A Message From Loyal Brother

Mr. DeAngelis/Supporters,

If nobody wants to live here, how were they able (in a decade) to build and fill Steeple Chase, Brookside, Pine Crest, and now yet another massive development off of Christian Rd? The mere fact that the school populations is skyrocketing is testament to the fact that Middlebury is a VERY desirable place to live, regardless of the taxes.

People move to towns like Middlebury for the quality of life that they offer. If someone wanted cheap schools, shoddy living conditions, and lower levels of public safety, they would live somewhere like New Haven or Waterbury. People move to Middlebury for its good schools, highly visible police presence, and dedicated volunteer fire and ambulance services. They're willing to pay a little extra to be able to live in a place where the police officer on the corner knows them by name and they see the fire chief out washing cars for some community fundraiser in front of fire HQ. To them, it's worth the extra money.

One thing that has always bothered me about Pat and OurMoneyPit is not as much the lies and slander, but his constant use of the word "we". Pat, no team of writers work to write on your site. It represents your viewpoints and perspectives, and I respect that because I believe in free speech. But when you use the third person to refer to yourself and use "we" in your attacks on my beloved town, you cross the line.

How can you be so pro-democracy about freedom of information and open government when you believe that you have the ability to form the people's opinions for them? How do you know what "we" think about Chief Perrotti or Mr. Gormley? More importantly, who are you to tell me what I should think? If you're going to give your opinion online, do just that... express YOUR opinion. Call yourself "I", not the third person. Stop pretending that there is some secret large elaborate left-wing think-tank writing your page.

I've also noticed a recent trend in you and your supporters to leave comments on this blog. I think that's great! Open dialogue is what makes democracy so great and this country such a great place to live in! However, why is it that you cannot give others the ability to leave comments on your website? You complain about how people key cars and break bottles... maybe it is because they are so frustrated and that is the only way that they have to get your attention. There is no message board, no comments section, and no email address on your website. Perhaps if you enabled these features, people would be able to make their point with words rather than actions and a lot of the animosity would be alleviated.

Some people might view what you are doing as a noble thing... standing up for the little guy and the taxpayers against the government regime. However, how can you stand for someone if they do not have a say? When you take away this element, your position switches from that of a political reformist to that of a political terrorist. By this, and spreading messages that you know to be lies or that you know have no basis in true fact, you are no longer seeking to inspire change, but only to inspire chaos and unrest.

In tough times like we are experiencing today - with the homeland security threats, failing economy, etc. etc. - more than ever we need a strong leader, and I hope that you can agree with me on this point. You yourself have spoken volumes about how hard these times are on us all, at least financially. Why is it then, that rather than trying to help strengthen our town by adding to the leadership - whether it by joining government/committees and getting involved or simply going to meetings and sharing your ideas in a constructive manner - that you choose to hide behind your computer screen and just sabotage the current leadership that is trying so hard to bring us through these tough times. I applaud Mr. Gormley, not necessarily for the decisions that he has made, but more so for the leadership qualities he has exhibited by not giving up in the face of a seemningly endless political onslaught.

Mr. Gormley and Chief Perrotti are not hiding behind their computer screens - they are out in the field every day, doing what they normally do, and trying their hardest to make this town a better place to live for all of us who moved her for a better community.

Mr. DeAngelis, for once, this letter is not intended as an attack. It is an honest attempt to communicate with a man that I have never met in person, and whom I have no other way of contacting. My request to you is simple - please change the tone of your website. I think your proposing of ideas is a great benefit to our community. However, I wish that you would focus more on the betterment of our community than on trying to insinuate chaos. Open up your website to dialogue and debate. Switch to a format such as this website's. It's much neater and it gives everyone a chance to have their voice heard... which is what such a proponent of democracy such as yourself should ultimately be after.

Mr. DeAngelis, please respond to me and let me know what you think. I look forward to reading your comments and input and only ask that if you do post a response - do it on your website as a message or letter to me so that I know that it is not someone else trying to cause trouble. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

~C

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All opinions on this site are those of the person making them. Freedom of speech is not restricted to just the few.  It is available to all.  Feel free to post.

- MiddleburyStayInformed.