Friends of Brookfield
Is "Brookfieldgate" slowly revealing itself here in Brookfield or something far more nefarious and sinister slowly rising into public view for the first time? You decide after reading this...
"A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right." - Thomas Paine
(Purple Bold Italics are comments, questions and observations interwoven with the original letter to the editor)
Translating Newspeak (1984 Revisited in Brookfield)...
A reply to the "Brookfield Critic, Come Forward" Letter to the Editor by The Brookfield Party Leaders
Friday, May 29, 2009, The Housatonic Times
Dear Editor:
Many of us have been bombarded by misinformation (OK, let's see exactly who is the arbiter of facts, right? Who has declared themselves god and only "they" can decide? It appears the Republican and Democratic Town Committee Chairpersons have done so, right?) and innuendo (She appears to have been pretty direct, I think. Don't you? While I may not agreed with everything she's said, it appears she had " good intentions " as a citizen volunteer for honest government. There are always divergent opinions I think and divergent opinions should be tolerated in a democracy in my mind.) via a site that calls itself Brookfield United (What difference does the name of a website make?), signed by a person, Chris Patrone, who is not listed in the Brookfield phone book (So what? Whatever happened to the constitutional right to privacy? And what if, like half the people today under the age of 40, she only uses cell phone service?) nor, and more to the point, is this person a registered voter (Exactly what law is on the books that a person can only express a political opinion if they are a registered voter? Or if they only use their maiden name? Or if, like Thomas Paine, writes anonymously because of the fear of retribution by King George - or in this case King Flynn and Queen Park - for speaking out on issues she feels are most offensive in local government and decides to actually take some action to bring attention to the general populace of what she perceives as going on? - as an opinion beyond the biased and filtered local newspapers. Here we go again. Is this the requirement of those who have declared themselves the political god's of Brookfield and have anointed themselves as Arbiters of the Grand Inquisition?)
He/she has never, to our knowledge (So the fact that they are ignorant of any knowledge is grounds for the Public Inquisition of private citizens if they dare to speak up with ideas contrary to the "Powers That Be" / The Party?), been to a public hearing (Exactly how do they know that? Do they scour the signup sheets to speak to people privately in the parking lot or hallways afterwards? To call them on the phone? To write them anonymous letters? ) or attended any commission meeting (Again, exactly what is the requirement to attend a commission meeting to disagree with what a board or commission has promulgated? Who made this law up? The Political gods of Brookfield?), has never voiced his/ her concerns to any town official (How do they know she hasn't? Because she hasn't spoken to "Them"? - the Political gods of Brookfield? Shades of idolatry!), elected or otherwise (Otherwise? How CONDESCENDING! They take appointed people and place them is a separate class - the elite "Inner Party"? You can tell how much "They" appreciate people who are appointed, no?), yet seems to be filled with ideas (Filled with ideas? Is that a crime?) of what is wrong with our town (translated: dare to disagree with their political agenda?) and interested in communicating (Heaven forbid! Shades of George Orwell's 1984! Political gods in Brookfield want all ideas and thoughts scrubbed before communicating them i.e. the "Ministry of Truth". They must subscribe to the Cultural Revolution model the Chinese invented when they had problems with people "communicating" unapproved thoughts - hereby exposed as Thought Criminals ) that to anyone (God forbid they communicate to anyone but those on the "approved" list?) but those that can actually work (Anyone think that is the problem? That they AREN'T working to address them?) to address the perceived problems (Perceived? More condescending? Is that like "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder?" Maybe we can have a referendum on it so people can express their opinions on issues like the town's financial condition without the fear of personal retribution? If there really are issues - and my perception is there are - what difference does it make WHO surfaces them? Why is this about WHO and not WHAT? Why the political concern about WHO and no focus on WHAT like the condition of the town's PENSION PLAN? The town's FUND BALANCE?).
This person, whoever he or she is, seems to have many misconceptions (Is that because the politicians fail at good communications about how the town government is supposed to work? Exactly how have they outreached? The local bars after meetings? Is that their idea of reaching out to families?) about how the Town of Brookfield works (Behind the scenes? Ethics violations found guilty? Illegal meetings found under FOI law?) and yet has no qualms about communicating those misconceptions without any concern for facts (AH! The fact god and goddess are back. The gospel according to Saint Marty and Saint Joni. They have again appeared to smite those who would dare to think different than they - expose the Thought Criminals! Hold the Inquisitions! Purge the Party!)
