No Democracy in Greece, NY

It is sad to say, but not surprising that the people lost out to the undemocratic government of Greece. Despite about 10 people speaking out at the meeting, we have a lot of sheep in our town, the town board voted to hand over the people's public access television to Time Warner to run. <!--break--> An example of how important the citizen's are to the Greece government: while I was speaking, a town board member, Jerry Helfer, started falling asleep. I asked him, “Am I keeping you awake?&quot; His response was, “I was reading some papers.&quot; I do not know what is worse having him fall asleep or totally ignore me. Of course, he did fall asleep during the next speaker. After the public forum, which is, basically, citizens talking to a wall, they moved the public cable access issue to the top of the agenda. Kathyrn Firkins, the director of constituent services, otherwise known as Supervisor Auberger's mouth piece, read some propaganda about how great Time Warner would be for public access television and then read the agenda item to vote on whether or not to relinquish control to Time Warner. The motion was seconded, asked if there was any discussion from town board members—which of course there wasn't; that takes place behind closed doors if ever—and it was unanimously passed. I guess it is true: I live in the best little southern Bible belt town in New York. Sing it with me &quot;Oh where, oh where has democracy gone, oh where oh where can it be&quot;.

<p>It is sad to say, but not surprising that the people lost out to the undemocratic government of Greece. Despite about 10 people speaking out at the meeting, we have a lot of sheep in our town, the town board voted to hand over the people's public access television to Time Warner to run.</p> <!--break--><p>An example of how important the citizen's are to the Greece government: while I was speaking, a town board member, Jerry Helfer, started falling asleep. I asked him, “Am I keeping you awake?" His response was, “I was reading some papers." I do not know what is worse having him fall asleep or totally ignore me. Of course, he did fall asleep during the next speaker.</p> <p>After the public forum, which is, basically, citizens talking to a wall, they moved the public cable access issue to the top of the agenda. Kathyrn Firkins, the director of constituent services, otherwise known as Supervisor Auberger's mouth piece, read some propaganda about how great Time Warner would be for public access television and then read the agenda item to vote on whether or not to relinquish control to Time Warner. The motion was seconded, asked if there was any discussion from town board members—which of course there wasn't; that takes place behind closed doors if ever—and it was unanimously passed. </p> <p>I guess it is true: I live in the best little southern Bible belt town in New York. Sing it with me "Oh where, oh where has democracy gone, oh where oh where can it be".</p>