When, exactly, is it the right time to stand up for your principles? I mean YOUR principles. I mean MY principles. When is that time? I ask because it seems to me the general tendency is to keep our heads down and our mouths shut. It makes sense: we all have to survive.
But we only get so many obvious ‘moments of truth’ that present us with the option to live up to the person we want to be and the person that’s less scary to be. More often, we just get ‘moments’ we make do with. Principles, like facts, are stubborn things. And sometimes, they won’t let you go.
Last week, I saw the most outrageous abuse of power I’ve ever witnessed personally unfold before my eyes. The only question was whether to say anything about it. According to my ex-coworkers & friends, the answer was no.
But as my eBay Peeps might tell you, I have a really hard time shutting up when The Powers That Be lose their sense of ethics/freedom/common decency and start fucking with people. (For instance: NOT shutting up, in fact, making a HELL of a lot of noise and getting a few others to do the same – when eBay Corporate mandated CSRs could no longer use their ‘ethnic sounding’ aliases. Discrimination, anyone? The matter died shortly thereafter.)
In this case, the Newcastle City Council was fucking with my friend AND a community I loved. So I wrote this. And now I’m a columnist.
Related Articles & Sources
BREAKING NEWS — City Council fires city manager, cuts more than $1 million from budget (Newcastle News)
City Council fires city manager, hires former community development director
Public Works director, parks commissioner resign
Newcastle City Council fires city manager, cuts more than $1 million from budget (Issaquah Press)
Department of Licensing
Trade Name: RTW Associates
Robert Todd Wyman
Public Disclosure Commission Contributions Report – advanced search
(select candidate/commission: Dulcich, John D; election year 2009)
John D. Dulcich Campaign Contributors
- Donner Brian, $1000
- RTW Associates, $500
- Stephen McCarthy, $500
- Seattle Business Insurance, $500
- Rich Crispo, $25 (candidate, now on council)
- Lisa Jensen, $520/website services (council member)
© 2010, jules.maas. All rights reserved.
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Wow Jules!
I’m so glad you brought it up and said what you were thinking. Sometimes it has to be said, and that’s how people become aware of a potential problem – and get it “fixed”.
In this case, any time something smells of corruption, and/or the “good ol’boys” rubbing elbows to the benefit of certain companies and/or individuals it only makes sense.
There has to be someone who will stand up and say something – otherwise, we end up in a totalitarian country where everyone’s afraid to say anything. (Look at the UK for some examples – especially around the videoing of citizens/no photography laws because you could be a terrorist, etc.).
It’s not always easy to be brutal, honest, or making the call outs. I know – I’ve been burned several times. However, if what you say is really what everyone is thinking, and you have the right format for it, opportunities are made and come your way. Why? Because people appreciate honesty – and sometimes don’t always want to hear the “yes men” when the “yes men” go beyond common sense.
Congrats for becoming a sometime reporter – I look forward to reading more from you in the future.
You make ME Proud to be your friend!
OMG. This story has just gone to the next level: http://www.newcastle-news.com/2010/01/22/talks-began-in-december-regarding-finding-a-new-city-manager
Mr. Adams, thank you! Not only for your compliments, but for your comments on the Newcastle News & Issaquah Press stories last week.
I was at the meeting when Mr. Starbard was fired, but what you, Allan D. and C.K. wrote gave me the other half of this story.
I am proud to join you in trying to make a difference & will HAPPILY continue to do so!
Good for you for speaking up about what is going on in Newcastle. As a former Councilmember and Mayor there (and now a resident) I share your feelings about the abuse of power and ethics issues. And it’s people like you that can help make the difference by calling attention to it. Keep it up!