I read, with great surprise, the letter the Cleveland Heights-University Heights League of Women Voters wrote following the panel they held September 11 about Issue 81. Now, I have moments of cognitive feebleness, forgetfulness, but I have to wonder if the 15 women of the League were actually at the same event I was.
I have heard of mass hysteria, such as that of young pilgrim girls back in the 1600’s with regard to witchcraft. I’ve also witnessed a mob mentality when a crowd will conduct itself in a manner far from what the individuals would do if alone. But I do wonder what condition could cause all 15 women of the League to hear so many “facts” they cite in their letter that were never discussed or presented at that event on September 11.
For example, according to the letter, these 15 “unbiased” women heard a description of a “comprehensive K-12 plan”. I remember being quite worn out on that evening and even had to rest my head on my arms at some points, and I don’t remember dozing off. But somehow I missed any description of a comprehensive K-12 plan. I do remember hearing vague details of what Issue 81 will accomplish for the high school and two middle schools, but very little was mentioned about the second $80-$100 million bond that will be needed in 7-10 years to improve any elementary school.
I’m all for providing good, solid education, and I can believe that the high school’s science wing may need more room or need to replace equipment. However, such details were never discussed on this evening –unless, of course, someone on the panel was speaking in code. That could explain why these 15 “unbiased” women heard mention of outmoded technology and science equipment and I didn’t. I do remember hearing that Issue 81--which will fund the razing-construction-renovation of the three schools and cost $154 million by taxing us $0.599/$100 of residential tax valuation for 38 years--will enable the science facilities to meet state standards. My curiosity about what specific standards, though, was never satisfied.
(Of course, that’s a whole lot of money to meet unspecified state standards that aren’t contained in any documents I could get my hands on.)
And the urgency—again, these 15 women heard what I didn’t about the need for it. Who was it that used some kind of mind-melding, telepathy, or whatever to implant the “financial benefits to acting now” into the unbiased brains of the League members. Now, I feel truly left out, cause I missed that as well. I wonder who it was that listed the financial benefits when a school district borrows $63 million more than the $90 million it would be legally allowed to borrow in normal conditions.
Maybe its not “mystical” at all. It could be these 15 women experienced, en masse, aural hallucinations. Such a symptom, I’ve heard, is related to some forms of dementia. Poor judgement is also a symptom of dementia. I guess that could explain how someone might view an overly ambitious, excessive capital-improvement plan as an “essential improvement to educational opportunity”. That is so sad.