It is indicative of an uninformed person to hide behind an alias (Yes, indeed, over the ages we - the enlightened and anointed - now label Thomas Paine, Ben Franklin and many other of the country's founding fathers to be "UNIFORMED PERSONS" - shades of the Tory Party, the Hessians and King George!), spew forth accusations (Heresy! Burn her at the stake! Here come the Witch Trials!) that cannot publicly be corrected (Why not? There are many venues of communication. Just look at 1984 and the ONE TRUE Republi-crat Party for a model of how to do it. It is readily apparent that no effort has been made whatsoever except for the Vacancy Inquisitions of the town's political parties.) and claim to have a better way (I haven't read that she had a better way, but rather she wanted to support people who had an ALTERNATE WAY to do it since, in her eyes the current way has failed miserably and she wanted to put her support there) to do it without giving any actual solutions. (Shouldn't the current officeholders be doing that? Isn't what they were elected to do? Be responsive to input instead of dismissing it out of hand? Shouldn't THEY be held accountable for the mess the town now finds itself in? Does the term "throw the bums out" apply in this year's elections?)
It is our concern that we or the public have no way of responding to these perceived problems, so we ask that anyone with questions about our government, the individuals who are currently in office as volunteers for their town, or other issues that are raised come to a public meeting of the board in question and voice your concern, or send an email to the Board of Selectmen, or call either of the town chairs so we may publicly respond to your concerns. (Unless you are a member of the "elite" Inner Party, be prepared for no reply.)
Transparency in our government is our goal. (Goal? That's an admission that it currently is not. That every question or request for information requires a Freedom of Information filing with the Town Clerk and in many cases, no response for months and even years. That transparency? The refusal to post the town treasurers report on the town website like other towns? The town audit like other towns? The detailed town budget like other towns? The detailed monthly financial statements like other towns? The quarterly pension statements like other towns? Meeting minutes on a timely basis like other towns? Meeting change notices like other towns? That type of transparency?)
You cannot have that when people circulate unsubstantiated accusations (Why not list them and respond to them with information and not opinion that that is the case?) while hiding behind false names (Ben Franklin, Thomas Paine, James Madison and all our other founding fathers must be turning over in their graves on that one since they all wrote anonymously. Wonder if the powers that be failed social studies. They sure didn't read.) or anonymous organizations (Oh great, no wonder the Masons have no hall in Brookfield with that attitude) with no public leaders (Why? Because you want to attack the public leader instead of addressing the problems? It sure sounds like that is the case. Has there been INVESTIGATIONS on private citizens by members of the Republican or Democratic town committees? What will Freedom of Information requests of public leader's and elected party committee members emails reveal? It is high time that we begin to do that to provide an open and honest government that is transparent for the people of Brookfield?)
We stand behind open, honest and ethical government (It's obvious to many that you certainly haven't stood FOR open, honest and ethical government! An example is the tortuous journey of the ethics adhoc committee. It has now taken more time to try and put together than the United States Constitution when you look back over the last 18 months.) If Mr. (Ms.?) Patrone does too then he/she will step forward and work with us to confront the challenges we face in Brookfield. (Why? Because you the elected can't? Perhaps it's time to step aside and let new people in with new ideas instead of party decorated re-threads. Brookfield deserves better than the last six years.)
Joni Park, Chairwoman (AKA "Big Sister"?)
Democratic Town Committee (AKA "The Also Rans"?)
Marty Flynn, Chairman (AKA "Big Brother"?)
Republican Town Committee (AKA "The Inquisitionors"?)
Psssst...pass it on. Get Cranky.
Continue to send this email to all your friends, neighbors and relatives as you have and help re-invent a 21st century town that wants accountability for the tax and grant dollars it gets and gives.
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Please continue to write back with your tips, observations and rumors of what is going on in Brookfield's public schools and government. Like Jodi, we want good government.
Let us know what you think is both right and wrong with the public's business of education and governance in Brookfield. We won't prejudge you nor reveal you as a source.
Happy with the direction of the results shown in test scores? Wonder where the school activity receipts went over the last few years? Have a safety issue that concerns you? Fearful of retribution from Board of Education members? From Board of Finance members? From Selectmen? Been "talked to"?
Drop us a line. Many do and thank you for doing so. See an injustice? Let us know so we can let all your neighbors know and get a consensus of opinion in the community...
We'll focus the discussion on issues that all of you. Thanks for all your support and sharing your issues. As always these represent opinions and thoughts and any conclusions you draw are yours to do.
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