It makes even more sense if you take more of the dialogue from that scene between the Captain and Luke:
Captain: You gotta get used to wearing them chains after a while, Luke. Don't you never stop listening to them clinking, 'cause they gonna remind you what I been saying for your own good.
Luke: I wish you'd stop being so good to me, Captain.
Captain: Don't you ever talk that way to me. (Hits Luke) Never! Never! What we've got here is failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach. So you get what we had here last week, which is the way he wants it.
You'll thank me for this one day, Luke...
And per IMDb (the Internet Movie Database), here's the synopsis of Cool Hand Luke:A man refuses to conform to life in a rural prison.
That sounds like a good summation of life in Port Angeles for a lot of people.
So...Anyone surprised? Any thoughts? Next steps?
Dan Gase sure knows how to boost his potential business. Piss everyone off so much so that they decide to leave town (maybe even just for the county) and have to put their house up for sale.
ReplyDeleteBut then again, that's probably attributing both too much intelligence and foresight to Mr. Gase and his cohorts.
I can't help but think of "Jules" quote in Pulp Fiction:
ReplyDeleteThere's a passage I got memorized. Ezekiel 25:17. "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know I am the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you."
I have no idea what happened last night - there is zilch in the PDN online or PoC - can anyone give a briefing?
ReplyDeleteThe meeting of the city council was well attended..I'd guess 150-160 people (the glass garage door was open, and there was seating set up in both directions). There was nearly 4 hours of public comment, the majority against, but some of the fluoride shills (a few dentists, Dr. Tom Locke, the Delta Dental whore, etc). For the most part the audience was quite polite, and applauded after each anti-fluoride speaker.
DeleteThere was SMALL minority of pro-fluoride old unattractive middle aged women who were nasty and arrogant as hell, who tried to make up for their minority numbers by being loud with the few pro-fluoride shills who spoke.
The pro-fluoride sat MOSTLY in the front two rows, by the way. weird.
The city council sat glassy eyed and tried to not fall asleep, from what I could see.
Then at 10pm, 4 hours after the meeting started when the council began to debate the issue. Sissi and Lee and Mike were for getting fluoride out of the water. The city staff has promoted some ideas...like option #5...fluoride out, and then set up a committee to come up with other options (option #3 was just taking fluoride out). There were other options like city funding to get filters for those who didn't want fluoride (rejected for costs, by all).
Mike favored #3. I think Lee favored #3. Sissi favored #5, and Brad Collins, initially said he favored that as well. Looked hopeful.
The Cherie gave us a HISTORY lesson of the founding of PA, and couldn't get the dates straight...even said that PA was founded in 2006...wow, was she out of it. Made me wonder if she had gone senile, because it was so dumb and flustered there was no other explanation, except, perhaps she was more a moron than I'd even ventured to consider. She said she wanted fluoride because, because, because of the wonderful things it does.
Then the anti-democracy limp dick fascist Gase spoke...blah blah blah. For Fluoride. (As was his butt-buddy Pillage...is that is name? whatever, Dick..yeah, he IS A dick. That pathetic head Republican honcho around here. Sorry excuse for a male.) Anyway, Gase sounded like a school kid parroting what his father told him to say.
Then, Collins, just blustered about. He wanted to seem "middle of the road" when all he was ...was fat around the middle. Boring.
And then, Grandpa Downie spoke up. He said that democracy is polite, and the thugs in the audience were rude, and that they couldn't bully him. He sounded like an old man yelling at the kids to get off his lawn. Really sad. Pathetic. So, he said he wouldn't change his vote because he wouldn't be bullied.
Then the meeting went on ...with Cherie getting "confused" and voicing that frequently, and all of the stuff dragged on for an eternity. The meeting ended slightly after midnight.
Downie tried to make it that only people who hadn't spoken before could speak at the final comment period. There were three speakers, two who HAD spoken before.
At the very end there were still more people in attendance than the last years worth of city council meetings.
