The Ligit Search bar to the right has changed in its operation, I know many of you had used it earlier last week - I'm working with Ligit to re-establish its functionality. You'll be able to search for your name and/or any pertinent topics once that's done. I'll let you know.
Plus, I'm contacting the various candidates to offer them a chance to post a statement on this blog. I will offer each space for a 250-word posting of anything they wish to highlight. If you are a candidate reading this, contact me at budanddakota@yahoo.com.
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12 comments:
Hey, Dan. How many folks read this blog anyway? I see only a few contributors. So if I am going to spend my time wisely, why post a platform here (as if readers don't know where I stand on things these days).
Note the Silver Mine sub mess is another indication of what happens at city hall. Wal-Mart gets the go ahead to open without completing its traffic mitigation commitments which endangered public safety, Eagles Place is allowed to bring in its tenants in the middle of a dangerous construction zone, the Cheese guys who got $2.4M don't have to contractually open a store ever at the Coal Creek Shopping Center, Hanna's Catering gets a $30,000 loan to open on Public Road from the URA, yet Silver Mine gets pounded by the city gov.
P.S. I'm quoted in the Camera on Monday suggesting the action the PC took,
Of course, there are many more readers of this blog than contributors, that's typical for blogs.
Those who are interested enough to read the blog are, no doubt, those who are active in local affairs. Either local politics, local businesses, or simply just more interested in what's going on than the average resident. Most likely to vote, as well.
Seems to me candidates who have specific and focused platforms would welcome the opportunity to publish those platforms on this blog.
It may be a small audience, but it's an important target audience.
Check the counter on the bottom right:
visitors since January 10, 2007:
4,704.
Since Kerry logs in every time he's near an open computer, you can subtract a few hundred, but that's a good number of views. If they were all Lafayette Residents, and surely they are not, you would have a good percentage of the voting population.
Are the other Councilors still listening? or are they afraid they may actually have to talk to Kerry if they post. Let's have a good discussion. There is a lot of room to solidify a good position on the subjects of the day.
Actually, Cyclo, I am considering going dark for a while. (theater term)
Work the math and subtracting weekends its an average of 27 per day. Assuming 2 a day per blogger, around 13 or so.
Besides I blog too much as you point out.
My take - there is a fear among politicians to participate in blogs. Blogging leaves them too vulnerable and exposed. It's too real.
They seem to prefer formalized forums, where the questions are predictable and answers are rehearsed. If they're going to participate in a public, on-the-fly discussion, they'd certainly prefer it not be in writing. Verbal quotes can be denied, or the blame can be placed on "out of context" quotes.
It takes a politician who is secure in their beliefs to actively participate in blogging.
Although I don't always agree with Kerry's positions, I respect his boldness in participating in the forum.
2 wishes - 1)That Kerry doesn't go "dark" just because the election is upon us, and 2)That other local politicians had the guts to put it all out there like Kerry does.
How much drama was that? I thought we might actually be going dark here... for 28 hours.
If this is a referendum on the use of the blog for campaigning, it's long overdue. No one ever before has asked permission to use this blog an outlet for whatever they wanted to say about Lafayette politics. If there had been a ban on campaigning, the blog would have been different a long time ago.
Maybe it is bold to put up words here. How much courage would be involved if you also had to admit you were wrong every once in a while? That might really excite people, I hope.
Whatever happens in the campaign, I think this blog will be some sort of factor. I will try to provide appropriate links for interested readers when ready.
We'd all be better off admitting when we're wrong. It's a sign of a healthy psyche. But, who decides when we're wrong?
Easy to admit when you're wrong if you're posting facts, and those facts are proven to be wrong.
However, most of what's posted to this blog is opinion. When is an opinion ever wrong?
Thanks for the support D-B.
The difference between me and most of the other bloggers is I have to vote on this stuff and set policy. I even study the stuff too which is an anomaly as well (oops).
There is too much conjecture and opinion in city government and not enough facts put on the table. Spin on the city admin and spin on the council, especially when the facts don't support the spin.
Over the weekend I took some time to look at Erie's budget. They post it and it is easy to look at in topic by topic. Lafayette doesn't. Ever wonder why?
Hint: Having run two campaigns for council, web sites played no role in either. I wish it did. Would make life easier. (That's a hint, Alex.)
There's a vast continuum between pure fact and pure opinion. One bridge between the two is analysis.
I think we should allow that some faulty analysis may be posted here from time to time. It's no use laying facts on the table if you apply the wrong analytic tools. Sometimes I read the banter here on the blog and sigh. Sometimes it is very wrong.
Whoops. Rah, rah! Your local politicians are infallible!!!
These comments, Alex, are exactly on target. But, do you sigh because the facts, or opinions, are wrong, or just not the same as yours?
And, remember, those who participate on this blog are those who care enough to learn "something" about the issues. The average citizen really makes one sigh.
What do you think, Doktorbombay? I never have a problem with different opinions, and I always have a problem with sloppy reasoning. If anyone has read this blog for any length of time and thinks I favor dogma over reason, there's not much more I can do.
I respect your input Alex, and consider you to be one of the more consistent, and open minded, of the current bloggers.
I don't always agree, but that's how this works.
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