Editor:
Re: Give the people a chance to speak (the Nov. 2 issue of the Grand Forks Gazette)
Last week’s editorial made a very important point about an over-crowded agenda for the upcoming all-candidates forum prior to the elections on Nov. 19.
As the consequences of abject failures of capitalism and globalism hit ever closer to home, it becomes imperative that voters are afforded the opportunity to make the most sensible choices.
You also noted that, apart from the electors not having sufficient time to ask questions, candidates will have scant time to address them and make sensible pitches. The moderator will have too much on his/her hands given the paucity of time for the event. Questioners, especially the Peace Initiative people who always push the biscuit in their preamble will really have to toe the line in forum protocol.
It is not too late to do something about this and I think the point should have been made sooner.
Let’s have three meetings, one for the three mayoralty candidates, one for councillors and another for school board trustees – so that the not unreasonable expectations and demands of local democracy may be met.
Roy Ronaghan’s column in the same edition adequately enunciated why democracy has to be treated very carefully.
Dave Milton, Grand Forks