That is the summary that the PDN would never run.
This might be the lamest group of city council members ever assembled. A senile old woman, a fat woman-harassing doofus, an lap dog, and an old man.
I am so sorry that our three good council members must put up with these fools.
I am sorry the city must put up with these lame duck losers. I am so ashamed of our city, as should all who attended, or cared.
Thanks for the synopsis! I'm beginning to think Cherie Kidd is Port Angeles' Sarah Palin? Same godawful voice, overly madeup, rambling and ignorant.
DeleteThey made a decision last night, those four, to forever change the style of government in Port Angeles.
ReplyDeleteAs a human I am prone to make error, more than most I fear. When I am confronted with that error, when I see how it may have adversely affected another I don't double down. I stop. I reflect; "what could I do better? can I eat a little humble pie and admit my mistake?"
Yes, there are certain areas in my life where I am unable to compromise, such as when my action may harm another, or if my action may wound a person's spirit. In cases like this I will die on my principles.
Those four on the council that again reaffirmed their prior vote displayed none of these desirable traits. I just showed how uncompromising they are. I don't know what their private lives are like, but I have known others who have displayed these same unreasonable traits. They have left a wake of hurt spouses and scarred children. And. They. Feel. Totally. Justified.
What I saw last night was that these four people will not listen to reason. They showed total lack of judgment and discernment. How can this behavior be rewarded? It cannot be. It must be met head on. Change the form of government. Confront and defeat this bully activity.
here here. I will, with a heavy heart, sign the petition to change the government form just to out the bad apples in the barrel.
DeleteThen, I hope we can change it back.
Even Dick Pillage showed up to speak up against Democracy. I guess he wanted to give his little pal, Gase, some moral support.
ReplyDeleteI have never been so disgusted with four incredibly stupid people in my life. They fail to grasp that the issue is that the people are frustrated. Very frustrated. They are creating this "mob".
And, with Grandfather Downie lecturing and banging his gavel, and scolding, he just lost any credibility of being a rational or sane man.
No one wanted to change the form of government, not really, but now, yeah baby. Burn baby, burn.
Pat Downie suggests it is because of the unruly crowd that he cannot support ending fluoridation. What a ninny. He gets to be the mayor when the present government is disbanded and a new, more responsive government takes over. He will get to look each of the city staff and employees in the eye and explain to them that the unruly crowd costs them their jobs. Within the new forms of government the people can decide exactly what they want and how it is to be arranged. We may be able to get rid of a good portion of the city's debt at the same time. In the meantime plan to bring someone with you to the next council meeting. These are becoming the greatest show in town and all for free. Start thinking tail-gate parties complete with live musical entertainment on the parking lot. Everyone should sign up for the Public Comment period at the beginning of each council meeting. Even if you use your 3 minutes to stand silent they have to allow you to do your silent protest. Or, if you prefer, bring a guitar and serenade the council with "The times they are a'changing" or read a poem, do magic tricks, anything to keep the council from getting to their agenda until ten or eleven PM. Then they still have their regular work to do and may not get out till one or two am. A few long nights like that will soften them up to reason--maybe.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of the silent protests. I like the idea of bags of peanuts and popcorn. City Hall and Council Chambers are heated, and have bathrooms. It's probably more comfortable to occupy than, say, a remote bird sanctuary. (There are only turkeys and chickens in City Hall, however...)
DeleteOCCUPY!
DeleteWhat a legacy Downie has brought upon himself. Poor soul. He knows not the folly of his ignorance.
DeleteGiven the years, no, DECADES of shady characters, incompetent fools and bad decisions that have come out of City Hall, I am now fully supportive of the idea of changing the structure of the city. The fact that city staff don't want it to happen only serves to vouch for it as a desirable option from my perspective.
ReplyDeleteWe've tried electing good, intelligent people, and that hasn't worked. Besty Wharton? Co-opted by Karen Rogers. Max Mania? Got out while the getting was good. Larry Little got out even before he got to see how bad it is. Sissi Bruch? Plays nice, but that's about it.
