Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Belling Calls Out West Bend’s Elected Representatives

Ouch.

That was the ominous headline last week in the Washington County Daily News but it really could have been in any southeast Wisconsin newspaper. Two-bit local political hacks whining away that the public – THE PUBLIC! – wasn’t being nice enough to them. “Woe is us,” they wailed. “The lack of civility is unhealthy,” moaned City Administrator Joe Melvin. The chief whiner, Joe Carlson, the president of West Bend’s apparently too-picked-on school board, complained that too many citizens were too angry. It all gives West Bend a bad name etc. Such baby talk isn’t limited to West Bend. You hear it in New Berlin from the mayor, Jack Chiovatero. Wauwatosa’s mayor, Jill Didier, even bored a recent lunch companion with her complaint that I was trying to ruin her life. In Menomonee Falls, the cabal led by former Village President Joe Greco is perpetually angry that mere taxpayers have the audacity to speak out.

   I have some advice for Carlson and his ilk. Resign. This is America, not Joe Stalin’s Russia or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s Iran. Speaking out, often loudly, isn’t an indecent abuse of decorum but the prerogative of an active citizenry. The louder the better, by the way. What the crybabies are upset about is they prefer to govern conservative communities in a moderate-to-liberal squishy way. When the public revolts, the leaders cry foul. A telling quote from West Bend Mayor Kristine Deiss: “The hardest thing has been fighting communication ... perception over reality.”

[...]

In each case, the citizenry is speaking out. Good. Carlson a few months ago berated a fellow school board member for daring to air differences in public. Horrors! Hey, Carlson, differences of opinion in government are supposed to be in the open. West Bend belongs to the residents of West Bend not Carlson and not Deiss. They are the employees but think of themselves as the bosses (or dictators). The taxpayer/owners have a right to see public business dealt with in the open.

   Yeah, sure, they’ll respond. But can’t we be, you know, more “civil?” While some people always go too far, the problem in most communities is too much civility, not too little. Most folks let the power structure tax and spend, preside over mediocre school systems, lard public payrolls with unneeded workers, dole out unconscionable benefits and act like their the leaders of Liberalville. The few communities where people object are the ones whose residents are care the most.

   America was founded loudly and angrily. Every positive development in this country – civil rights, the end to slavery, tax relief – has been a result of the populace raising hell. It’s what makes America great. The reason suburbanites are yelling now is that they fundamentally oppose the leftist drift of their hometowns. Their vocalism is a very good thing, whether the thin-skinned small town politicos like it or not.

(12) Comments
Posted by Owen at 0750 hrs
Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

  1. It all gives West Bend a bad name etc.

    Riiiight. Calling for civility in public discourse is what is giving WB a bad name.  Sure.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 07, 2010 at 0855 hrs


  2. “Most folks let the power structure tax and spend, preside over mediocre school systems, lard public payrolls with unneeded workers, dole out unconscionable benefits and act like their the leaders of Liberalville. The few communities where people object are the ones whose residents are care the most.”

    Stylistically, not bad for what he’s selling.  I’d give the hyperbole use an A. The consistency is mostly there; however, I thought Republicans do not (stereotypically) believe in awarding certain groups special status.  “Every positive development in this country – civil rights…”  Mr. Belling is for civil rights?  All the rules and regulations and socialist big government it involves, and what it has morphed into?  A better fitting example for this composition would be the American protest against British rule. 

    I didn’t take the community meeting’s civility discussion as an issue with people speaking out often and loudly.  The conversation addressed issues such as personal attacks v. objectively criticizing specific decisions; name calling (liberal, righty; Two-bit local political hacks) misrepresenting issues and events; arguing from unsubstantiated ideas.  Mr. Belling is addressing many discourse forums, but few of our supervisors would tolerate such behavior at a work meetings because a lack of civility affects production and profit.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 07, 2010 at 1037 hrs


  3. “This is America, not Joe Stalin’s Russia or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s Iran.”

    I agree but we still have a National Health care bill that puts all of our medical records into a national data base as well as a Financial Reform Bill that gives the Feds access to everyones financial accounts.

    It appears that years of prosperity have made us soft enough not to speak out and we are losing our privacy and freedom because of it. 

    Jefferson - It is tyranny when people fear the government and Independence when government fear the people.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 07, 2010 at 1040 hrs


  4. It is tyranny when people fear the government and Liberty when government fear the people.

    Posted by Jay4Liberty on July 07, 2010 at 1153 hrs


  5. And who better to lecture people on the tenor of discourse in society than a radio monkey who goes on air every day and flings his own poo against the window?  What’s next?  Michael Vick lecturing dog owners on proper pet care?  Jeff Wood opening a driving school?

    Posted by Recess Supervisor on July 07, 2010 at 1327 hrs


  6. I thought Wood was opening a pharmacy ?

    Yes open your mouth and your called crackpots, loud mouths, extremists, rebels, a number of things. These are same insults and names that were hurled at the founding fathers, they stayed the course and the world has become a better place for everyone.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 07, 2010 at 1346 hrs


  7. Maybe he should aim for a drive-thru pharmacy AND liquor store.  Gotta be drive-thru though.

    Posted by Recess Supervisor on July 07, 2010 at 1440 hrs


  8. We need the Fairness Doctrine.  It is obvious that having fairness in broadcasting is in the best interest of the general welfare so it is constitutional.

    Posted by Jay4Liberty on July 07, 2010 at 2028 hrs


  9. mark belling equated to the founding fathers?

    crusher my boy, I hardly knew ye.

    “moderate to liberal squish”,“leftist drift” “Joe Stalin"s russia”
    Oh yes, Belling is the person I look to for objective and involved commentary on West Bend affairs.

    Jefferson also believe we needed to be a nation of farmers- then bought Louisiana and guaranteed the industrialization of America.

    That guy was a red haired flaming LIBERAL in a powdered wig

    Belling =Jefferson

    Jefferson =Belling

    I’m just not feeling it.

    just sayin’

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 08, 2010 at 1440 hrs


  10. Mark, Mark, Mark, you need to get your head in the game fella. I never compared Belling directly to Jefferson, but fair enough I guess if I left the door open a crack no surprise the liberal roaches would swarm in. Go ahead play twister with my statement after all children must play.
    I should know by now you prefer actual fact checked ,non objective, solid level headed journalism like your partner in crime the nutty proffesor provides on West Bend affairs.

    Just saying Mark for a couple of hundred years family farming was quite lucrative for many people, and I thought we were the first industrialized nation? Dont know the purchase price of Louisiana but I bet he got a deal on it even compared to todays dollars.

    You should try the powdered wig thing Mark, who knows you could start a new trend.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 08, 2010 at 1557 hrs


  11. Can you name one instance where Joe Greco has spoken out politically in the past 3 years or so?

    and, his minions, are entitled to their own opinions, but I would like you ti cite examples of their defense of increased taxes.

    Posted by Paul on July 09, 2010 at 1606 hrs


  12. RIP
    July 09, 2010 at 0759 hrs

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 09, 2010 at 1935 hrs


Commenting is not available in this channel entry.