The Charter Chupacabra

CHUPACABRA

Kenneth M. O’Brien

Wasting no time, the new Town Council leadership took a meat axe to the recommendations of the Charter Review Committee.

While the absence of members of the Charter Review Committee (CRC) was lamented, such posturing was disingenuous in the extreme.

Members of the CRC were never informed of the hearing or invited to attend. The Chairman was on vacation in Maine. Other members found out only through an email from the Chairman of the CRC on Monday or through reading about it in the newspaper.

The Sleaze Factor In Southbridge Politics

Kenneth M. O’Brien

It would be nice if politics were transparent.

In reality, we all know that it is not.

But, when there is an organized effort at deceptive rumor-mongering, then it deserves to be exposed.

Regrettably, for reasons that I have addressed previously, that is unlikely to happen locally.

Anybody who has not been living under a rock in Southbridge for the last five years knows that there is a clear division that is represented on the town council.

In my experience, one of these groups has acted in a concerted manner. Increasingly, that group has also acted in a manner that, in my opinion, is both deceptive and unscrupulous.

The other group reminds me of nothing more than the famous words of Will Rogers. “I’m not a member of an organized political party. I’m a Democrat.” That is not to say that members of this group are all Democrats. They are in fact split 50/50 between registered Democrats and Republicans.

New Activist Group Starting Up in Southbridge! -- You're invited

Raciel Fernandez
Guest Contributor

There is an information vacuum in Southbridge that has perpetuated the discontent, apathy, complacency, or just plain ignorance in the town’s citizenry.  In order to fill this vacuum, a new activist group is forming from the ground up.     The goals of the group are to be an organized entity to give a voice to the issues that aren’t discussed, or are portrayed from only one side’s point of view – usually, those in power.  We will offer another perspective and present facts to a broader audience.  We will hold our elected and appointed officials’ feet to the fire and not treat them with kid gloves as our local news outlets routinely do.      We will demand that critical issues that impact the town and its neighbors negatively are addressed out in the open.  After all, open and honest dialog is at the heart of a democracy. “An informed citizenry is the only true repository of the public will.”  Thomas Jefferson “An informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.”  George Washington

Must See TV

Kenneth M. O’Brien

I’ve always been fond of a quote from Adlai Stevenson that goes, “Eggheads of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your yokes.” (Extra credit for those who can explain the irony).

No doubt about it, I’ve always been a nerd, geek, wonk – take your pick.

But I like to think that I’ve always had an open mind.

While I’m known as one of, perhaps, three Liberals living in Southbridge, I’ve always welcomed informed points of view that varied from my own.

I remember that way back in high school one of my favorite TV programs was Firing Line, moderated by William F. Buckley, Jr.

It is a wonderful example of what is missing from conventional television programs that purport to provide serious political analysis.