Staff still run things. The city still suffers. We all are falling further and further behind. Except for the entrenched city staff.
So yes, let's change the charter, take their keys, and at least try something truly radical and truly new. Business as usual, elections and public comment time, isn't working. It's time, way past time, to hit reset and try again, start from scratch.
The City Council members really don't have a clue. It was embarrassing to listen to them, last night.
ReplyDeleteDownie tried to create some kind of moral high ground, saying he and the council would not succumb to "intimidation". It was ridiculous. They ask the people for guidance in what they know is a controversial issue, ignore the vote results, and then adopt a position they know the majority don't want. THEN they get all "moral" when people get frustrated, and start yelling at them "You're not listening".
I don't think they understand what they have started.
If they think people are going to say " Oh, okay, I'll be quiet now", they are on the heavy meds.
No one is going to stop until they resign. It is only going to get worse and worse.
Members of the public voicing their opinions, their desires, to the elected officials meant to be there to serve them is now "intimidation"? Oh, okay. I guess I'll update my dictionary.
DeleteSee also: Clueless; pathetic.
They have riled up the intelligent, the educated, and the people of town that they should be appealing to.
DeleteThe joke is that if they had gotten rid of fluoride the town would be celebrated as "progressive" "enviable" and "smart". It would have gotten national news. It would have promoted this town as something desirable. Instead they want to sit in the mud....backward and stupid.
Thanks PA. Now give the EDC more money to promote this sows ear as a silk purse.
I wish they'd just go with the option to stop flouridation. I don't trust that they have any ability to manage a public health program without just wasting more dollars. The pro flouridation folks seem to stand on this concept that they must add flouride for the better good of those who cannot afford dental care, yet the same Council doesn't seem to want to invest in mental health, or other social programs to assist those in need in this town. They just have to have some statement to hide behind because they don't have any rational reason to go against their constituents will.
DeleteFluoridated water comes into every home. there's no avoiding it.
ReplyDeleteThe bill from the city for that water comes to every home. There's no avoiding it.
Our taxes pay for the city government, the same one that keeps ignoring and screwing us. There's no avoiding any of that, either.
My suggestion is to take the battle to the workplaces of the Fluoride Four. Pickets, pamphlets, whatever it takes to shame them and get them to go.
Make this something that THEY can't avoid.
It boggles my mind to think that medical professionals including Dr. Locke are so adamant about adding fluoride to what would otherwise be some of the purest public water on earth. It almost sounds like the doctors/dentists are feeling personally threatened by the overwhelming public resistance to their position on this issue.
ReplyDeleteIsn't there any doctor or dentist on the North Olympic Peninsula who is willing to go against the herd and at least endorse the concept that people have a right to choose on this issue, and that elected officials should heed the will of the people?
What do doctors and dentists have against people drinking simply pure water from the Elwha watershed?
Locke is a whore.
DeleteWhile I appreciate the folks who record and post these meetings to YouTube, we need to have city council meetings televised live locally. That would give outraged viewers time to get mad, and get down to city hall before that night's meeting was even over.
ReplyDeleteWe at Peninsula Area Public Access (PAPA) TV are working on just this. Have been for the last 6 months or so. Only wish we were up and running right now. But, we are working on this!
DeleteHmmmm....
ReplyDeleteLet's not forget that the Jules character being referred to in Pulp Fiction was a designed to be sociopath.
I'm sure that at least some members of the city council read this blog on occasion. With that in mind, I have a brief message for them, especially the Fluoride Four:
ReplyDeleteThis now goes WAY beyond the issue of fluoridation. We, the people, have NO faith in you individually or your governing body. YOU HAVE NO CREDIBILITY. The more you try to keep the voices of the people from being heard, the louder we will speak. Our community is sick and tired of seeing you waste our time, money and resources. We are also sick of your smug faces, and condescending attitudes. You are there to serve US.
