got not only the right but a civic duty to participate to the maximum in this experiment of self-government."

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/06/video-ted-nugent-roseanne-barr-spar-over-politics/?iref=allsearch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLj31y678E8&feature=related

[warren,]

"Just because some Mormon posts a chart on his web site does not make it reliable."

- They sure must have some Powerful Kool Aid!

http://www.av1611.org/jmelton/Mormons.html

[toonist]

If you folks want to live in a Utopian Libertarian Society move to Somalia! The people there have the right to do anything they please...you'ld all be so happy!Legal drugs, everybody has a gun, a government that stays out of the way and oh yeah, if you get really sick you are free to die. All the freedom you can imagine. Utopia!