IT'S ALL IN OUR HANDS

I've been accused by many of being negative with all that I have written since I started this blog; and much of what I have written has been negative. However, one cannot begin to resolve a problem until they first admit that there is a problem. Considering the recent response of the townspeople I think we have finally realized that Egremont has a problem and we need to address it. Now the real work begins.

Tuesday night will either be a rallying point or place of surrender. This town meeting is not about me or my blog or even my negativity; it’s about our way of life. Our town government is supposed to be set up with checks and balances. The Board of Selectmen serve in an advisory role; but its primary function is to administer the will of the people as expressed at the annual town meeting. The Finance committee has an advisory role as well. Its function is to keep a check on the financial aspects of the town and advise the people. They’re the guardian of the purse. The police department is there to keep law and order. But the legislative branch of our town government is vested only in the people. We have to get our town back on track and Tuesday night is the night to do it. 

There is a small group of people trying to keep the power out of the hands of the people. The only way to stop them is to take the power back. We only diminish our power when we don’t voice our opinion. We relinquish our power when we don’t vote. The only way this small group of people can win is if we the people are either too afraid or too apathetic to exercise our right to govern ourselves. We are the lawmakers. Tuesday night at 7pm at Mt Everett school we have a chance to tell this small group of people that we are taking back our rightful authority. 

Some people are giving me credit for doing something that needed to be done. I didn't do a whole lot. I simply voiced something that needed to be spoken. I simply listened and heard what people have been whispering for a long time. What people may have thought but never dared utter. Don’t look at me as though I have anything special going on, I’m just like you, I have only one vote. Look within yourselves; together WE HAVE THE POWER IN ALL OF OUR HANDS. We are a democracy. A democracy is where every vote is equal and none are more equal than others. There is only one vote that doesn't count; it is the vote that has never been cast. Please come out and cast your vote; I assure you it will count.