CROYLE: Which Side Are We On?
Being the new “newspaper” game in town, I often get asked “Whose side are you on?” when it comes to various issues.
That is easy to answer. “Truth!” However, they often do not want to hear the whole answer.
Before there was a constitution, our forefathers found themselves in a monarchy where the people were at the whim of the government. As the break occurred, they wanted a new system, believing in the people to govern themselves. So they created a democracy. Because the popular vote could not be taken on every issue, the instituted a republic, where the people would vote representatives for their regions. If the will of the people was not being met, the solution was simple: they were voted out.
Because truth is not easily recognized, they came up with a way to discover it. That is called debate. Unfortunately, there was a time in our country when issues stressed our nation. Instead of persons of high integrity debating issues, they became bitter and made personal attacks to win a war at any cost. Brother began to fight against brother. Homes were split. Relatives were killed at the hand of their kin. We called it a civil war.
Since the formation of the Armstrong School District, there has been an ongoing debate over the best way to educate our children. Schools have been merged, closed, reopened, and new ones erected… all in the name of quality education. The debate has even moved into the halls of our vo-tech school.
Instead of debate, I fear another civil war is on the horizon. Brother cannot eat at the same table with sister. Battle lines have been drawn. Generals have been assigned to each side to lead the fray. There is bloodshed looming in our courts, in the board room, and will flow into the streets of our communities unless we pause, reflect, learn from our past, and hold fast to our future.
The Kittanning Paper wishes to foster the debate, not the hatred. We are not joining someone’s army in any of the battles. We are looking for that statesman who will be able to stick to the issues, debate them strong and passionately, but not lose the kindred spirit that makes us one district under God, indivisible; with liberty and education for all.
This is a test of our character to see if this district, or any district, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We will meet next Monday on a great battlefield of this war in Elderton. To modernize the words of Lincoln: may we highly resolve that these school board directors shall not work in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of direction – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from this county.
CROYLE: I Just Have to Say It | David Croyle February 26, 2010
By Jen16226, February 26, 2010 @ 5:49 AM
Wonderful editorial!
By Jan, February 26, 2010 @ 7:55 AM
I whole heartedly agree with your opinion. I wish it were that easy though.The current configuration of this district literally makes it impossible to have equal representation. Along with that, I don’t hold much faith that the people in the ASD are being heard. As mature adults- does anyone want to fight? NO. But we do expect to be heard and we do expect our board members to look at the entire picture, look at the educational benefits for the students, as well as look at the economic climate in this district and base their decision on what will be the best scenario for all and not a certain few. This current board is not doing that. They are responsible for pitting one area against another. Do the people of the ASD care about the education of those students in the Elderton attendance area- of course! I for one care about the education of all of our children in this district. I care deeply that this district has a reputation of excellence in education and I know that our educational system drives business/industry into this area, and that is not happening. We have to depend solely on the decision of this board, and I don’t hold out much faith that they are making decisions that will encourage growth to our area. Some decisions made by a board may not be popular,but in order for this district to move forward, we have to keep up with the times in providing each student in this district an opportunity to not only succeed but to also be prepared for the world out there. We can not afford to encourage tunnel vision in our children.
Everyone has a right to an opinion, but with that comes the responsibility to keep an open mind as to what is in the best interest of all. My opinion can only change when I’m convinced that this school board is acting in the best interest of all.
By sweetleur, February 26, 2010 @ 7:56 AM
If only the elected officials would serve the people and not their own agendas or ambitions.
By scott_starr, February 26, 2010 @ 9:17 AM
Until it is realized that we are ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT, it will never end.
The Kittanning Area pays $1.6 million MORE in Taxes than is spent on the schools, and I for one am proud that this extra money goes to EDUCATE kids from all areas of the county. It riles me to no end, when that money is wasted on a building for some silly agenda.
Mr. Croyle, if you want to foster debate, it is up to our local “newspapers” to CHECK THE FACTS of what is said, are you checking the FACTS of what MJM says or anyone for that matter? No, and neither is the other paper.
The media are culpable in this fiasco, just printing anything that comes out of peoples mouths is not journalism, it’s rumor mongering.
By Thomas Close, February 26, 2010 @ 9:22 AM
Well put Sir:::
Now try and get nine people to listen to each other, and then say,maybe he or she has a better plan.
