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By Fred Kirby March 30,
2005
 I
thank you, Amanda Steinhoff, for your letter in the Independent last week.
There can be no debate on important municipal issues unless readers get
involved.
If championing for one united municipality practicing transparent and fair
government with members elected from across the municipality makes me a
poster boy for that Kincardine, then I am proud to be so named.
When I lived in Kincardine Township, I was a citizen of Kincardine
Township. When amalgamation was imposed on us, I became a citizen of
Kincardine. I accepted it. I want to build for the future.
Amanda, when you say, “Kincardine seems to dictate that surrounding areas
march to their drum.” you exemplify the core problem. Denial! Being in a
state of denial never solved a personal problem nor any other problem. You
and I are citizens of Kincardine. We can work to make it a better
municipality for all or live in denial surviving on the bitter pill of
acrimony, a festering destructive sore.
I did not “insult” councillors Randy Roppell and Howard Ribey. I simply
drew the obvious conclusion from their behaviour. When employees are
attacked over actions for which council is responsible, then Roppell and
Ribey are obliged to speak in defense of those employees. It is a matter
of ethics. It is not I who insulted them. It was they who brought shame on
themselves.
Politicians who hide behind the slogan, “My Country right or wrong,” do
not serve their country well. The same applies in local politics. ”My ward
right or wrong” does not serve individuals or the municipality well. There
are politicians I have greatly admired because of their decency and
integrity, not because they agreed with me. Elected representatives at
every level are not elected only to represent those who vote for them but
also for the greater good. Amanda, there is more to good government than
the type of democracy to which you refer. Lynch mobs in the USA were
democratic but did not serve the greater good.
Enjoy the flowers in the town centre; they are for us all. Again, I thank
you for your comments, and by the way, thanks for the moniker, especially
about the “boy.”
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