Editor:
I agree with Steve Bailey about the cancellation of the Sept. 1 in-person all-candidates meeting at High Beam Dreams (“Candidates disappointing,” Letters, Sept. 10). Like Steve, I never heard a coherent explanation, other than “technical difficulties.” The candidates each mumbled something vague – maybe their words were muffled by the shouting of the dude with the flag? What had just happened? Had I missed something? I wanted to ask, but felt foolish. I felt the way a child does after the “grown-ups” have made some arbitrary decision they’ve felt was too embarrassing to discuss with their offspring.
Those of us who had taken the trouble to come out in person were left waiting for an interminable time while the four candidates stood outside discussing the situation without seeking our input. So, it turns out it was about the People’s Party candidate not being vaccinated. No surprise there. I wasn’t planning to shake his hand in any case.
I’m double vaccinated. I was wearing a mask. I was social distancing. I was willing to take the small risk of being in a room with an unvaccinated person – after all, the vaccine passport mandate hadn’t even begun yet.
We were not given instructions on how to join the Zoom meeting after. I went to the Chamber of Commerce website hoping that a link might be posted there. No such luck. There was a live video of the event but, for some reason, I was unable to get any sound.
This felt all too typical of politicians’ attitudes. They are the “important” ones, the ones “in the know.” Members of the public are treated as children to be manipulated.
Anne Miles, Gibsons