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EDITORIAL: The politics of divisiveness can't succeed

Posted by

Mike Buffington

in Editorial Archives

Wednesday, August 20. 2008

Comments (6)

For most area counties, the local election season is over. Some candidates won, others lost.

But in Barrow County, there are those from all sides of the political spectrum who apparently can’t let go of the election season’s rhetoric.

The political atmosphere in Barrrow has become increasingly poisonous in recent months. After the elections swept in a new group of county leaders, one would have thought a more reasonable level of political discourse would have returned to the community.

Apparently not. Last week’s board of commissioners meeting showed how much distrust and dissension still exists. When something as routine as a watershed protection plan can cause two political leaders to exit chambers in a heated argument, something in the local political culture has gone awry.

The bitterness that has taken root and flourished among those opposed to the current administration has grown so strong that election winners cannot enjoy the thrill of victory for relishing the agony of their opponents’ defeat. There are apparently both sore losers and ungracious winners still on the attack even after the elections are over.

All of this is breeding a level of community divisiveness that will only hurt the county if it continues.

The newly elected BOC chairman and board members will need support as they assume leadership of this county in January. These officials will be working with the former colleagues of those who not only lost, but continue to be subjected to accusations, innuendos and criticisms. It will not help either side if dissension and distrust continues to build between the old guard and the new.

Energetic campaigns are good. Comparing and contrasting candidates and their records is good. It’s all part of the political process in a free society.

But an entire political culture based on divisiveness is not good. At some point, the various political factions have to pull together if they are to be successful in addressing a community’s problems.

Isn’t it time to move forward and start working together to make Barrow County a better place for all its citizens?

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#1 DuWayne R. Anderson on 08/20/08 at 07:26 PM [Reply]

Mr. Buffington,
I agree with your conclusion. It is time to move on to new business. I am now focused on doing my part as a Republican, to move forward towards helping Barrow County to stand for John McCain in his bid to become President of the United States of America.
I hope that all voting Republicans in Barrow County will join me in doing all they can to help this cause, and win the White House for John McCain!
Respectfully submitted,
DuWayne R. Anderson
Winder, GA

#2 Mike Formato on 08/21/08 at 07:00 AM [Reply]

The lessons will not be learned by the BOC. It will be an infestation of hate and devisivness, much like the state legislature and DC congress.

Too late now for a third party to wake up the angry ones....

#3 Anonymous on 08/21/08 at 07:44 AM [Reply]

The "problem" simply stems from the fact that the losers will remain in office until January. These lame ducks are dead weight until then. At best, they will be ineffective. At worst, well...use your imagination.
This devisiveness is their last-ditch effort.
I worked hard on the Danny Yearwood campaign. I now feel like have gone on an extended vacation. I'm ALMOST bored! So I know this devisiveness is not coming from our camp!
And, thank you DuWayne, for taking all of your excess energy and channelling it into something worthwhile (don't take that the wrong way!).

#3.1 DuWayne R. Anderson on 08/21/08 at 10:04 AM [Reply]

Mr. A,
I appreciate your comment. We all fought very hard for our candidate of choice, and did the best we could to help that candidate win. It was hard fought, and at times very ugly on both sides of the campaign. However, we now must come together and support the Barrow County Republican Party in their effort to win Barrow County for John McCain in November.That is the least we can do for him, after all his service to our country.
I hope my "excess energy" as you put it, will play a small part in the effort to help get John McCain elected President.
I believe if we put forth a sustained maximum effort, by utilizing personal contacts, web pages, concerned citizen groups, and good ol' fashion phone bang'in, we can and will produce a positive result. If the leadership of this group of folks, gets the word out that this is the next BIG priority, I believe the OBAMA folks will be book'in flights on Delta, to get back to Illinois ASAP! I am available to help them pack...... :-) My sincere apologies to any Democrats that don't agree. Until next time....
Respectfully submitted,
DuWayne R. Anderson
"Republican on a mission for McCain"
Winder, GA

#4 Anonymous on 08/22/08 at 09:06 PM [Reply]

"Isn’t it time to move forward and start working together to make Barrow County a better place for all its citizens?"
I applaud this Editorial written by Mike Buffington.

As Mr. Yearwood stated repeatedly, "Let's make Barrow Better Together".................
And we will.

#5 BILL HEALAN on 08/29/08 at 02:15 AM [Reply]

Mr Buffington.
I am afraid that your reporter and you significantly misread the incident between Commissioner Lampp and me. Jerry Lampp and I have been friends for almost 20 years. Our political positions do not always agree. We both can be passionate about our respective positions.
What was seen at the BOC meeting was not divisiveness. Was I angry at Commissioner Lampp? Absolutely! Is Jerry Lampp still my friend? Absolutely!
What was seen was the thing I have always believed and the reason I entered politics.
It is not wrong for politicians to have conflicting positions. It is not wrong for them to passionately defend those positions. That is not divisiveness. That is Democracy and Government at its very finest.

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