 by Bill Taylor October 30, 2004
I first met Mr. Landis three years ago when I moved to Ketchikan. I have worked with him on a number of economic development projects. Mr. Landis is one of the few people with political influence in Ketchikan who completely understands the difficult and complex economic transition that S.E. Alaska is now struggling through. In a letter written to SITNEWS on October 28, 2004, Mr. Landis was accused of "needing more information" before making a decision. The outlandishness of this comment is obvious to anyone with the ability to think rationally. I will simple state that if more information was OPENLY gathered then perhaps the seed money given to Ketchikan would not have been squandered by financing a Veneer plant. Second, last night on the National news it was reported that 1100+ American troops and 100,000 Iraqis civilians have died in the on-going war in Iraq. Some say that the U.S. is in Iraq to establish a free and open democracy. I find it outrageous that during a time where American soldiers are coming back from a foreign conflict in body bags or maimed for life, that we have a politician who brags about subverting our open democracy by participating in closed door politics. Mr. Landis' opponent states that participating in closed-door meetings was the "best advice he ever received". This comment begs the question: What was the worst advice you ever received? Perhaps, one of your worst mistakes was stating in public that you support participation in activities that violate the basic tenets on which our freedoms are based. In our democratic form of government, U.S. citizen elect representatives to represent them, NOT to decide what is best for them to know or not to know. Mr. Landis promises that he will not violate our trust by discussing public issues behind closed doors. I believe him. Yes, I will be voting for Davis Landis on November 2. Bill Taylor
and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Sitnews.
|