The CBS Early Show news had a story about cyber censorship in Iran this morning. The Iranian government is attempting to block opposition websites and the use of social networking sites such as Twitter to control the flow of information about what is happening in Iran.
CBS News senior White House correspondent Bill Plante went on to say the impact of Twitter hasn't been lost on the U.S. State Department, which called on the company to put off planned maintenance to enable that Web site to stay up.
WOW! A government entity that recognizes the value of the internet and the free flow of information on a global, macro level!
Lets go micro with this concept. In Pocomoke our officials try to control and, in fact, block the free flow of information and opinion when it is negative. We should learn from the U.S. State Department.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Value of All American City designation
For a good post of the value of All American City designation, go to
http://www.globalerie.com/blog/2009/06/15/does-erie-really-need-all-america-city-honor/
The comments are very insightful, particularily the June 16 one by Jim.
Wouldn't it be a better use of our officials time AND Pocomoke tax revenue if they redirected the efforts and funds being used to seek this award to addressing issues here. They can start with an open discussion and re-write of Pocomoke's election policy and procedures.
http://www.globalerie.com/blog/2009/06/15/does-erie-really-need-all-america-city-honor/
The comments are very insightful, particularily the June 16 one by Jim.
Wouldn't it be a better use of our officials time AND Pocomoke tax revenue if they redirected the efforts and funds being used to seek this award to addressing issues here. They can start with an open discussion and re-write of Pocomoke's election policy and procedures.
Monday, June 1, 2009
The need for changes in Pocomoke
I have been reading and studying State’s Attorney Joel Todd’s Report on the Pocomoke City Election in April 2009.
Wrong doings, or irregularities, were found. None were deemed to be criminal. The report put us, both the Pocomoke citizens and the Pocomoke public officials, on notice that at least one of these irregularities must to be corrected before the next election. So now is not the time to let this issue go.
No, Stephanie Burke did not win the election. Yes, the report found no criminal activity with respect to her specific complaints. However, Stephanie won on a much more important level. The need for changes in how Pocomoke conducts its elections is clear in the findings of this report. Why is it we equate coming in first with the only way of being successful. By that measure most of us would be failures most of the time.
Thanks to Stephanie pushing forward with her complaints, we now have outside confirmation that change is needed in how elections are conducted in Pocomoke. I do not believe this would have happened had Stephanie not made her complaints. Indeed, she tried to raise these issues by filing a formal letter of complaint with the town. She has yet to receive a response to this letter. The shame of it is that it took an outside party looking at these complaints for Pocomoke’s public officials to see and, hopefully, face the need for changes.
This is not the first time an outside source has had to be brought in to help Pocomoke see its problems. Maybe this time will cause us all, both citizens and public officials, to be more proactive in the future and correct things BEFORE they become bigger problems.
To be proactive, we cannot afford to discredit or disregard those that raise negative issues. Negative complaints are opportunities to make things better. Every citizen has something valuable to offer and the right to offer their opinions and suggestions, even those people we may find annoying or that we do not like. This is another place Pocomoke needs to change.
Wrong doings, or irregularities, were found. None were deemed to be criminal. The report put us, both the Pocomoke citizens and the Pocomoke public officials, on notice that at least one of these irregularities must to be corrected before the next election. So now is not the time to let this issue go.
No, Stephanie Burke did not win the election. Yes, the report found no criminal activity with respect to her specific complaints. However, Stephanie won on a much more important level. The need for changes in how Pocomoke conducts its elections is clear in the findings of this report. Why is it we equate coming in first with the only way of being successful. By that measure most of us would be failures most of the time.
Thanks to Stephanie pushing forward with her complaints, we now have outside confirmation that change is needed in how elections are conducted in Pocomoke. I do not believe this would have happened had Stephanie not made her complaints. Indeed, she tried to raise these issues by filing a formal letter of complaint with the town. She has yet to receive a response to this letter. The shame of it is that it took an outside party looking at these complaints for Pocomoke’s public officials to see and, hopefully, face the need for changes.
This is not the first time an outside source has had to be brought in to help Pocomoke see its problems. Maybe this time will cause us all, both citizens and public officials, to be more proactive in the future and correct things BEFORE they become bigger problems.
To be proactive, we cannot afford to discredit or disregard those that raise negative issues. Negative complaints are opportunities to make things better. Every citizen has something valuable to offer and the right to offer their opinions and suggestions, even those people we may find annoying or that we do not like. This is another place Pocomoke needs to change.
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