It takes a while for a newcomer, particularly one accustomed to daily dog-eat-dog business dealings with the Corporados, to adjust to a small town. I was no exception, but a few years back while finding my way sometimes burning some bridges, most of which I have since earnestly tried to repair and while serving on the budget committee, the people voted down the Town's proposed budget along with several warrant articles. The school budget barely passed and several related warrant articles were rejected. Right there and then, I fell in love with the town Conway, NH, for I knew the people here tend to do the right thing when they have had enough and act as one.
My continuing affinity for Conway was affirmed this past July 15 when this paper's headline proclaimed, "Public opinion prompts Audubon to reconsider Dahl property lodge." Occasional triumphs work wonders on the soul and it's truly amazing what can be accomplished when the people rise up. The very same thing may happen with respect to the plans to put more signs up on the scenic West Side Road. Already, many residents are smoldering and it won't take much to start a fire. "Share the Road" indeed.
Now then, there is nothing wrong with special interests or focused agendas. Those who supported the new library addition did so with admirable intentions and felt it was probably the most important thing to do at the time. The same for those who later advocated the school renovation project and the new high school. What possibly could be more important to them?
The focus of those who are sponsoring the underground utility project in the Village is indeed clear and sound. Each project was or is being done with righteous intent. The problem, however, lies in the fact that each was or is being done in a quasi-vacuum. Those who pushed the school were far more concerned with that than the library and vice-versa. The result: we get both. The next great project will be the same. For those who want it, it will be the single most important thing ever done, but unfortunately the tax train has more than one car. Unless each car is viewed within the context of the entire train, the projects and taxes will just keep coming and trying to slow them down is a daunting task.
It does not have to be this way. There is no reason to allow special interests to work their agendas, righteous as they may be, without strong push-back and counterbalancing efforts such as thoughtful letters to the editors of the three local papers, and rational email messages to Town Hall. It's called activism and it works in a lot of ways. If you don't like the way some of our elected or appointed officials support these agendas, attend the public meetings and let them know it. Voting is activism; a turnout of 21 percent of registered voters is not. Don't vote, don't complain. Of course, when officials do a good job, that should be noted as well. If you don't like the way certain self-anointed, self-appointed, so-called high profile people push their agendas, go after them with letters to the editor and properly worded E-mail messages, and just call their bluff. That's activism.
If you sometimes don't like what you see on local television, change the channel and stop frequenting the particular show's sponsors and maybe tell your friends to do the same. That's very effective activism. If you are tired of the condescending and unresponsive attitude exhibited at times by certain public officials and/or administrators, take the issue in question to the people, discuss it with your friends, get signatures on a petition, and vote or pressure them out of office. If such an official responds, as is their frequent wont, by saying, "If you think you can do any better, why don't you run for my office," tell him or her to step down immediately and you will assume the position in question. And run for office, any office.
Of course, caution is necessary when your living may be at stake, but never, ever fear retaliation, especially by those who might attempt to make you feel inferior or who trade on artificial trappings rather than how they behave. No one, I repeat, no one is better than anyone else. Courage, in the face of potential retaliation, particularly from those who would use a bully pulpit for spewing forth their venom, is noble activism. When you stand up to the bullies, they generally just fade away.
Getting back to Audubon's reconsideration, it's indeed gratifying to know what public concern and opinion can accomplish, but it pales in comparison to what quasi-organized concern can accomplish (e.g. The school bond).
Within this context, there may be some in Conway who do not fully share the joy of numerous ribbon cuttings, groundbreakings, carefully timed visits by politicians or bureaucrats, new and grand real estate projects, "water parks" and other such jewels designed to improve our collective quality of life. These people may have tough weekly decisions to make associated with skyrocketing fuel and gas bills, ever-increasing real estate assessments and their related tax impact, a continual and growing need for affordable medical and dental assistance, and jobs that can be terminated at will. But those who rightly push their focused agendas likely do not factor into account the concerns of such people.They just tenaciously push and push to project completion.
Perhaps someday those on the other side of the equation might become more active in counterbalancing those intent on achieving their own special agendas. Maybe they might fight tenacity with their own tenacity. Maybe they might say, "We have had enough of this foolishness and we will not put up with it anymore." If not, then it's a bit like shoveling sand against the tide.
"Many strokes overthrow the tallest oaks." John Lyly, "Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit" (1579).
Ted Sares, PhD, is a private investor who lives and writes in the White Mountain area of Northern New Hampshire with his wife Holly and Min Pin Jackdog. He writes a weekly column for a local newspaper and many of his other pieces are widely published.
His works focus on issues and themes dealing with socio-political topics, business and economics in which he advocates a free market approach to capitalism, patriotism, and matters dealing with individual freedom. They are frequently inspirational in nature and sometimes reflect the Objectivist philosophy of novelist and philosopher Ayn Rand. He also writes short stories that feature ironic and surprise twists.