By rfullerton, February 26, 2010 @ 11:55 AM
Mr. Croyle what you say is exactly right but you as an ethical journalist need to be responsible enough to check the truth of what is being stated and to print the truth and not the “nastiness” that is meant only to hurt and discredit the facts and opinions of others. Although mjm pays for his ads much of what he prints is fiction and the other is just plain hateful rhetoric from an extremely disturbed person. You should be responsible enough to have him edit the b.s out of his advertising.
By kwiss4, February 26, 2010 @ 2:01 PM
We should all avoid personal attacks. If Mr. Croyle were to do what your asking, I believe the line, from an extremely disturbed person, would have to be edited out.
By asdtaxpayer, February 26, 2010 @ 3:01 PM
Which side are we on?
How about the children it seems like that is what is being overlooked.
Let’s forget about red and white, purple and gold, silver and black, and now green and white once again.
I think our magnificent six should take field trips to other school districts. They should make observations and take notes on what they see and hear. Granted all districts do not work in harmony but they all seem to have one goal.
The KIDS.
In the ASD the goal is to keep buildings up that need torn down.
What do the current board members think when they attend events in other districts? I know how I feel? I think the current budget is 85 million. What do we have to show for it? 3 dumps and one nice high school.
All ASD taxpayers need to tour the current buildings in the district, then go tour other districts. After they are done with this they need to go rent or download the video starring Michael J. Fox. The name of the movie is “Back to the Future” The ASD should invite us all in to watch it in the great facilities that they provide the students. This way we can truly appreciate the movie and how it is very similar to the ASD.
What wold Biff call some of these School Directors?
It’s time to live in the present ASD!!
Mr. Solak I know you love your community and I respect your tireless battle and loyalty to your cause but you are not doing the community justice. Your building is falling down and it should stay down.
The notion of a super school is a joke. You could combine all of the schools in the entire county let alone the district and you still would not have a super school.
The Future could be BRIGHT, but we are worried about the great traditions of these great high schools.
Why are we not worried about providing better programs to our resources “The Kids”?
It is truly a shame that these elected officials that have been elected, choose to live in the PAST.
It’s 2010!!!
By rfullerton, February 26, 2010 @ 3:09 PM
kswiss: In case you are unaware this is a blog not an article that is in print. Therefore Mr. Croyle does not have an ethical obligation to censor it although he does check for improper language. People who respond on a blog are not journalists. Certainly he is welcome to edit out the “extremely disturbed person” commment. It wouldn’t bother me a bit if it was done equally across the board. Me actually using those words are very moot anyway…people already know.
By rfullerton, February 26, 2010 @ 3:18 PM
Curious to know why there have been no articles in this paper on the lawsuits filed against the school board????
By rfullerton, February 26, 2010 @ 3:52 PM
asdtaxpayer: Did you know our districts budget is higher than Mount Lebanon’s? We were at Hempfield High School the other day and my daughter’s words wer “Wow, why can’t we have something like this? I wish I went here” and she is in the “nice” school in the district. We don’t want to move. We love Armstrong county but for people with children in school who care about their education and future successes there may be no choice.
By Ruscoe, February 26, 2010 @ 6:32 PM
asdtaxpayer:
The notion of a “super school” is not just the amount of students located in the building, but it is the philosophical idea to have one building. If you have read my past posts, many people are questioning the need for just one building, just one campus, and just one location. I am all for consolidation to an extent, but I do not believe we use the children as pawns to support some unfounded theory that if you build a big shiny, new school that businesses are going to flock here. That statement has never been proven, and this was researched and discussed nationally over the last decade. In fact, in some areas, regions and states, this has backfired and led those taxpayers to a huge debt when the local economy did not blossom like it was supposed to do when a new state-of-the-art school was built.
The economy needs to pick up around here first before we go with even a notion of a one, big school. Right now, we need to to do some strategizing of keeping our heads above water with the academics, the buildings and the taxes. Closing and consolidating a few schools would be the recommendation at this point in time, but there are others out there beating the drums for this new super-sized building.
As for the commments by rfullerton, nothing bad, but if you think for even a minute that we can at this time think we can compete with the socio-econmoic status of Mount Lebanon and Hempfield…I would have to have to state that my opinion is that you are very wrong.
Our budget may be higher, but you look at the median incomes and the socio-economic cohorts of those places and compare them to Armstrong. I hope we can get there, also.
New jobs and businesses and need to come first, before a new super school, not vice-versa.
