I would like to commend Vicki Pestorious for getting involved and writing very insightful and thought-provoking letters to the editor. I always enjoy reading her letters and wholeheartedly agree with her perception of reality — reality being the sum of all that is real, absolute and unchangeable around us. My hope is that more people see reality and get involved and voice their opinions on whatever issues concern them, so we can have an intelligent conversation about the issues and hopefully come to some common ground and solve the problem.

When articles are written to try and manipulate the reader or groups take actions that disregard other people’s rights, you will only divide and further alienate the very people you are trying to sway to support your cause. At the local government level you will see these manipulations quite regularly. Two different articles from the same government source will be submitted to the paper about a particular issue, and they will contradict each other. Pertinent information is left out, and percentages and numbers being presented, I believe, are not a true representation of what the actual cost to the taxpayer will be. So then, who and what do you believe, and how as taxpayers are we supposed to make informed decisions on what we are willing to support?

Moving reserve funds around to make levy and utility increases look less severe or depleting reserve funds to fund wants instead of needs, I believe, is doing a disservice to the community. Transparency and honesty with trusted checks and balances proving what is truly going on and how it is going to affect us long into the future is the only way to garner respect and trust. With those two assets, we can accomplish a whole lot more. It is all about the approach and delivery of information to the tax payer.

Some of what is being allowed to happen in local government is the responsibility of the tax payer. I know all of our lives are busy, but if we want a voice, it is our civic responsibility to get involved as much as time allows, so that our community’s future is determined by the majority of the tax paying residents and not just a few with special interests or agendas.

Today’s world seems to be about individualism with little regard for our neighbor, but we are all in this together whether we like it or not. Be it climate change, terrorism, immigration, environmental issues, infrastructure or how our tax dollars are being spent at every level of government, we will all be affected by the decisions being made on these issues. We need leaders who are proactive and decisive with all of our best interests and safety in mind, and if our current leaders are not providing these assets, then we need to replace them with more effective leaders who better represent our wishes. Rhetoric and condescension has no place in politics if you truly want to be a good leader.

 

Gary Hagen

Albert Lea