{"id":1869,"date":"2018-12-11T10:34:26","date_gmt":"2018-12-11T16:34:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/truthinaddison.com\/?page_id=1869"},"modified":"2018-12-11T10:34:26","modified_gmt":"2018-12-11T16:34:26","slug":"the-politics-of-the-anonymous-plurality","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/truthinaddison.com\/?page_id=1869","title":{"rendered":"The Politics of the Anonymous Plurality"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Politics of the Anonymous Plurality<\/strong>
\nBy Susan M. Halpern<\/strong>
\nFormer Addison Councilmember (1992-1999)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Context is critical: We have to know who we\u2019re dealing with and where they\u2019re coming from, including so we can evaluate motives and biases.\u00a0 All of which allows us to evaluate the claims being made.\u00a0 Clearly, context has been particularly important in Addison, given the many claims of those who seek to divide us.\u00a0 These folks deal in negativity all the time.\u00a0 I\u2019ve written often about their formula: pick an issue, describe it in inflammatory and usually misleading terms, claim that the sky is falling, attack anyone who isn\u2019t them, and claim that only they can solve the problem.<\/p>\n

Within this model, these negatives and naysayers often claim widespread support for their negativity.\u00a0 The problem is, the supposed groundswell of support is never identified.\u00a0 So, the implication is there, but the facts are not: the claimed plurality remains anonymous, thus raising the question of whether it exists at all.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve seen this play out in any number of ways.\u00a0 Consider, for example, the oft-repeated claims of the ex-mayor that \u201cpeople have been asking me about,\u201d always followed by some inflammatorily worded issue. The implication was of unsolicited questions which, in turn, suggested widespread concern for the issue of the moment.\u00a0 What followed was inevitably a one-sided discussion filled with misrepresentations, mischaracterizations and propaganda.<\/p>\n

This very tactic was used during the 2017 campaign season, when the ex-mayor presented a blatantly misleading discussion regarding Addison\u2019s Charter and the issue of term limits.\u00a0 The point, of course, was to harm the candidacies of Mayor Joe Chow and Councilmember Tom Braun, who had served on Council years earlier (as you can see, it didn\u2019t work).\u00a0 So, who were the \u201cpeople\u201d supposedly asking about term limits?\u00a0 No names were ever given.\u00a0 They never are.\u00a0 All of which supports the conclusion I reached long ago that there never were any \u201cpeople\u201d asking questions.<\/p>\n

More recently, one of the negatives has been employing this formula to attack the current council, moving from issue to issue in a desperate effort to gain traction and attention.\u00a0 Claims have been made regarding groups of \u201cresidents\u201d or \u201cparents.\u201d\u00a0 But once again, no supposed member of the \u201cgroup\u201d is identified.\u00a0 So, is there a \u201cgroup\u201d at all?\u00a0 I doubt it.\u00a0 But even if I\u2019m wrong about that, is the \u201cgroup\u201d two people?\u00a0 Three?\u00a0 Doesn\u2019t that matter for all-important context?\u00a0 Of course it does.\u00a0 And that\u2019s before you even begin to consider the implicit claim being made that the person speaking has been endorsed by the \u201cmembers\u201d of the \u201cgroup\u201d as a \u201cspokesperson.\u201d\u00a0 What nonsense.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the thing: people who have nothing to hide, hide nothing.\u00a0 Given this, when I was on the council, I had a policy of not accepting anonymous comments.\u00a0 I learned very early on that those who sincerely want to move Addison forward are proud to identify themselves and have a constructive conversation.\u00a0 Negatives and naysayers bent on causing problems, rather than solving them, tended to cling to anonymity.\u00a0 So, I spent my time with the positive folks, and found that this policy facilitated my positive service to Addison.<\/p>\n

In the end, we could surely agree that the sky is not falling here in Addison.\u00a0 Quite to the contrary, we are blessed to live in a wonderful community with a hardworking council that continues to solve problems, address issues and move Addison forward.\u00a0 Our Council consists of seven people conducting Addison\u2019s business in a professional and workmanlike manner, without drama, staged theatrics or fanfare. And, most importantly, with full recognition of the fundamental role of transparency in our democracy.\u00a0 TRUE transparency.\u00a0 Transparency firmly rooted in TRUTH.\u00a0 That\u2019s what democracy is all about.<\/p>\n

So, if anyone tries to claim that the sky is falling here in Addison, be skeptical.\u00a0 And be particularly skeptical if they employ the anonymous plurality trick. If they claim to be part of a \u201cgroup,\u201d demand to know its members.\u00a0 And, how those members endorsed this alleged spokesperson.\u00a0 And if they continue to duck the questions and employ anonymity, ignore them.\u00a0 Or, if you\u2019re inclined, challenge them to be a positive part of Addison.\u00a0 We can always use the talents and knowledge of folks who will contribute to a positive process and our community.<\/p>\n

Finally, if any of you have received any unsolicited emails and have questions about how the sender got your email address, please let the City Manager or a member of the council know about it.<\/p>\n

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