Welcome to another contributor under the Publius byline
Peace In Atkinson said...
Publius: Article Submission
AND THE ISSUE IS?
Why do people try to discredit those who speak out or ask questions about the practices and decisions by our town officials? These personal attacks do nothing for the level of discourse in this town. If people have factual information to add to the conversation, that is welcomed. But please stick to facts. Slanderous attacks do nothing but make everyone look bad. Have we sunk so low that we can't openly and honestly discuss issues affecting our town? Do we have to be so far entrenched in our positions that it is impossible for us to consider others perspectives?
The discussion is about issues. Not personalities or people.
There seems to be a pattern of people making claims that someone has a "vendetta" or they're being "vindictive" or have a "personal conflict" or question a motive saying "Is it personal in nature?" Those being attacked get defensive, voices get louder and the whole message is lost and everyone suffers.
This is no way to communicate. I would ask us all to pay close attention to the negative, personal attack kind of behavior and stick to the issues. We have much to fix in this town and we can only make progress when we raise the level of discourse and discuss the issues.
THE ISSUE IS.....discussing the issue, not the people.
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ATKINSON's Vietnam HONOR ROLL as VOTED and PASSED by 2005 Town Meeting and re-approved at Special Town Meeting Sept. 12
EDITORIAL-
A voice of compassion, an example of fairness and reasonable government.
One who believes in the strength and comfort you, your children and your family can draw from good government leadership.
A person who knows Atkinson is our home -- our most important possession that must be preserved and protected through fair taxes and sound community planning and where our children must be safe to grow to become a new generation of leaders.
One who knows that the citizens of Atkinson are all neighbors with her leadership to be dedicated and responsive to all.
One who believes that when those from Atkinson have served our nation and honors are deserved, those honors must be given.
In Valerie Tobin, we now have a leader we know we can entrust with these responsibilities because they are part of her character.
It is our honor to endorse Valerie for election to Atkinson’s Board of Selectmen.
Just a note for those who wish to count the deer.
In January 08 this blog had 16,000 hits and 1,500 unique visitors (for the month).
In 2007 this blog had over 100,000 hits and 5,750 unique visitors (for the year).
In 2007 this blog had over 100,000 hits and 5,750 unique visitors (for the year).
EDITORIAL-
"I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense . . ." [TP, 1776]
We take no small measure of umbrage at such a hostile official act against this BLOG’s patron. Therefore, a timely Editorial comment is both appropriate and necessary.
Discussion of Atkinson’s financial direction, from any viewpoint, is fundamental and encouraged and we will always attempt to limit and correct errors.
However, Righteous indignation towards purported error of such inconsequential nature is not appropriate.
The ENTIRE car deal is problematic. If it was caused by poor judgement, improper exercise of authority, neglect or mistake or even specious reasoning, this will never trump the facts that the entire questionable transaction started and ended within a very small circle of confidants.
We find the entire circumstances surrounding the disposition of the police Cruiser highly irregular at the least and the "explanations" somewhat trifling and exhaustive of our intellect.
Mr. Consentino: It’s time to go. Being Chief of Atkinson’s Police Department is NOT a birthright. That is a fabled legend of yesteryear.
Historically in Atkinson, police chief appointments were made "under the hand of the selectmen" for terms of one year at a time, as was also the case in the beginning of Mr. Consentino’s assorted and discontinuous stream of appointments to this position.
Your only remaining credential established on a claim of indispensability has faded.
So time is neigh. Plan a graceful exit, Clean out your desk, Accept the gratitude and tearful sentiments from some. We plan no editorial recriminations. It is time. Thank you for your service, We wish you a long and happy retirement. Bon Voyage.
LETTER
"To All Atkinson Residents,
I am writing to ask for your help. A member of the Atkinson Police Department needs our help. I am here to ask for your help in Corporal John Lapham's fight for his life. As you are aware, John has been diagnosed with Leukemia. He has been once again hospitalized with an infection that is threatening his life. He is one of the bravest people that I have ever met. He has never asked of anything from the residents of the town. Now is our chance to step up and help both him and his family out. As everyone is aware John has been out of work for a few months. His family has been busy helping John to get better. He needs our help, and I am hoping that this town can step up to the plate and help. From the moment that I met John, I have admired him. He does alot, but never asks for anything in return. He has helped so many people in this town. I for one am one of those people. Please help him.
There is a fund set-up in his name at TDBanknorth in Plaistow. Any amount will help John, while he is out of work. It would be great if this town could help ease a burden off his wife.
Thank You
Also if anyone would like to send a card, please address it to:
John Lapham
c/o Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Ctr.
