Higher Ground? Really?

Mr. Simon just published a letter titled “Moving Toward Higher Ground.” Sounded promising. 

In it, though, he makes 3 arguments:

1. The voters have all the information they need,
2. The level of hostility from anonymous commenters on both sides has gotten out of control, and finally...
3. I am somehow the cause of this debacle.

I’ll say again what I said last week… The vast majority of citizens in our town do not yet have a clear sense of what the candidates stand for. They don't know who Mr. Simon, or how he differs on the issues from each of the other candidates. To address this, a group of citizens – and that’s all One Sudbury is – designed an event to help people who couldn't get to events participate more fully in the process. In response to an invitation to participate in that event, Mr. Simon and Mr. Woodard got together to deliver a coordinated response, denying voters with work obligations or childcare challenges a voice. In the process Mr. Simon called it "a charade," and accused me of all manner of ulterior motive.

Next he points out there's been bad behavior and overly hostile rhetoric on both sides. I agree, and join him in calling for a more civil discourse.

In a twist of irony befitting a French film, he then goes on to name me 6 times, the last of which is to accuse me of issuing a "veiled warning." Like I'm Tony Soprano or something. Is that higher ground to which you referred, Mr. Simon?

There was nothing veiled in what I said. If you shut down the debate, the hostility will persist. That's it. Was I wrong? Does anyone sense their withdrawal has had a healing effect on the town? Because I do not.

This town is polarized because a narrow group of insiders have taken control of it, and gradually dismantled the well-established means by which regular citizens can understand, participate in, and shape decisions that effect their families, their homes, and their lives. People outside that circle have now had enough. They are angry, and that makes the people inside feel attacked, and close ranks even more tightly. Now we're in a death spiral of paranoia and distrust, where a novel approach to a town debate is seen as some kind of partisan attack. 

The only way out is a 5-member BOS of independent people with broader representation than we've had for a long time, and a shift back toward transparency, accountability, and citizen participation. You will not get us there, Mr. Simon. Of that I am now quite sure.