StratfordToday received the following letter to the editor from Larry Baswick regarding Perth South Council’s support of the proposed Sebringville development.
I read the article regarding expansion in Sebringville and would like to use it as an example of bureauspeak in politics in general but specifically at the municipal level.
I mean no disrespect to Warden Ehgoetz but she is the most quoted in the article.
If one analyzes the sentences used it is apparent that people say things as if they are true, factual, undeniable when in reality they amount to no more than opinion, speculation and of no more weight than conversation over the back fence.
"... single homes are a thing of the past" is said as if uttered as infallible by the Pope.
"Stratford is just a couple of miles down the road" is said as if one could easily walk to get groceries.
"Traffic will be a challenge ... " said with the next phrase in the same sentence referring to water accessibility as if the traffic 'challenge' is related and as simple a problem.
"Change is necessary (paraphrase) and good and wonderful and immigrants are coming and farmland will be lost and all 300+ residents will have to get onto Hwy 8 from one access point and once we have done the enviro assessment, we will have done our due diligence and of course we will have electric hook ups for the electric cars that Trudeau has dictated and did I mention that water won't be a problem, and everything will be fine. Trust me."
I guess people are so used to saying things on social media anonymously and freely with no credentials and have it accepted as gospel they feel free to do so from any platform.
To wit we see recent developments in municipalities across Ontario where officials are saying things way beyond their payscale.
Now, and I speak the truth of course, there are only about 500 residents of Sebringville making it possible to ask each and every one of them, "Do you approve of this proposal?" Yes/No. Power to the people.
Larry Baswick
Stratford
