Debate the issues, not the character

Opinion - Opinion
 
by George Lauby (North Platte Bulletin) - 5/14/2010
 

Your honor, we agree.
  
Judge John Murphy handed down his ruling regarding the petition that would have cut a sliver of funds away from the Golden Spike Visitor’s Center.

We don’t agree with all of the decision, but we certainly respect his considered opinion.

We think the Spike issue should go before the voters. We think that would be just fine.

It’s good to have a petition drive calling for a vote of “we the people” -- who are the basis of our government. People have a right and duty to participate. Petitioning our government for redress of grievances is guaranteed in the Constitution.

That being the case, we don’t quibble with Murphy’s opinion, a reasoned ruling on the questions put before him.

And we totally agree with his opinion that too many political debates degenerate to name calling, hyperbole, false claims and exaggerations.

Former Mayor Jim Whitaker, Bulletin columnist Bob Gambs and resident Pat Heinzle all did some exaggerating in our recent print paper, and cast dispersions on the character of others.

Contrary to what Mr. Whitaker seemed to imply, the Western Nebraska Taxpayers Association was not founded to oppose the Spike and has not spent years opposing it.

The WNTA was founded to oppose wasteful government spending and advocate for lower taxes. That is a fine purpose.

Among their many concerns is the Spike. One specific member, Mr. Leonard Hiatt, was so bold as to raise questions about the legality of the funding structure.

That was Hiatt's right under our system of government, which is the best system in the world.

Mr. Whitaker also asserts that the legal battle over Spike funding cost the city the money some 60,000 tourists might have spent if the development had been built instead of tied up in court.

Who knows? That estimate is a mite high, given that the actual attendance is 63,000 since the Spike opened nearly two years ago.

Others argue if the city had put the issue to a vote initially, there probably wouldn’t have been a legal battle. Or if the Iron Horse Golf Course would have been truly settled at the ballot box, there probably wouldn’t be as much mistrust as there is of such decisions. A steady rumble of malcontent can still be heard over that issue, some 15 years later.

"What might have been" can be argued forever and never resolved.

That’s one reason why Mr. Mike Groene and a handful of others founded the taxpayers’ assocation -- to be a part of decisions that affect all taxpayers. They got involved because they care.

We disagree with Mike Groene on many issues but we respect him. Despite disappointments and personal attacks, he has hung in there for years, appearing at all kinds of meetings, making factual presentations, always advocating less government spending and a better deal for the taxpayer's money. He has run for elected offices and served on committees. As a member of a planning committee for the new jail, his persuasive ability helped keep costs down. We were there.

Of course Groene is not perfect. And of course no one is. No one has to castigate his character in order to challenge his assertions.

It’s relatively easy to look back, speculate and cast blame, but it’s the height of negativity. It creates more bitterness.

There are vital issues in front of us -- issues that will be best decided by working together, keeping our disagreements honest, and respecting one another as individuals.

Judge Murphy as much as said so in his ruling. We could not agree more.



 
The North Platte Bulletin - Published 5/14/2010