Inpatient mail
75 Francis Street
Boston, MA 02115
United States
Please show Corporal John Lapham, that this community can stand up and show our support to those in need. I for one, miss John and can not wait until he can get better and return to work. Please show him that we support him. "
16 comments:
I just read Mr. Acciard's lawsuit against the town at atkinsontaxpayers.org
And I have to say, most everything in there I saw happen my self on TV while watching selectmen's meetings. And I remember thinking at the time, what would I do if they were trashing my name like that before the entire town?
I have heard Mr. Sapia claim that Mr. Acciard has a personality conflict with chief Consentino, and I have heard the chief claim that Mr. Acciard has a "vendetta" against him, But I have to say...
If you treated me the way you have treated him, I would sue you as well!
Mr. Acciard, I for one, thank you for taking great care to separate the towns responsibility from the individuals responsibility.
Hopefully a judge will agree with you, and for once the town will not have to pay for the arrogane of Mr. Sapia and Mr. Consentino!
Anonymous 11:30 P.M. said it perfectly.
It's no small thing to take on the task of trying to hold our town officials accountable for their abuse of town residents.
Town officials have unlimited taxpayer's funds to pay for their legal costs to defend their abusive behavior while a town resident is on his own, finance-wise. It takes a special courage for a town resident to take on those odds.
Then, amazingly, there's always some panderer to these abusive town officials who will then have the nerve and gall to criticize the town resident because of the law suit and say it is the town resident's fault for the amount of money in legal bills which the town officials uncaringly cost the town.
Thesse syncopants are disgusting when they blame the town resident victim for daring to stand up to the corrupt officals rather than correctly blame the bullying and abusive town officials who caused the lawsuit.
Go, Mark !! Hold them responsible!
You and anyone else who takes on our corrupt town officials in court deserve our praise and thanks for your courage. We all benefit when one or a few stand up and fight for us residents to not be subjected to official abuse.
It seems to be ingrained in politicians to "kill the messenger" when they can nt argue the facts. We see this at the local and federal level. Some have raised to an art form and even have implemented "war rooms" to manage organized campaigns of harassment and intimidation of those who had factual but unflattering information about the "official" being protected.
The difference, at the local level, is that it should be a lot easier to hold the officials accountable. Hopefully the voter will do just that in the next election cycle.
Good luck to the good people pf Atkinson and good luck to Mark in his fight to correct a terrible wrong.
"THE ISSUE IS.....discussing the issue, not the people."
The point is, the actions of our town administrators and the people they are responsible for, is the issue.
Example. If someone in my company, and probably all companies in the private sector, used the company letterhead to berate and threaten anyone, they'd be fired post haste.
This type of activity has been publicly documented, and I believe to be behavior way over the top. That is an issue.
To Peace,
Im sorry im not sure if you have been paying attention, but slanderous attacks seem to happen every time any one defends the PD..or the Officers. Like the Suck up comment..or riding the gravy train..so im sorry if i seem a little bitter to you. I try not to attack anyone but there are certain comments on this blog that are not facts...they are twisted..and this upsets me..so when i see something i have read in the paper and it gets twisted around to make people look incompetent, I feel the need to defend these issues.
January 18, 2008 5:01 PM
So, what facts has the paper twisted?
Some of the comments on this site "upsets" you! And the way things have been done in our towns government dos not? What about the way the board conducts themselves? Screaming at residents and making slanderous remarks. Not doing what the "majority" of voters ask them to do....Oh I forgot for a minute, this is Atkinson where it has been and still is a dictatorship.
OBTW There is nothing "twisted" in the court rulings on the Taxpayers site or maybe the Judges findings were twisted...
As someone mentioned before, if what the paper states is untrue, the person suffering from mistatement of facts should sue the newspaper. But the public documents on www.AtkinsonTaxpayers.org speak for themselves. Seems to me the facts are clear. If they aren't then we need to see documented facts to the contrary. Pay close attention to the word "documented".
How about when someone makes a statement in the paper..and people on this blog twist thier words around...What do we do then????
Give an example please
Ok well... i've given these examples before...speeding while talking on cell phone... and the sprinkler system at Atkinson Academy...thats 2.
And what about those two examples were "twisted" or misharacterized in any way?
Well.... I recall reading in the paper that Lt. Baldwin stated that you could receive a ticket if you were SPEEDING and on your phone..it was twisted around to say, He said if you were caught talking on your phone while driving you would receive a ticket..also the sprinkler system was twisted saying he said because they hadnt had a fire there was no real concern. Not what was stated in the paper. so these are a couple of things that i have concern about.I would just like to see the facts stay the facts.Thanks...
RE: 10:52 - In light of what has been discussed here, that's a little weak. Any examples of what could be considered libelous?
libel - noun
1. a false and malicious publication printed for the purpose of defaming a living person
You may feel this is "weak" but I dont think its right to twist words to try make someone look incompetent. Thats Just my opinion..
When it come to the BOS and some of their henchmen, you don't have to twist anything around to show how incopentent they are.
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