Censorship and Transparency

Recently, the issue of public comment and debate to fully-inform the public has been on my mind. A related term is "transparency", which might be thought of as openly discussing public issues and making those decisions after full debate in the light of public view.

Or so I thought.  Apparently my opponent does not agree.  Last week, after a comment of mine on the "Fishers Indiana Government" Facebook page was deleted by the town's PR person who runs that page, I challenged why they did that.  Apparently it was because it linked to this blog.  So it seems that candidates for public office in Fishers have fewer First Amendment rights than do other citizens.  And the comments were in support of the Sun King Brewery expansion to Fishers, save for my serious reservations about the TIF financing, so that was even odder.  But they allowed the comments without the link to the blog.

That seemed silly to me, even though annoying.  But the hits kept coming.  It was reported to me that comments by others on my opponents Facebook page were deleted, because he did not feel that Facebook was an appropriate place for discussion of issues.  It is public, accessed by thousands of Fishers residents, so why not?  If not there, then where?  And now ALL comments on his page seem to be gone.

Also last week, I publicly challenged my opponent to a series of debates prior to the November 4th election. I even emailed him.  Nearly a week went by, and no response. So I called John.  Despite our political and policy differences, we personally are on good terms. His reply essentially was no debates, except for those which might be hosted by the Hamilton County League of Women Voters and/or the Fishers Chamber of Commerce.  So I reached out to those groups.  Per Dan Canan, President of the Fishers Chamber, they are NOT planning on any candidate debates, despite a record number of council seats being contested in a general election (four).  I have not heard from the League yet.

SO.  No discussion of issues on my opponent's Facebook page.  Candidate censorship on the Town's Facebook page. Either zero or ONE debate for the 4 council seats among 10 candidates running.

Democracy depends on an open and vigorous discussion and debate of issues. My opponent seems determined not to defend his record before the public.  Perhaps he realizes just how many errors of judgment he has made on the council, and hopes the public will remain ignorant.

SO. I will do my best to spread the word. I ask every resident of Fishers to share this blog with your friends and neighbors, so that there will be at least SOME open discussion of issues. And contact my opponent and let him know that hiding behind a curtain of silence is bad politics and worse for democracy.