But not for long. Change is coming. The more you fight it, the faster it will come.
We didn't want to change the form of government. Most of us were on the fence...now I will work tirelessly to promote it.
DeleteF-U Fluoride FOUR. You made me an activist.
Rot in hell you arrogant, sanctimonious bastards.
You wasted my time. I trusted you. I came out to all the meetings, I voted in your b.s. survey, and I engaged. I spoke up. You snubbed me.
This is not how democracy works, so now we'll show you how it does work.
Waste our time, waste our money, waste our hopes....So now it's time to waste their political "careers." They brought this on themselves. Literally. This all started with THEIR asking us what we thought. We told them. They ignored us. Well, they won't be able to ignore what's coming.
DeleteNot much of a career. They let the small amount of power go to their tiny little heads, and inflate their egos.
DeleteI thought, in the movie, that Paul Newman's character died from a bullet shot by the guy in sunglasses.
ReplyDeleteNow I know he must have actually died from either fluoride poisoning or tooth decay.
At any rate, Luke died, and the Cap'n and the sunglass guy moved on.
Maybe Port Angeles should move on too?
"Maybe Port Angeles should move on too?"
DeleteLOL! What planet are you on? If you were at the City Council Chambers last night, you wouldn't be making such a silly statement.
To their credit, a lot of people are really mad at what their public servants are doing, and now affirming in the face of increased protest.
Plans are being made.
they aren't public servants, they think they are the masters
DeleteFor whatever it's worth people, traffic to this blog today is up - way up. The temperature is rising, and the Fluoride Four don't even know they have a fever yet. Keep up the pressure, and the good work. They sowed; now let 'em reap.
ReplyDeleteRecall, restructure are all great tactics to mobilize and use. They will cost the city a lot of time and money. Money is all they care about. Money and their perceived social status within the Port Angeles "elite" (elite meaning the wealthy dorks with inflamed egos running the administrations of Peninsula College, Olympic Medical Center, Jamestown S'Klallam, etc, etc). Since this is what they feed off it is our duty as citizens to starve the beast. Has anyone thought about a localized form of currency? Though not widely publicized, there are already communities doing this in the United States. Though it might not be effective immediately it will send a clear message that we are no longer concerned with "their world," but building a new world that focuses on the community and it's people.
ReplyDeleteSign up for your time at the next council meeting and read the F4 the want ads for new jobs. Literally start pitching ads to each. "OOH Cherie here's a job for you.... ". Rinse, repeat.
ReplyDeleteI like this idea very much. "Mister Mayor, I see that Wal-Mart is looking for a greeter. Someone with experience bloviating publically."
DeleteAnother interesting thing that happened last night was Council member Lee Whetham's observation that the "Fluoride Four" were voting as a block on issues other than just the fluoride one, and he didn't see that as good for the community.
ReplyDeleteAll the more reason to get rid of all four of them, as fast as possible.
He said this right out loud and everything? Great! Yes, by all means, DO pay attention to those Four people behind the curtain...
DeleteI had a meeting with his Lordship the mayor, Patrick Downie, late this afternoon, Wednesday, January 20, 2016. I did my absolute best to reason with him for well over an hour, giving viable options for all concerned on the issues of fluoride and democracy here in Port Angeles. At the end of the meeting he showed his true colors.
ReplyDeleteMayor Downie demands the anti-fluoride people to back off, shut-up, and to cave totally. He demanded that I talk to the people and have them to back down completely and call off any talk of replacing city government as a last-ditch measure to peaceably restore our right to representative government. He declared he will not discuss options about fluoride unless we totally back down first - including to have Dr. Eloise Kalin to stop talking against fluoride on behalf of the people at City Council meetings. Furthermore, even if the people acquiesce to his unreasonable demands, he indicated strongly and clearly that he would not allow the stopping of forced fluoridation of our water for own good no matter what the people want. Why? because he "believes" he know more on about the subject than the uninformed people of Port Angeles and is therefore better equipped to unilaterally force fluoridation on the entire population for our own good.
