Deep breaths, everyone.
As the November general election nears, the public discussion — which takes many forms — about Proposition 1 has heated up. That’s to be expected. The proposal to form a Methow Aquatics District is regarded by many in the community as bold, ambitious, sensible and forward-looking. It’s also perceived in some quarters as costly overreaching, an elaborate solution for a problem that could be solved with a simpler one. Fair enough, it’s a topic worthy of informed, above-board discussion. For the most part, people have stuck to the basics about what is at stake.
Occasionally, however, the give-and-take has strayed into less amicable territory. There are reports that campaign signs for both supporters and opponents have been stolen. It’s cheesy, low-brow vandalism but bothersome nonetheless. There are accusations of misinformation and disinformation, understandable when the details are complex. More problematic have been some insinuations about the motives and intentions of Proposition 1 supporters, as if they were some QAnon cell that had infiltrated the Methow to cause strife among us, or just misguided souls.
Friends of the Pool is an honorable group that, however one feels about Proposition 1, must be treated with respect for consistently fulfilling its mission. All they have done, over many years, is contribute thousands of hours of volunteer time and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars toward keeping the Wagner Memorial Pool opened when it was needed, and devoted the last few years to coming up with a plan to replace a community asset that, while we regard it as priceless, does indeed come with a price.
Some people who haven’t spent a minute or a dime in support of the pool over that time seem to have now anointed themselves experts and pundits, with an attitude we could do without.
As before, we encourage people to become informed and cast a rational vote — for or against — based on what they think is right.
If the propositions fails, the community still needs a solution, and soon. Will you be one of those who takes part? Or just another commentator from the sidelines?
