Tuesday, September 09, 2014

"Not a Dialogue?" Saving Our Democracy From Mayors BOLES, SAMUELS et al.





Resembling dictatorial Florida Governor RICHARD LYNN SCOTT, our rebarbative St. Augustine Mayor JOSEPH LESTER BOLES, JR. and St. Augustine Beach Mayor ANDREA SAMUELS are like two peas in a pod.
Both BOLES and SAMUELS have been known to abuse public comments speakers. How gauche. How louche.
Both BOLESS and SAMEULS have used the same trite trope: "This is not a dialogue" to insult public speakers who dare to ask questions.
Who told them that?
What makes them think democracy is not about dialogue?
Who taught them this?
What are their qualifications to hold their job?
Where did they learn about government?
Why are they so mean?
Who appointed them the king and queen of mean, and the King and Queen of St. Augustine and St. Augustine Beach?
They are both ill-advised and misguided.
forgive them.
Pray for them.
They both betray the ideals of our founders.
They both must read The Federalist Papers, start listening, and stop mouthing off about things you don't understand.
Like democracy.
During Watergate, U.S. Senator Sam J. Ervin, Jr. said, "I love my country.... I deeply regret that this situation has arisen, because I think that the Watergate tragedy is the greatest tragedy this country has ever suffered. I used to think that the Civil War was our country's greatest tragedy, but I do remember that there were some redeeming features in the Civil War in that there was some spirit of sacrifice and heroism displayed on both sides. I see no redeeming features in Watergate."
Today, from City Halls to the Capitol, anti-democratic oligopolistic corporations, no-bid sweetheart contracts and other exemplars of corruption are killing our democracy.
Big Money talks, whether it is little despots (like CLAUDE LEONARD WEEKS, JR. and his campaign against St. Augustine wrtists and musicians) or big despots (like Lockheed Martin and other global arms merchants).
When petty Tinpot Napoleons get their way, and the people are ignored, democracy is threatened.
Won't you stand with us in working to save it?
Yes we can!
Politicians say the funniest things: "This is not a dialogue" saith the mayors of the twin cities of St. Augustine (JOSEPH LESTER BOLES, JR.) and St. Augustine Beach (ANDREA SAMUELS), in Northeast Florida. They say it to citizens who take the time to come to public meetings and ask questions. They have a hateful history of being rude and crude. They have been known to roll their eyes, look away, interrupt speakers and even threaten arrest (as BOLES did on illegal dumping in St. Augustine's Old City Reservoir). Forgive them. Come to government meetings and explain the essentials of democracy to them. Ask questions, demand answers and expect democracy. This is our time, our town, our place and our government. Let the developers, vendors and other oligopolists know, as Madison said, "Here, the people rule."

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