People of Port Angeles, do not cave to or back down in your fight for your rights against the elitists: Downie, Kidd, Gase, and Collins, also known as the fluoride-four!! And, may God bless Dr. Eloise Kalin, for the work she does for the people.
We will win our fight not only for the right to have safe, un-poisoned water, but even more importantly we will win our fight to have our rights re-instated as a free people, in a democratic society, right here in Port Angeles.
Thank you to the people who have taken the time from their busy days, to attend the recent Port Angeles City Council meetings, to get involved, to be informed, and to express their concerns before the City Council. Thank you also those not able to attend but support the cause for re-gaining our rights to representative government. Together we will win the fight, our voices will be heard at city hall; and the tyranny of the elitist dictatorship of the fluoride-four will come to an end.
Dan Bateham, activist fighting for our rights in Port Angeles.
Hey Dan, thanks for the note. Since we've had a lot of movie references on and in this posting, I have to say that Pat sounds like he's trying to be Grandpa Godfather. Not only telling you what to do, but giving orders for you to pass along to others. Bizarre. And for a confused little old man like Pat Downie to essentially advocate for picking on a smart little old lady like Eloise Kalin...Tack only begins to describe that.
DeleteLike I said earlier here, see also: Clueless; pathetic.
Wow - he really doesn't get that while this is about flouride, it's also now WAY past being about flouride. I don't live in the city limits but I do work for a public agency and I have been watching this with great interest as this is precedent-setting!
DeletePat Downie has wanted to be mayor for soooo long. It's been painfully obvious.
DeleteNow, he's finally achieved that goal, and he has immediately destroyed his own credibility and reputation.
He's no more a leader than the seat cushion in his chair is. Well, it's time to at least get a new chair. Goodbye, Pat.
Thanks Dan,
DeleteA few more votes and you would have been sitting in Cherie's seat. Next time.
My favorite part of the eventual PDN article on this is where they explain that Cherie Kidd voted against the formation of the ad hoc group. It was a 6-1 vote with Cherie voting "NO." She explained that it was because she "didn't have enough information to make a decision."
ReplyDeleteWell, er, DUH. How much information do you need to vote to support an effort to, er, duh, gather more INFORMATION? Er, duh.
Cherie really, really does put the stupid in stupendous, doesn't she?
senility from all the fluoride in the water is one obvious explanation.
DeleteShe said, repeatedly, "I'm confused, what?"
Poor woman, it's always those with the least going on in their tiny little brains, that lose their faculties.
I'll bet she hasn't read a book...since, well since forever. She keeps yammering on about how the fluoride materials was more reading than she has "ever done, in my life" (quote).
Maybe she should step down while she can still find her way back home.
Not sure if it is the right word, this situation is a"micricosm" of what is really happening at all levels of government. The servants are self serving and are controlling the masters.
ReplyDeleteI am so proud to read comments like Dan Bateham's and ones written by citizens outraged by the F U Four's stance and who are uniting to take action!
ReplyDeleteTruly. Thank you!
I suppose we should now expect the Chamber of Commerce and/or PABA and/or medicos to take out a full page PDN ad to excoriate citizens who are speaking out against the Fluoride Four's actions.
ReplyDeleteKaren Rogers is probably already working behind the scenes to gather money for this.
In my years living here, I've seen plenty of people plenty pissed off many times before.
ReplyDeleteKaren Rogers, the Gateway, Harbor Works, fluoride (before), the EDC and PADA, Lincoln Park, the Turd Tank, Wild Olympics, Lincoln Park, etc.
But this time feels different. This feels like it might be the proverbial straw that has broken the camel's back. People are pissed, they are organized, and they have a plan.
No wonder staff are worried. That's good. Too bad our council members are, overall, too out of touch to be worried, but that's the crux of the problem, isn't it?
