We pay taxes all over the country — room tax, food tax, sales tax, train, plane, and taxi tax, but we can only vote in one place. We can only vote at prescribed times. This is our place, and this is our moment when we the voters decide.
On May 15, at Town Meeting, we approve our laws and the money we are willing to spend. On May 16, we vote for those we think will best represent us. We express ourselves.
We have done a pretty good job over the 284 years. Some blunders, some true insights, some magic moments, and some foolish flubs brought us here and here is a good place to be.
Ironically our crowning achievement is becoming our undoing, but we can recognize the problem in all its complexity and subtlety, and vote for the laws and the people that will guide us through it. What is the crowning achievement causing all the problems? We made this a lovely, clean, open, and friendly place to be and now everyone wants to be here.
For centuries, we did well; our decisions were sound. We’re pretty smart. Let’s do the right things, one more time — please attend Town Meeting and let the representatives know what you do and do not support. Vote and get the folks into office who will lead us in what we agree is the right direction.
We have the steering of our course, we know what we want, and this is the time to express it.
Show up and speak your mind. Show up and vote.
Our Town, Our Turn, Our Obligation — don’t squander the opportunity.
