|
For a Better Asheville, Lets Improve Our Analysis - and Discourse - On Issues |
|
by Dr. Carl Mumpower
Op-Ed
Asheville Citizen-Times
November 15, 2003
It
is my personal belief that Asheville is blessed by a majority
commitment to the common good. I am equally aware that this considerate
majority is not always visible or vocal. There are louder, more
persistent voices directed to personal interests that may or may not be
in our common interest. Some of these voices seek to enhance their
impact through magnification, vilification, and other means of
empowerment that sacrifice community unity. The recent election offers
numerous examples of these methods, whereby myths were intentionally
perpetuated with a darkening impact on our citys government and
elected officials. In that the lines of communication should rightly go
both ways, it is my pleasure to shine a light on a few of these
misrepresentations:
Council Resists Public Input
Lets
begin by saying that there is a difference in a public hearing and a
public spectacle. The former is devoted to deliberation while the
latter serves as a form of intimidation, manipulation and even
entertainment. Asheville has a representative government that asks
elected officials to make informed decisions on the communitys behalf.
Regardless of the exaggerated claims of impaired public access, anyone
with a thought, suggestion or voice has ready access to council ears
through email, phone, letter, direct contact and public hearings. This
intentional availability is wedded to our interest in mature
decision-making process over spectacl!
e–howe
ver boring the former or
entertaining the latter may be.
A Bloc of Four Dominates Council Votes
Polarization
and outrage can have a powerful temporary impact on voter numbers at
the expense of the longer-term interests of our community. A recent
election strategy was to feed the illusion of block voting
by PAC and money-supported council members. Laying aside the fact that
PACs and money were a feature on both sides of the political spectrum,
a careful review of council voting patterns over the past two years
would demonstrate that there were no patterns. The most recent annual
budget was supported by one group of four, while the Minimum Housing
Code vote was from a differing four, which was in turn different from
the group of four that recently voted in favor of the public art piece.
Authentic voting patterns were ignored by the media and manipulated by
others to artificially incite and alienate voters–it worked.
All Politicians Are Self-Serving
Responsible
public service requires that council members make measured decisions
grounded in principles and pragmatics over personal preferences and
politics. In contrast, many believe that we make a majority of our
decisions in support of self-preservation. This myth crumbles in the
face of the time demands, pressures and stress of council service.
Whereas it might be argued that accumulated council experience is not
easily laid aside, authentic self-interest would find a sensible person
running for the exit. Most of our citys elected representatives are
more genuinely concerned with Ashevilles future than their own.
We Build Best By Destroying
We
live in a wonderful city. It exists per the efforts of a majority, past
and pre!
sent, de
dicated to the concept of community. We also have a fair
share of activists who seek to raise our awareness. There is a
difference in exercising or exorcising ones personal demons and
advocating for a worthy cause. It can be argued that the contributions
of those who seek to create, communicate and compromise exceed those
who persistently criticize, complain and combat. Good things are rarely
built through bad means, yet we have a wealth of negative voices
dedicated to disproving this theory.
Civility Plays No Role In a Civil Society
Its
not possible to love democracy and our republic and yet hate those we
elect to represent us. Healthy caution and oversight have been replaced
with cynicism and mistrust that are poorly grounded in fact. There are
no perfect politicians, but few deserve the steady dose of abuse,
criticism and personal attack that comes from the job. Simplistic
assertions about "developing a thick skin" overlook the probability
that a thick skin leads to a thick head. Excessive criticism of some
members of council while artificially praising others can lead our
community to a point where its just easier to tune it all out or
assume the worst. It can be well argued that we are taking our cues
from the wrong people when civility is no longer counted as a crucial
ingredient to good local government.
To reach Ashevilles best
we need to challenge ourselves to a higher standard than that modeled
by the persistently negative and critical elements of our community.
There are too many people receiving too much attention for ideas,
methodologies and agendas that do not withstand scrutiny.
If we
can nudge aside some of the myths and those who seek to divide us, we
have the wherewithal to go to good and special places–together.
|
