I just hate it when council members call their constituents ignorant.
During the debate on the water company buyout tonight, third-district councilwoman Gale Thetford said the reason over 80% of Peorians voted against the city buying the water company was because they were uninformed. For instance, she said, many did not know that the city was planning to contract out the operation of the water company. (I knew that, and I still voted against it.)
This reminds me of Ransburg and his belief that the reason he was voted out was because voters just weren’t aware of his record of accomplishments. Again — ignorant voters. (I knew Ransburg’s record, and I still voted against him.)
That seems to be the belief whenever the votes don’t go your way — it can’t be because of the substance of the issue; oh no! It must be voter ignorance. It never dawns on these people that perhaps the people voted the way they did precisely because they were informed.
I had a manager like that once. Whenever you disagreed with her, she would step up efforts to “educate” you. Because, if only you just understood her or the company’s position, of course you would agree with her. I had to tell her a couple of times, “no, I understand exactly what you’re saying — I just disagree. Can’t we agree to disagree?”