Blind Faith & Informed Decisions

Blind Faith & Informed Decisions

When I was younger and asked questions, I remember being

told to have faith in the (political) process, and also in

our elected officials, that they make the right decisions.

This response always seemed more odd than logical to me, in

the sense that it relegates our understanding and control

of the political spectrum, which is a physical

manifestation, to the will of a non-material being.

One can vote and still be apathetic. Blind faith in the

political system can create apathy in the same way that

indifference can, by yielding uninformed decisions.

I was told recently that too many facts will confuse

people. I would revise that statement to the effect that

too many facts will confuse ignorant people.

Covington Weekly is an educational process on my part as

correspondent, and education for the public who may or may

not be aware of how the political process works. Some feel

that the majority of the public really does not want to

know, and they may be right in that assertion.

On the other hand, there remains a portion of the public

that does want to know what their public officials are up

to, as well as who is pulling the strings behind them. I

do not intend to be abrasive, but I sometimes am. I am not

always 100% correct in all of my conclusions either, but I

am willing to admit error and learn new things.

This weekend, the Parish is asking for two tax renewals.

If you think the parish is spending the money it gets from

its citizens wisely, then vote to renew. If you think that

there are problems with how the parish administration is

operating, then vote down the renewal and demand that some

explanations be given.

In my experience as correspondent, the administration and

state agencies of this parish are evasive, defensive, and

misdirecting with regard to simple information that should

be public to begin with. Blind faith in the system? No

thanks, I will continue to ask questions.

Cooperation, Competition & Complicity

Wikipedia defines cooperation as “the process of groups of

organisms working or acting together for common or mutual

benefit, as opposed to working in competition for selfish

benefit.”

Years ago, I left a position at a broadcast television

station over the news department’s refusal to run a story

about a proposed ethanol plant in a rural farming

community. The station shared legal representation with the

bidding energy company, which also happened to be owned by

the governor’s brother.

From the station’s point of view, I was “uncooperative”,

despite the obvious ethical issues. Relationships built on

conflicts of interest undermine supposed free-market

competition and erode the public trust.

Conflicts of interest benefit a select few while soaking up

public dollars destined for people and organizations that

have a legitimate need for those funds.

The original intention behind Covington Weekly is to

promote downtown Covington’s unique historic district. It

has also served as a lively platform to generate public

discussion on the process of economic development and other

topics of political interest.

The ultimate goal of Covington Weekly is to offer positive

and viable solutions to issues that exist among the

residents and business owners who live and pay taxes here,

not issues that are of anyone’s personal creation.

Competition is great! My general philosophy revolves around

the concept that we are here to help one another. Let’s

compete to see who can offer the most helpful solutions

that benefit everyone.

Intimidation, threats and abuses of power are not

legitimate modes of operation, and no one should expect

cooperation on that basis. Sanctioning that behavior will

only result in complicity. Diplomatic solutions are not

produced by entertaining negative intentions.

Covington Weekly accepts submissions from the public. CW

ran pieces on this weekend’s tax vote by CCST (against),

Mr. Goodwin of Mandeville (against) and the BGR (Bureau of

Governmental Research, in favor of the jail tax)

in the spirit of cooperation.

Contact Timothy Achan Gates Email: covweekly@gmail.com