At the Democratic picnic in Greenfield’s Oak Park, Arnie Arnesen weaved three recent events together to show that a people alert, informed and active can restore and revitalize our democracy from Main Street to Capitol Hill.
In Croydon, newcomers, a Libertarian couple, became chairs of the selectmen and the school committee. They engineered a 50 percent cut in the school budget by a 20-14 vote at Town Meeting. Not many people had showed up. It would cost families thousands of dollars to keep their kids in public schools. Once the townspeople woke up to this, they were alarmed.
Was there a way to reverse the action? Yes, call a special meeting, get least 283 voters to attend. The turnout was 379. The vote in favor of restoring school funding was 377-2. It was an example of the danger of inattention but also of what an informed, active community can accomplish.
Next up was Gunstock, a very Republican town, where Libertarians took over the board that manages the ski resort. Privatize the operation. Cut jobs held by townspeople. Focus on the bottom line. Even the Republicans were shocked by the impact this would have on their community and its decades-old ski resort. They joined efforts to block the changes and keep Gunstock for its people and what it had been for decades.
Finally Arnie talked about Republican Kansas. A recent vote there on removing a constitutional right to abortion was defeated by 60 percent to 40 percent. Arnie showed what needs to be done. Know the facts. Be vigilant. Support what is important to you. And vote for what Americans can be proud of – public schools, respect and support for public institutions and protection of a women’s right to manage her own life.
Ronald Cheney
Francestown