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As many of you know, over the years the media here in the Crowsnest Pass have been anything but fair, kind and unbiased in their dealings with me, especially when I was on council. In fact, in past elections, just days before people went to the polls they've published articles and letters to the editor highly critical of me that some people found to be defamatory to say the least, and deliberate, and that quite possibly could have influenced and predetermined the election outcomes, especially in the last election where I lost by a narrow margin (never mind our 'questionable' election process that time around, with its many 'irregularities'). In this regard, I personally know of at least three people who claim their letters which were supportive of my candidacy were not published, whereas those that were not, were? These irksome petty tyrants in the form of newspaper editors seem to 'enjoy' playing god, subverting the democratic process and doing their best to predetermine our election outcomes here in the 'Pass. As a result, they continue to do this community more of a disservice than a service.
It has been said, advocacy journalism, while it serves a purpose, has also harmed objective journalism. No more so, I think, than here in our 'beautiful' valley. We have been and continue to be ill served in this community by our local media.
I say the above because I have been victimized by these same people again, and expect more of the same treatment before this current election is over with. A week or two back, shortly after declaring my candidacy for mayor here on my blog and on our local radio station CJPR, I sent a PRESS RELEASE and picture to both our local print media announcing my candidacy in the upcoming election, as I and others have done countless times in past years, only to discover they were ignored and not published. From what I now understand, it appears our two newspapers have colluded with one another to limit the news with respect to our local election, until after nomination day on September 20th. This is unheard of and without precedent here in the 'Pass and elsewhere in other communities within our province and country, as far as I know, and at the very least certainly breaks with tradition and begs the question, is this because I was the first out of the gate? It certainly appears so, doesn't it? After all, how does one suspend the news? "There has been a nuclear attack today but we won't be reporting this until after September 20th?" Is this crazy or what? Only in the 'Pass you say?
In any event, in my opinion our local media can play all the games they want again this time around and it ain't going to change the end result, which is that I feel certain I will be the next mayor of the Crowsnest Pass, and that I and my council will usher in a new day, and the launching of a time of renewal, rebuilding and restructuring, with or without our media's help... and in spite of their ongoing adversarial bent and nature, if need be. This time, "We Shall Overcome" our local media's manipulation and their culture of political lies and deceit.
This election, we have our eyes open and will hold those responsible to account. We don't want, nor will we allow, the Media to steal our chances of a fair and honest election. Not this time!!
The media are naturally inclined to provide only information and points of view that do not oppose the status quo.
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11 comments:
Good luck, John.
How about running a list of those advertisers most likely to influence editors? I want to support good people when I'm down there spending my money.
Anon @1:18
Thank you for your good wishes. They are appreciated!
Along your line of thinking, I want you to know that I have already acted on your suggestion in that for months now I have had a front page banner ad in the Promoter. I no longer have that ad with them and I will be minimizing my 'business' advertising with them from now on. After all, only a fool would support those who don't support you, and in fact, 'actively' work against you, wouldn't you say?
John, I want to pose a question or two to you...
1- Would you (as a politician) think that a person should vote for you if you were to say all the things that are needed in your community simply can't be done?
2- If I'm right, I would say that to have that kind of attitude would automatically peg you as someone who has no vision or ambition what so ever, would it not?
3- I read on Dean Ward's blog about all the things that the CNP needs can't be done because he has "hard" data that clearly states that all these things are beyond reach because the community will not support them financially or otherwise.
Could this be true?
Could it be that the CNP doesn't stand a snowballs chance in hell of ever accomplishing anything?
4- According to Mr. Ward's "data" the area is in gutterville with no chance of ever improving, Is this how you feel as well?
5- Do you believe a poll on a small time blog reflects the opinion of the entire community?
6- Does it only make sense to you that the same group "stay on board" for the next term instead of being replaced by new blood that may compromise the "stability" of the council as it is?
7- Is that what the area wants is 3 more years of "no try" politics with in-fighting, secret meetings and be un-balanced beyond crazy?
8- Has Mr. Ward ever actually read his own blogs?
Your thoughts?
Proudly Anon.
I wonder who posted those comments?
The Pass as oodles of potential, we also yes do have a lot of problems but nothing is impossible. (yes we have to deal with reality, we had a 20 year experiment here on running a Community Centre on a $100,000 a year budget, we all know how well that worked)
Proudly
Dean Ward
Proudly Anon,
Dean has stated to me on more than one occasion that if we were to find ourselves together on the same council there would be times where he would not agree with me on certain issues. Well, you have listed a number of issues where if you have read my previous blog posts you will see that I obviously disagree with him. Accommodation and compromise would naturally have to follow.