By elderman, February 26, 2010 @ 9:59 PM
Reply to Scatt Starr: You call for ONE school district but immediately after that you seemingly boast that the KITTANNING AREA pays 1.6 million dollars more than is spent on the Kittanning schools.(Remember – ONE district.) Further, you are PROUD that this money is used to educate students in all areas of the county. But then you seem to put STRINGS attached to this PROUD spending in ONE school district. Turns out that you are proud only if you can control how the money is spent. So much for ONE district. Throw out the idea of elected representatives serving the best interest of their constituents, Mr. Starr knows how this money should be spent! Then you go on to criticize the local media because they print thoughts that do not coincide with yours????? In one posting you have contradicted your seemingly high ideals and destroyed representative government and free speech. Your posting speaks for itself! And please Mr. Croyle, continue to defend free speech and prevent Mr. Star from eliminating opposing thoughts.
By elderman, February 26, 2010 @ 11:58 PM
Reply to rfullington: “Hateful rhetoric from an extremely disturbed person.” Wow! Another person who would do away with the idea of free speech when other persons views do not coincide with with their opinion. Rfullington only wants Mr. Croyle, to print those articles that she approves of and only the nastiness and attempted discrediting of FACTS that she perpetrates. When she misquotes Ms. Sara Yassem to make it appear that Ms. Yassem is unresponsive to her constituents that is not nastiness. It is not nastiness when she attacks Ms. Yassem at every opportunity because Ms. Yassem criticized the overly generous teachers contract that rfullington as a teacher is a beneficiary of or because Ms. Yassem defeated rfullington’s husband for the ASD directors seat. So rfullington, please post only the “truth and not the nastiness that is meant only to hurt and discredit the facts and opinions of others.” If you can hold yourself to that higher level, thankfully that is the last we will hear from you!
By asdtaxpayer, February 27, 2010 @ 5:13 AM
Ruscoe I have not read your posts but I know one thing if this district puts 25 million dollars into Elderton building that is a great disservice to the residents the ASD.
Ruscoe have you been in these buildings? I have been. I ashamed that this is what is provided for the kids.
You have to admit that there has been a lot of wasting. 25 million into that building is a crime.
This district was on the right track years ago. They closed Worthington and East Brady. When there was danger of FC closing done things changed.
What is the one thing that has remained the same on this board since the 1980′s? One director.
I think there should be two high schools in this district. Period!! That is even pushing it. I never said build the “Super School”
You could put the other high school by Lenape.
I have a funny feeling the whole Lenape situation has a twist and why certain directors wanted it half day.
Just a theory if Lenape goes half a day or other districts decide to opt out what happens to that building?
I think someone may want to move their high school there because it is in very poor condition. Just a thought and I could be way off.
Elderman: What are you talking about?
Elderman you sound like someone very familiar??
Band Aids do not work ASD. 25 million is an expensive band aid.
By rfullerton, February 27, 2010 @ 9:58 AM
Ruscoe:
You seem to have missed the point. Our budget is much more than Mt. Lebananon yet they have sooooo much more than our kids..why so, with the amount of money we have shouldn’t we have the same if not more than Mt. Lebanon. As for Hempfield I don’t know what their budget is so I cannot speak to that. The point of mentioning Hempfield is that with the amount we have in our budget all of our schools should at minimum be comparable to WSHS. Have you been in our buildings? Have you seen other schools? Our kids are being short changed at every turn and the root of it is the fighting that goes on within the community, the petty agendas and the disregard for what is important…THE STUDENTS.
By scott_starr, February 27, 2010 @ 10:15 AM
Elderman:
you are a fool, I don’t want my or anyone’s money wasted. IF the board can tell me how opening Elderton will improve the curriculum, I will listen. Improving the curriculum benefits ALL the students.
Were you a member of HERO? HERO was cyring about how money was spent, crying it was not spent on THEM, I’m not choosing one area over the other.
I’m for Education, not buildings.
Now I criticized the media because the do not check FACTS! Where did I criticize the media for not sharing my ideas?
I see Elderman the engineer you are against the truth, since you are against checking the facts.
By rfullerton, February 27, 2010 @ 1:57 PM
Bill/Jim: Sorry I have upset you so thoroughly. Perhaps some deep breaths will help.