It's also something that will change, very soon. Buzzsaw ahead, council.
You forgot a few:
DeleteEdna's appointment to the council....Kent Myers sending the draft state report about investigating Karen Rogers to Karen Rogers....Brooke Nelson's spying on her fellow councilmembers and monitoring their emails....The whole Pen Ply utilities boondoggle....the terrible treatment of the PAFAC....Not to mention the slow destruction caused by crumbling infrastructure and the third of residents who can't afford their utility bills every month.
Yeah, this has been a long time coming. There's a LOT of frustration out there. Enjoy being Mayor, Pat.
It has been said Fluoride contains some of the same or similar ingredients as Prozac. Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors antidepressant. Prozac affects chemicals in the brain that may be unbalanced in people with depression, panic, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Prozac is a mood-altering drug said to also make one more susceptible to suggestion. It makes one more compliant.
ReplyDeleteThis is a symptom suffered by residents of Port Angeles for many years.
Residents were oh so compliant when former mayor, Karen Rogers ran roughshod over the city council racking up mountains of debt for the city taxpayers while siphoning off considerable amounts as “consulting fees” even as she sat as mayor.
Residents and even council members were oh so compliant as former director of public works, Gene Cutler sold them the CSO project, “the most expensive public works project in the history of Port Angeles” Cutler crowed at a council meeting. Turns out it was the most expensive, coming in at over $50 million and including tearing up the streets not once but twice during the busiest tourist season when local merchants are attempting to make a living. Much of this problem could have been solved by merely removing downspouts from the storm water system and installing rain gardens--but that was not expensive enough to garner those huge commissions and consulting fees.
Residents were oh so compliant when they were sold Harbor Works which drained another million from city coffers. The residents were sleeping soundly when they were sold the Business Incubator Project, another Rogers inspired drain on the city treasury. The incubator project funded mostly by the city of Port Angeles wasted over $8 million before shutting out the lights and foisting their unpaid bill, $750,000 upon taxpayers throughout the entire county. County Commissioner Bill Peach orchestrated this sleight of hand--funneling the debt first through the local school system and then upon county taxpayers. This we are repaying at the rate of $48,000 per year for the next 19 years.
Taxpayers were even more compliant when they were sold the Gateway Center. A $15 million dollar parking lot with a Farmer’s Market shoe-horned in as an afterthought. Any contractor’s estimate for such a project would be laughed at in less-compliant quarters if the bid came in at over half the final contracted amount.
Yes, city council, the doctors, the dentists, all the power-mongers in town love a compliant population that obediently pays the fees for government and health care without too much resistance. Medicos like a somnambulistic patient who must stagger through the medical maze not knowing what is going on or how to be sure what is happening to them is best for them.
Now that resistance is mounting the city and the power brokers are unsure of what to do next. Do they merely capitulate to the medical mafia and continue to force-feed toxic waste from a fertilizer plant into the city water supply or do they listen to an enraged population that has plainly stated “No More.”
Note to city council: The taxpayers are “off their meds,” possibly consuming bottled water instead. The cry has gone forth they are not going to take it lying down any longer.
As usual the PDN article didn't give the true nature of the meeting...There were way more than 30 commenters in the public comment period, probably double that number (wish I had kept a running list) and the ratio was probably 4-1 on the anti-fluoride/restore democracy side not 2-1 as reported in the PDN. Also can you believe the photograph they chose to put on the front page? As much as I admire those sign carrying-vocal citizens, there were many more people in the chamber seats who were quietly sitting with a small "no-fluoride" note pinned to their jackets. Yes there were some more vocal citizens out in the lobby but the majority of residents abidded by the dictates of Mr Downie, to sit quietly and be well behaved. Certainly Dr Kailin, Ron Richards, Jess Grable and other community professionals/citizens from all walks of life presented their well thought out concerns in a respectful manner. I also noted that the pro-fluoride commenters were made up of almost exclusively public health and dental professionals--why aren't there any pro-fluoride people from outside the health profession speaking up? Where are the stay at home mums, schoolteachers,fast food workers,small business owners,lawyers, mill workers,lumber industry workers? Are they coming to council meetings saying "please don't take our fluoride away" "it's so important to us"....NO, they are not.
