Our political system has been deteriorating over the past decades into an adversarial quagmire. Our current election circus is the inevitable outcome of our “black and white” political reasoning, resulting in our inability to master the art of kind exception. Usually prejudice is easier to sustain when we don’t have a personal relationship, so to see it creeping into our community elections with people who are our neighbors and have served the community for years is heartbreaking. Why can’t we consider that even if we disagree or have different priorities, that there is value on both sides and that our “either/or” thinking limits possibilities.
In Tofte’s last election, just prior to voting, a cartoon was circulated in mail boxes that misrepresented Jim King’s years of service (“arrogant, disconnected, not transparent, etc.”) and outright lied about issues (“hiding info, responsible for Tofte being broke and senior housing fiasco”). This may have stemmed from a perception that the Tofte Town Board didn’t want or support Birch Grove Community School; which couldn’t be further from the truth. All of the existing supervisors know that having a school, affordable housing and employment opportunities are essential for a thriving community. It’s not either housing or a school. Despite the fact that donations to charter schools remain a complicated and controversial issue, if we can change the way we think and act to be more respectful and inclusive, then creativity can flourish.
There are solutions to the school’s financial difficulties (some of which Jim was actively working on) but unfortunately close-mindedness and lack of communication prevent collaboration.
Tofte has just accomplished something unprecedented in the state (if not the country) where a small township has developed a housing project aiding seniors and families. Jim King and Paul James spent years getting this going despite poor advice during the planning process.
Jeanne Larson (Tofte’s first woman supervisor and housing project manager) was able to testify multiple times at legislative hearings to get a bill authorizing this project,which just passed! Our leadership and citizens need to think more inclusively and respect the value of differences. Disparaging those we disagree with keeps us from actualizing the truth that the “whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” Perhaps if our personal relationships and communities can follow Gandhi’s challenge to “Be the change you want to see in the world” we can transform our communities and the nation as a whole!
Randy Voeks
Tofte
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