As I said previously elderman (my name is not fullington…if you are going to try to berate me at least spell my name correctly) what is written here is a blog…it is opinion. If Mr. Croyle would like to censor it so be it but it is not construed as anything journalistic in nature. When something is written in print, meant to be perceived as fact, and is supposedly put in a reputable paper (not like the enquirer or the Star) it needs to verified. Note the ASD news to use…there is NO nastiness. Just facts plain and simple.
I am not attacking Yassem about the teacher contract, I didn’t even know she made the comment that you reference (nor do I care). I criticize because she has NEVER returned one single email that I have sent to her regarding her decision on Elderton…and they were not nasty in nature..I am sure she can share with you should she choose. She is not representing my region as she states..this is fact…I don’t believe I ever misquoted her, as the only thing I mentioned is that she missed solak’s cue at the meeting..what she said after the missed “cue” was irrevelant to what I was referencing.
Seems you all are a little disjointed and nervous. GOOD my mission is being realized. Feel free to bash and criticize me if it makes you feel better. I am a big girl and I can take it….the FACTS will remain the same.
HAVE A GREAT DAY!!
By jfullerton, February 27, 2010 @ 2:28 PM
Elderman, if you are going to bash her, the name is rfullerton. A man of your intelligence would at least check the spelling of the person that you continually harp on. As for the last time you will here from her, good luck with that. Perhaps you will hold yourself to the same higher standard and condemn Mr. Markilinski too for the salander the he spews about the students of Lenape Technical School.
By asdtaxpayer, February 27, 2010 @ 3:01 PM
If I am not mistaken the two new members of the board ran unopposed basically. Fullerton was a write in. It is very difficult to win as a write in.
How many people actually voted for the director from Manor Township? I need to find that fact.
Elderman things will be changing with the new regions. We may have to lose 25 million in the process but there will be change.
Fullerton we agree that these buildings are ancient dumps that our money pits.
A few want to cling onto the past.
Why not start a new tradition of quality education and programs.
I think Ruscoe stated that building a new school will not bring anyone in. Well keeping the dumps has the people flocking in now doesn’t it.
ASD directors take the “Little House on the Prairie” approach. A one room school house would be great for each area. I am glad I help pay for a private education for the Elderton students while my kids are in classes with 24-26.
I was at Gateway high school this past week. Wow what a difference!! I have also been to Hempfield and it is a great facility as well. I wish I could say the same about the ASD facilities.
By asdtaxpayer, February 27, 2010 @ 3:11 PM
Elderman Are you really for Education? I think you are for the past. Keep these great traditions alive at any cost.
Elderman these buildings are money pits. The students are offered less. How can you be for education? Our students are at a disadvantage compared to other schools. I challenge you to look at other districts courses for students and compare them to ours.
Elderman if there were no sports teams in the ASD with no history and tradition, I think this issue would not even exist. I honestly feel that we pay to keep Ford City alive for athletic reasons. Mr. Solak wants to keep the identity of his town at a very high cost.
By Jan, February 27, 2010 @ 8:59 PM
Elderman, if you feel so strongly that Elderton should re-open, how about this. Let’s re-open the school, but let the students go back to that dump the way they left it. If it was good enough before they left, and the “elder-community” claims that they pay for themselves, then go back, but don’t spend our tax dollars to do it. It makes absolutely NO SENSE to plunk that kind of money into a school that houses so few students. Quite frankly, there are more students in Kittg. and Ford City High School; those schools are dumps or run down and you don’t see anyone crying over the fact that we should dump money into them. If you people want your school back, fine- go back, but don’t expect the rest of the ASD to pay for it. There were be a serious mutiny if that occurs. People all around the district have finally awaken to what Solak and his hand pick croonies are doing and people are not going to put up with him or anyone else who chooses to waste our tax dollars. Some time when you have a chance to talk to Solak, why don’t you ask him about the “years” he stepped away from the board— and if he tells you that it was to complete his doctorate— go back to some records to see that he was asked to step back and not run because of his little dealings with an architectural firm. He’s not the shining little star that you think he is. And while your at it, ask him why, when his daughters were being voted on to teach in this district, he was to abstain from voting ( according to School Board policy, but he voted. I’m glad his girls got jobs ( that’s not the point) but Solak seems to think that he can do and say whatever he wants- he’s a one man board. I think he honestly thinks he could run this show all by himself- God help us all.
By reed619, February 27, 2010 @ 10:38 PM
To asdtaxpayer
I wanted to know how many Markilinski received in the election too, so I checked it out and these are the numbers that I received from Wendy Buzard at the elections office..
