And just so you know rapunzel, I did offer to get involved early on when I was totally inclined to vote yes. jdarg and I had corresponded privately via msgs here. Once Bob Hudson got involved she promptly quit msging me back and any questions or responses I asked/made were promptly taken as a personal character assassination on her part.
My lack of response had nothing to do with Bob, and and more to do with your refusal to participate as a "real" person than just someone always posting negative things on SoWal. Real people got responses and actively participated in the campaign in the real word, using their real names, and I am thankful for them.
We tried. But when your major means of communication are via letters to the editor, limited to 225 words, it is tough. I think the autopsy of the situation demonstrates that we did articulate the message south of the bay and all the articulating in the world in the rural north wouldn't have changed anything.
As I noted above, the only other thing we could have done different was go door to door for votes. Otherwise, our only other tactic that could have been used, and some wanted to but we didn't because we wanted to take the high road, was to take off the gloves and play dirty. That may have garnered a few more votes, but in retrospect, I'm glad we kept it a clean effort we can be proud of. Unlike many in the 'no' camp, politics isn't our lifeblood, so we didn't see a need to be jerks and divide the county further.
What would you suggest we could have done?
I have to live and work here too.
And this, in a nutshell, is so telling. Everyone I talked to in north county said some variation of this. Why are people scared to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed right to free speech without fear of governmental retribution? The very fact that people feel they can't embrace a new approach because "they have to live and work here." Well, I just do not understand what people are afraid of. And the fear if retribution...that is exactly what this referendum was trying to end.
The status quo which benefits a very select few is preserved.
Have you ever been thrown in jail in this county because of your "constitutionally guaranteed right to free speech without fear of governmental retribution"? I have! !
I think more stories about the failures of the current system in Walton County would have been nice. I think it would have been good to have a website describing what makes a good school board and a competent superindendent. Just something with basic info for the uninitiated complete with a FAQ. Also, any time you talk about the topic online, assume that at least one person reading it doesn't have a clue, so don't be afraid to repeat something that may seem simple and basic. That's how you educate people. I used to read the WSJ, and every article on finance, no matter how advanced, always takes the time to explain the basics.
Have you ever been thrown in jail in this county because of your "constitutionally guaranteed right to free speech without fear of governmental retribution"? I have! Have your children ever been pulled over in this county by law enforcement and been told they were speeding when you know in fact they weren't? Mine were!
When you have fought the system legally and personally witnessed vulgar displays of retribution you do tend to be a little gun-shy. I know what county government is capable of and I know what county government gets away with doing to an electorate that has been dumbed down for decades!