My concern is that I do not find myself in the same position as Irwin in that there is a team within a team with their own agenda and I find myself with a council working at cross purposes. So far, the current members on council have given me every indication that this is exactly what I might land up with. Of course, this would not be good for me or this community and therefore I have recently taken back my support for the gang of four by removing an earlier post of mine expressing support for them. I will now let the public decide who I will be working with rather than encouraging voters to elect people to council who obviously have their own agenda at play, as we speak.
The next mayor and council must unite this community, not divide it further. This can only be done by a council that supports and believes in one another, and their mayor. Not from a team within a team that tries to hijack council for their own purposes, having their own secret agenda. Members of this council have already stated they do not believe in a full-time mayor for this upcoming term. How many other issues do they not support that I have spoken out on is the scary $64,000 question?
Maybe it would be better with a whole new team, a clean sweep of the present council, which is exactly what I have been hearing will be happening in October from those on the street. Time will tell.
Thats a great answer John, unbias while avoiding the "doom and gloom" status quo approach!
Simple answers to simple questions.
It's good to read POSITIVE directions like yours instead of dictionary/surgical approaches that usually implies that the "Baffle them with BS" theory is at play.
Good luck!
John
I respect your opinion on various issues as I would hope you respect mine. We do not have to agree just mutually respect.
Just a few comments about the team within a team, even in the Cuff report it states that one of the major priorities of the Mayor is to bring the council together.
As you call them the "Irwinites" have been in power for a long time. John's idea of team is John's way on all the important issues. As a council member you have two choices with John's councils you either become part of his team or he will attempt to cast you aside.
That as worked well for John over the years as long as the majority of council just fell into place and voted his way. Even today there are members of council that do not look at an issue, listen to the debate or question the position presented they just look to see which way the leader is voting.
This time we had four members of council that did not want to just fall into place on John's team, and vote the Masters wish's for three years.
That would have been the easy way out.
John from 1998 to 2001 would you have considered yourself part of the "team" or was that a spilt council? what stopped that team from coming together? you know as full well as I do its the common denominater, "the leader"
Dean Ward
What Mr. Ward said above is the very reason that new blood must be put into the council chamber.
"YES", you had the vote swing against the mayors kangaroo court and;
"YES" serious debate was brought in on the heavy issues.
The result of these efforts? People streaming out of the area because of the expensive taxes and the "almost comical" in-fighting that plagues the town's municipal office.
Stores closing because of outside reasons aside, where are the ones to take they're places?
Where are the new kids that will fill the schools?
Unsightly premises and spray bombed signage?
Put it this way, by not going out on your own once you were elected in and promoting the area, right then and there you signed into the status quo belief that "I'll only do what I get paid for" and that's it!
That is what has laid the CNP out on a terminal death bed, "COMPLACENCY".
At least Mr. Prince has been out there trying to get the wheels rolling (on his own nickle, I might add) to make the place live and breathe again.
Council's job is to MAKE the area that it represents livable and happy.
All the present council has succeeded to create is a state of depression, both morally and financially.
A full time mayor that is passionate about the town and the job that he both lives and breathes will be putting in one hell of a lot more towards this community than some "part timer".
Besides, who cares what those insane news people write, everyone who has a legal vote knows that they are bias and only usefull for reporting obituaries and community quilting events anyways.
Hi John,
the media in a small town if they don't like you!!!!!!!! Most of these small communities have a single newspaper that receives all the advertising money from local Governments, Municipality, Community Futures, Chamber of Commerce, with all the same people controlling these organizations with lies and manipulation if you provide them with the truth they really think that's hell. In our part of the woods you print a letter to the editor, they change the meaning of it to satisfy their own evil purpose, or they refuse to print it. Now that will be up to you and your new council to pick a newspaper that is fair where the editor has a conscience and give them all the advertising money. We tried to start a newspaper here in 2000, the local power panicked, they went after my partner David Love, whatever they offered him, he quit talking to me but he's still in the same house that I tried to help him save from the bank because of a Community Futures screw up.
http://www.injusticenorthisland.info/id379.html
First off John, why these anonymous creations? Are people afraid to let it be known what their choices are? Like the "Bricks" posted in our local paper, anyone can throw slams if they don't have to put their name on the remark.
Well, right upfront John, I wish you every success at becoming our new Mayor. You'll have my vote because I know that you will "work" with whatever council the municipal residents choose. Moreover, I like your platform regarding the financial goals you anticipate. As you say, it's been a long time since we've had a council that can work together, but they have to know the direction they're heading from the start.
Good luck in your upcoming venture.
Well thank you Robert, it certainly is a most welcome pleasure to hear from you here. A man of your stature coming forward publicly and announcing your support for my candidacy as mayor means a lot to me. We'll have to shoot a game of pool again one of these days and catch up. Best!
p.s. Give my best to Russell too. Take care, and again, Thanks!
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