Letter: Hypocrisy runs amok in Tiverton ’stop power grab’ campaign

Posted 10/17/18

To the editor
‘Tis the season! The lawn signs are out and the letters are flooding in to the editor.

For the record, I’m a registered independent voter and believe that thinking critically …

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Letter: Hypocrisy runs amok in Tiverton ’stop power grab’ campaign

Posted

To the editor
‘Tis the season! The lawn signs are out and the letters are flooding in to the editor.

For the record, I’m a registered independent voter and believe that thinking critically about an issue is better than being cornered into an ideology and set of principles that were established before I was born. My political compass spans the “aisle.” However, what motivates me to write today is the ramping up of the TTA rhetoric.

Since its inception, this seemingly well-funded group seems to be at the head of the pack with all the fear mongering and dis-(or cleverly edited) information. I bet that the closer we get to November we will see an uptick in this campaign. The assumed forthcoming inundation of glossy postcards seems to serve only one purpose: To capitalize on and dissuade the unfortunately mostly un-engaged electorate.

This is not meant to upset anyone. The “un-engaged” label is an acknowledgement that after working full-time, family responsibilities, and a bit of fun, there is not a lot of time left to boil down the nitty-gritty of town politics. I think it’s safe to say, that the folks at the top of this “TTA Slate” pursue their agenda with so much energy, fervor and intent that it would be difficult to match. I can only imagine what the source of all this energy is. I don’t believe it is anything positive and only leaves me with more questions than answers.

When reading signs that say, “Stop the power grab”, I wonder if a more truthful statement is “Concede the power to us”, because is it not the same power that you seek to control? If I stood on the other side, could I not label your intent as a “power grab”?

Then I see, “Casino revenue = lower taxes” with a directive to not approve charter amendments. I always thought that folks on the political right were all about being financially prudent. Following that logic, is it not prudent to pay down debt ahead of schedule and avoid the burden of all the interest that makes the banks happy to do business with you? While I understand that sometimes debt is unavoidable, isn’t the key to financial freedom not to be shackled down with it? To lower my individual tax burden by pennies on the dollar now — to keep me paying longer -- makes no sense to me. Isn’t that the definition of “penny wise, pound foolish”? It is my hope that maybe these questions would be answered someday. Time will tell.

In closing, I hope and encourage all interested parties to think for themselves and vote their conscience rather than being led to a group-think conclusion by a well-planned, steady drip of selected information. In this era of identity politics, the seeds of division are being sown so rampantly that I worry for my children’s sake what fruit will come of it. There is no unity in division, but in unity there is strength.

Tyson Gerlach

Tiverton

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Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.