ReplyDeleteIt's so important that the general public understands that the disgruntled citizens are not a group of rabble rousers (activists) trying to take down the local government. These are "thinking" people who contribute to our community and believe in the democratic process and the good of our community. This is the truer picture and the PDN doesn't want you to know it.
"They have to do something or they're going to have anarchy on their hands" Next to a picture of 3 punk rockers. As biased as the picture was to not show the "respectable"members of the community that attended the meeting protesting tyranny, it will ultimately backfire. I think people should take note that Downie treated us as if we were mere children. Scolding us for talking back, for standing up, and speaking out against injustices. This is always how this corrupt local government has treated it's youth. You know it's true when your biggest "after school program" is the Juvenille Detention Center and your heroin overdose rate is the highest in the state. While the "general public" may not be aware the deceit of media the message will get through. I think that this could very well help kickstart a local youth movement as well as a larger political happening. It's important that the "thinking" individuals be patient as we all know that this isn't just a fight against fluoride, it's a fight for our future.
Deleteit is so great to see the youth of this town getting involved. We take you as you are. Just look back at us from the 60's and 70's -sure a bit weird looking to the mainstream but involved thinking youth and we changed the world.
DeleteI hope the youth get very involved - the City has shown no regard for them before - remember when that young lady went to plead for help with the heroin problem and was blatantly ignored? This town will be handed to them in an even worse state should they chose to try to live here and build their careers and family, or, and I wouldn't blame them, they will move away to where there is real opportunity.
Delete52 people commented and 90% were against fluoride. The PDN is just as out of touch with the new publisher as they were with the old one. (sigh)
DeleteThe PDN is not out of touch, at all. They know who to suck up to. They know who pays for all those big ads in their paper. It isn't you or me, or the vast majority of the citizens in Port Angeles.
DeleteThe reporting in the PDN is not about the truth. They are part of the problem. Money-ed interests, and those that support them.
Whores who will do what they have to for the money.
One of the many ironies of all this is that the Fluoride Four put forward the idea that, somehow, Port Angeles would seem backwards if it stopped fluoridating the water.
ReplyDeleteBut how backwards and bad does it look when the citizens rise up and work to throw the whole form of government out? There will be outside press coverage of these efforts, and yes, Mr. Gase, it will make PA look like a backwards place.
I've been thinking for a few hours now. I did sign the petition to change the government structure on Tuesday, but now I'm thinking...
ReplyDeleteIs this the best course? Sure I want them out, but if we succeed in getting a "strong mayor" government and we get someone like Downey, Gase or Kidd elected mayor then we are really screwed. At least now we have the chance of getting one of the council members to switch votes. I'm beginning to think (as much as it pains me) that keeping it the same and just voting them out in two years might be the best option. This is a dilemma.
Oh, these are not the only options.
DeleteThere will be a petition drive for the " No Confidence" statement. Downie and his crew of idiots now say it is all about a "small vocal group". What will they be able to say with signatures from more people than elected them, saying " We Want YOU TO Step Down Immediately" presented to them? That won't take 2 years.
And, please help with the door-to-door petition drive. Nothing will show these council members more that we mean business, we're really serious, and we're not going away that a door-to-door "No Confidence" effort.
If there are any documents that petitioners want to email me, I will gladly post them here, if it helps to get people involved in any way.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if anyone wants to send in thoughts or explanations of the change in governing structure, please feel free. I can post that as a stand-alone topic.
Finally, if you think you'll be able to fly away from all these troubles and woes...Think again. There'll be no airline service to Fairchild Airport for the foreseeable future. (But I bet that won't stop Port Commissioners from flying of to Paris and other necessary "business" locations...)