Out of 3,086 registered voters in Manor Township and Manorville Borough, he received just 668 votes, which is less than 25%. Very low number, especially with the fact he ran unopposed.
By concerned citizen, February 28, 2010 @ 7:30 AM
Reed,
How many people voted? Not being confrontational, but I do think that’s an important part of your data.
By asdtaxpayer, February 28, 2010 @ 9:51 AM
Of those 668 I wonder how many were a straight party vote. WOW.
What is the time line on this new region voting?
The sooner the better.
By Jan, February 28, 2010 @ 10:00 AM
Your numbers should make people ill- to think that someone like MJM, running unopposed would still get a low vote and now, he has the power to spend millions of our tax dollars as he sees fit. These are very scary times. I certainly hope that the people in Manor Twp. and Manorville watch him closely- get on his back about what he’s doing. Of course, he would have to be living in the area to actually have a conversation with him- but since most of his time is spend living in Canonsburg now- that’s a little hard. So in essense, you have an absent board member representing the people of Manor and Maonorville.
By elderman, February 28, 2010 @ 5:43 PM
Reply to Scatt Starr: In your posting of Feb. 26, 2010 at 9:17 AM you contradict your seeming high ideals, destroy representative government, and decry free speech, all in one posting. Impressive! When I had the temerity to point this out, you lashed out much like a petulant child and resorted to name calling in your posting of Feb. 27, 2010 at 10:15 AM. You need to understand that I am not attempting to destroy your credibility; indeed, you seem perfectly capable of doing that on your own. And I agree that you never criticized the media for NOT SHARING YOUR IDEAS, you criticized the media for PRINTING OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS. After reading several of your posts I am very confident that you would be most satisfied if only your ideas were printed. Tough luck, this is the USA!!!!!!!!!!
By scott_starr, February 28, 2010 @ 6:40 PM
@delderman:
Nice try. Wrong again.
Where did I say anything you said?
Please cut and paste what I said and correlate it with your response.
So, asking for fact checking is decrying free speech? ( remember even the Suprem Court says you can’t yell fire in a crowded movie house)
I had no mention of representative government in that post.
I stand by what I said, you are fool and you prove it with every post.
Petulant Child? well as Mr. Solak said when Supt. Kerr remanded him for bereating MR. Brandenburg, “That’s your opinon”.
Seriously, did you even read my posts? I think you are confused. Please re-read my posts, and point by point refute what I said. I’m more than happy to discuss this.
By elderman, February 28, 2010 @ 7:05 PM
Reply to reed619: You fail to mention that Mr. Markilinski received his 668 votes out of a total of 690 votes cast for 96.8% of the vote. Kind of puts a different perspective on getting “just 668 votes”. But please also explain what you meant by your last sentence “very low number, especially with the fact that he ran unopposed”. I reread that sentence 2 or 3 times, carefully considered it, but cannot imagine a scenario where it makes sense. As I previously stated, the percentage of votes he received was very high. By your statement, you must reason that if a candidate runs unopposed, there should be a higher voter turnout? You might want to rethink that one, I myself and I think a general consensus is that contested elections usually bring out more voters. Or, your thought may be that because he ran unopposed, he should have gotten thousands of votes, but that does not make sense either because only 690 people voted. And if you did not know that 690 people voted, this line of thought implies that you thought a large number of voters turned out which would mean that 668 votes out of 3086 would not be enough to win. What did you mean?????????? The other thing you may want to consider is getting out to vote!
By elderman, February 28, 2010 @ 8:09 PM
Reply to Jan: Our tax base pays for the operation of Elderton HS now just as it did when Dr. Kerr pontificated that it should be closed. And the 2 million dollars that the Elderton tax base pays toward debt service for other ASD buildings would indeed pay for renovations to the school. Elderton has been eligible for state subsidy for renovations since 2000. That is 10 years times 2 million dollars per year or 20 million dollars we have paid since 2000. Actually, the figure is much higher since Elderton has had no major renovations since 1980 so we will use a conservative number for those 20 years; say 1 million dollars per year. That is 20 years times 1 million or another 20 million dollars. That gets the total up to 40 million dollars that we should have for renovations and I am not including the accrued interest in these figures. Get the picture? You may criticize the state of the Elderton building but it is in that state because previous boards have taken our money and given nothing back! And as far as Elderton being a “dump”, Dr. Kerr and the previous board set the value of the Elderton complex at 18 million dollars in order to block our attempt at secession. We had signatures of nearly 70% of Elderton area taxpayers and would be with Apollo Ridge now if Kerr and his bunch had not set the price so high that no one could take us. When this was going on, did you contact your board member or Dr. Kerr to let them know that they were treating the Elderton area unfairly? Dr. Kerr closed the school, Dr. Kerr and the previous board blocked our leaving so if you have a problem with Elderton reopening, they are where you need to vent. And in the second sentence of your opening tirade, you seem to imply that the Elderton STUDENTS left the building in the state of a dump. I have chastised others about attacking students and would hope that was not your intent.
