Time to switch to SB2 format
Citizen of Laconia
Letter to the Editor printed 3/9/2007
Time to switch to SB2 format
Editor, The Citizen: On the March 13, Election Day Town and School warrants, Moultonborough voters will have an opportunity to vote on the adoption of deliberative sessions followed by separate official-ballot voting on all issues before the Town of Moultonborough and the Moultonborough School District. This alternative to the existing Town and School District meetings is referred to as RSA 40:13 (SB2). It's been attacked by some as not allowing for the voters to be properly informed, but the lack of information has really come from its opponents.
SB2 makes it possible for more registered voters to participate. It's opponents dismiss this reality, arguing that voters will somehow be less informed and may even "vote their wallets" to reduce spending and lower their taxes, as if this is wrong. The fear of SB2 demonstrated by those angry Town and School officials dominating the public meetings is apparently based on their worries of greater control by voters and reduced support for spending. Voters are portrayed as uninformed and must be required to attend the annual Town and School Meetings in order to vote on the issues. This requirement prevents people who cannot attend from voting.
Letter to the Editor printed 3/9/2007
Time to switch to SB2 format
Editor, The Citizen: On the March 13, Election Day Town and School warrants, Moultonborough voters will have an opportunity to vote on the adoption of deliberative sessions followed by separate official-ballot voting on all issues before the Town of Moultonborough and the Moultonborough School District. This alternative to the existing Town and School District meetings is referred to as RSA 40:13 (SB2). It's been attacked by some as not allowing for the voters to be properly informed, but the lack of information has really come from its opponents.
SB2 makes it possible for more registered voters to participate. It's opponents dismiss this reality, arguing that voters will somehow be less informed and may even "vote their wallets" to reduce spending and lower their taxes, as if this is wrong. The fear of SB2 demonstrated by those angry Town and School officials dominating the public meetings is apparently based on their worries of greater control by voters and reduced support for spending. Voters are portrayed as uninformed and must be required to attend the annual Town and School Meetings in order to vote on the issues. This requirement prevents people who cannot attend from voting.
In 2006, fewer than 8 percent of Moultonborough's registered voters attended Town Meeting, fewer than 6 percent if public officials and public employees present are not included. Even worse, fewer than 3 percent of the registered voters attended the School District Meeting, fewer than 1 1⁄2 percent if public officials and public employees present are not included.
Town Meeting has been inaccurately described as the purest form of democracy and a tradition, yet how many people present actually speak? Most people avoid the discomfort of speaking before a group. True democracy should encourage more voter participation and that goal has always been the real American tradition.
Discussion of the issues already takes place outside of the deliberative sessions and both will continue under SB2. It's claimed that attendance at the Town and School meetings educates voters, but we have no way of determining the accuracy of anything said and are forced to make immediate decisions based on salesmanship and endurance. What SB2 adds is a period of time for reflection and research before we vote privately.
This is really an issue of voters' rights. All the voters, not just the very few who are able to attend the Town and School District Meetings. We were told that "Moultonboro isn't ready yet" for SB2 and the necessary commitment and should make due with the system we have. Next week we will have a chance to decide for ourselves and can prove our critics wrong.
Hollis Austin
Moultonborough
Town Meeting has been inaccurately described as the purest form of democracy and a tradition, yet how many people present actually speak? Most people avoid the discomfort of speaking before a group. True democracy should encourage more voter participation and that goal has always been the real American tradition.
Discussion of the issues already takes place outside of the deliberative sessions and both will continue under SB2. It's claimed that attendance at the Town and School meetings educates voters, but we have no way of determining the accuracy of anything said and are forced to make immediate decisions based on salesmanship and endurance. What SB2 adds is a period of time for reflection and research before we vote privately.
This is really an issue of voters' rights. All the voters, not just the very few who are able to attend the Town and School District Meetings. We were told that "Moultonboro isn't ready yet" for SB2 and the necessary commitment and should make due with the system we have. Next week we will have a chance to decide for ourselves and can prove our critics wrong.
Hollis Austin
Moultonborough
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