Here is the petition -- for a vote of no confidence for the Fluoride Four. http://cleanwater4clallam.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/petition-for-new-representation.pdf
ReplyDeleteWe have a few hundred signatures, so far. We need many more before the next council meeting (first Tuesday in February which happens to be GROUND HOG DAY.)
There is a council "work session" on January 25th (the fourth Tuesday of the month, but there is no public comment session, although the public can sit and watch -- quietly with tape on their mouth.) That starts at 5pm. Should be a real snore.
Please get as many signatures as you can get...lets pass this around.
When you have some full petitions -- sign and date the back of the sheet --leave a message at 360 417-0486, and someone will get back to you to collect them.
Again: the form: http://cleanwater4clallam.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/petition-for-new-representation.pdf
Wow - Groundhog Day...doing the same crap pover and over and over...the irony!
DeleteSo the recall effort has officially fizzled out? Right?
DeleteLOL! You would like people to think that, wouldn't you!
DeleteIf you had been to the last City Council meeting, or in the loop with the various groups organizing their efforts, you wouldn't say such a silly thing. There were more people than before, at the last council meeting. People are more fired up than ever. Nothing like insults from your local "leadership" to motivate people.
Keep it up Mayor Downie, and the others. Your arrogant dribble only makes people see you gotta go.
Kidd stating this is a democracy and wanting the community to help guide her with fluoride vote (last summer):
ReplyDeleteSo is she deaf or just patronizing the peons?:
https://youtu.be/zzBa9xLbDsY
sure, she was patronizing the peons, if she knew what the meaning of either of those words were. In this case, she just says whatever pops into her little head. Gosh. Golly.
Delete"The people of Port Angeles should be so grateful for all that we do for them." -- Cherie Kidd
The failure to communicate a very measurable health risk due to water happened in Flint, Michigan, not here. A bunch of Flint folks would prefer to have Port Angeles' drinking water I would venture to say.
ReplyDeleteYes, but the purity of the Port Angeles water supply has been INTENTIONALLY compromised by the city officials. In Flint, they had polluted water to begin with. Here, Cherie Kidd and the others are polluting otherwise clean water.
DeleteIt seems that some very vocal folks in PA don't recognize a high quality problem when they create one. It's like telling a sub-Saharan kid about the American obesity epidemic. Get a grip.
ReplyDelete@ Anon 12:50
DeleteYeah, you're right. It is so amazing that Cherie Kidd, Dan Gase, Brad Collins and Pat Downie can create this problem by ignoring the very people they asked to help them, and then turn around and blame them for being upset when they do exactly opposite of what the people said they wanted!!
I mean, why bother voting? Why bother fighting to preserve democracy abroad, when your own city representatives will screw you here, right at home?!
Who needs to go to the sub-Sahara, when you have such real life, right here examples right here in Port Angeles.
They made a strstegic political blunder by sending out a survey. It was not a ballot(hence not a vote). But now days only opinions matter so it is up to the loudest mouths.
Delete@ 8:29
DeleteHunh? The people of this community have indicated , very strongly, that this is a topic they care about, and want a voice in the determination of. Clearly. Consistently.
So, you are saying the council members made a mistake by allowing the public to tell the council what they wanted done by their public representatives?
If you go back and review any AND all of the public hearings, public comments, etc held and received by the city on the topic of putting fluoride in the public water system, you will note something very interesting.
Virtually all those supporting putting fluoride in the water are dental professionals, their employees, etc. You'll find virtually NO regular home owners.
But in looking at those that have advised the council members they do not want fluoride in the public waters, it is virtually all just regular people. From all walks of life.
Yeah, you're right. In a democracy, opinions in a survey or election do count. It is about the majority, not the vested interests.
The National Institutes of Health, Center for Disease Control and World Health Organization are all in the control of the ADA. Now that's a conspiracy!
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