By elderman, February 28, 2010 @ 8:39 PM
Reply to Scatt Starr: I read your postings once and quite frankly, there is nothing substantive enough to warrant my time rereading them. If you cannot remember what you wrote, do not ask me to explain them to you. I will however comment on your appalling behavior; when you are challenged you continue to resort to name calling; that accomplishes quite a bit and minimally reveals a lack of maturity and at worst serious underlying issues. Actually it reveals who you truly are and will not go unnoticed by the readers. I suggest that you review everything that both of us have posted and perhaps then post back in a more conciliatory tone.
By Jen16226, February 28, 2010 @ 9:30 PM
This morning in Church, my Pastor(shout out to Pastor Dave Blevins!!!!) gave a wonderful analogy that as soon as he said it, my immediate thought was everything we have ALL been posting about for the past couple of months.
Sometimes you can tell people there it is snowing and they will just refuse to see the truth in that. There can be a foot on the ground, everything white, flakes hitting you and people will STILL say there is no snow.
There are facts on paper, facts in media, facts on video and facts on websites. When people read these facts, they can choose to read the whole truth and nothing but the truth, or they can take what they like and leave the rest.
By Jen16226, February 28, 2010 @ 9:45 PM
As for the voting in Manor, several people I have talked to have told me they simply did not vote because there was nobody else as a choice for school director.
That is the sad state. It was touched ever so slightly on ASD-News, but there is a lack of volunteerism.
I have several friends who have asked me who I try to do the things I do…….I work full time, my husband travels for his job so he is not here alot to help, my kids are VERY active in sports and other activites, I try to help as much as I possibly can with those activites and then I have my own things….relay for life, now something with the boro that I volunteered for and now active in the school board issue.
If people just sit and do not volunteer, then we are left with EXACTLY what happened with the voting of the school board……people not being represented the way they want to be and not realizing until it is too late.
By rudytuesday, February 28, 2010 @ 10:10 PM
Elderman/Solak
The 690 figure is for votes cast in that category. I live in Manor Township. I exercised my right to not vote in that category because there wasn’t a candidate that I believed in to vote for. No election has 100% of votes cast in every category. You can see that the “Unofficial Report” listed on the Armstrong County site lists every single election with 100% totals. They are showing you how many votes a candidate got, how many were Republican straight pary, how many were Democrat straight party and how many were write ins. The total will represent 100% of total votes cast.
To further reiterate this. Scroll down to Manor Township and look at the results for Auditor, Tax Collecter, etc. All different totals because they are for total votes cast. Some people choose to exervise their right to not vote in a category.
By rudytuesday, February 28, 2010 @ 10:11 PM
Sorry, here is the link to the “unofficial” results page
http://www.co.armstrong.pa.us/departments/public-services/elections-votersregistration/live-election-results
By scott_starr, March 1, 2010 @ 3:35 PM
@eldeyman:
If you like, I will post what I wrote, and then your response. If you can show the the logic behind your response, I would appreciate it.
Here is one example:
My Quote:
Mr. Croyle, if you want to foster debate, it is up to our local “newspapers” to CHECK THE FACTS of what is said, are you checking the FACTS of what MJM says or anyone for that matter?
Elderman’s Quote:
Then you go on to criticize the local media because they print thoughts that do not coincide with yours????? In one posting you have contradicted your seemingly high ideals and destroyed representative government and free speech. Your posting speaks for itself! And please Mr. Croyle, continue to defend free speech and prevent Mr. Star from eliminating opposing thoughts.
————–
Please show me, where you are correct?
I said MJM or anyone else’s facts.
It is up to the media to check facts,right or wrong?
Did I say NOT to print anyone’s thoughts? No.
How can such an illogical conclusion be drawn?
The error in my post was, that MJM is posting an opinion piece. Therefore; fact checking may not be required.