A Low Point

It's 4.23a.m.

I am not sleeping.

I've been carrying a great weight inside of me since Saturday morning.

It's always worse in the night.

 I have nowhere to go with it. I need to share.

A comment notes  I weave a marvelous web.   I suppose, if  a story is told , as it happens, it  could be perceived as a web woven strand by strand until it's complete.

On Saturday morning ,before the budget meeting started, I learned I  had  been powerless to prevent  two decisions  which by my standards were  merciless and unjust.

An employee of twenty-six years service  was displaced by  a decision to eliminate her position . I sought  an explanation  and was informed  that would be micro-managing.

On Saturday, I learned of a second position eliminated. Council made the decision  this time. The employee was informed a week before Christmas.

The tasks remain.  Cost  still needs to be borne.

It's hard to reconcile the decisions with an argument for economic efficiency. There is none.

Even harder to justify  the devastation to a loyal  and conscientious employee.

The  cold,  grey heartlessness that countered my concern ... the lack of empathy around me ...was certainly an assault on my consciousness.

Experts have determined all decisions  are based on 80% emotion and 20% logic.

What emotion  was involved in the  two decisions?

It certainly wasn't compassion

Or  even simple humanity.

How  were eight people , Mayor and seven Councillors influenced by a single emotion?

I had no stomach to join  the group  on Saturday for budget discussion.

 I did anyway.

I did so again last night.

I will again  to-night.

In a $75 million dollar budget I  argued  against membership in an Institute for Excellence ...competing to be one of a hundred best  employers in Canada. 

And  against  an $8,000 grant to the Chamber of Commerce for Business Achievement Awards;
framed paper certificates presented to  businesses lucky enough to survive, presented at a  gala dinner which may or may not be held within the municipality. 

And against $8,500 to advertise  in a commercial  sports magazine ,

Trivial amounts to be sure. 

Symbols  nonetheless , of  a perception  that's not really true.

We are a small town ....eighty-five thousand souls.

We elect a Council of nine  to serve the community's interest.

At  the very least we  should expect no harm to come of  it.