A lot of people around town have been criticizing the Mammoth Times for endorsing only male candidates for Mammoth’s town council election, when the field is comprised of fifty percent women. While I can’t rule out sexism or ignorance as playing a role, I suggest the motivation is less insidious, yet possibly harder to fix. I believe the real problem runs deep in our town and is described better by a single word — fear.
This is an odd description for such a rugged place comprised of such hardy souls, yet I believe the term fits. However, our fear is of a non-traditional type — our fear is based on economics. We constantly live in fear of “missing out” on some real or imagined economic opportunity. It is the same fear that drove our town to give Terry Ballas the keys to the airport, and is the same fear that drove us to illegally rip those keys away (lest we lose out on bringing in Rusty’s always-to-be-full 757 jetliners). This fear is why we didn’t demand that Intrawest build a parking garage at the Village (“if we push them too hard, they might just leave”) and is why some candidates want to turn our residential homes into home rental businesses (“if we don’t let guests rent out our neighbors’ homes, they will go to Vail!”)
I believe it is this same fear that is driving the Mammoth Times and others in town to support the “establishment” candidates for town council. There is a strange obsession in town with being “development ready” and the establishment candidates have the superficial look of being able to get us to the Promised Land. Of course, the whole idea of being “development ready” is also fear driven — “if we don’t allow developers to do what they want, they will go somewhere else!” Well, it is that mentality that has gotten us into the majority of our jams.
Instead, let’s be “community ready.” Remember, by definition if you are a voter, you are a local member of our community. Let’s pick candidates who will do what’s best for our town and community, and I promise you, the developers and their checkbooks will follow. We live in one of the most spectacular places on earth. Let’s be great at what we are, rather than failing at being something we are not.
For that reason, I am supporting the three women in this election who will put our community first — Karen Sibert, Cleland Hoff and Elena Blomgren. Trust me, if we do this, we will flourish beyond our wildest dreams.
Debbie Thompson
Mammoth Lakes
Well, the rubber meets the road today. I expect by 8.30 tonight there will be a lot of grousing here. Just saying ……..
As a woman, I surprisingly almost fell into the same ‘trap’ as the Times….I only had a strong opinion for one candidate (wentworth) and found my self picking Fernie and Richardson as my other two votes…but, I realized ‘what am I doing voting for all men, is there some reason… Read more »
SM: Casting your vote based on gender is just as sexist as voting for all men. But about making the town a better place to live — once I interviewed for a seat on the Rec Committee with the Town Council. During the interview I said, “I want to make… Read more »
exactly Ken, that’s why instead of instinctively voting for men, I evaluated all of the candidates and what they stand for and voted based on that! got it?
just because someones involved in the community doesn’t make them a good rep for the town,gotta be able to navigate thru the red tape and local elected knuckleheads
A vote for me. I could never vote for anyone but myself to make decisions for me. Nor would I ever think I was better at governing or making important decisions for anyone else, for you. I think it is time to change our system of representative Democracy in this… Read more »
MJA, please read James Madisons and Thomas Jeffersons strong critiques of direct democracy. They believed direct democracy of the type you advocate to be the worst possible form of government, and in the Federalist Papers Madison expouds at length on the many occasions nations in the past attempted direct democracy… Read more »
If you really want to get upset about the Mammoth establishment and this election, think about this: Before the last debate, the male candidates (or at least John Wentworth and Colin Fernie) were tipped off about the unique format at the end of the forum that was supposedly a “secret.”… Read more »
We live in fear because we never know when the well will run dry.
We live in fear because our bad choices have hurt us in real way.
How to get out of the fear zone? Make smart, educated decisions on June 3rd,
whether male or female.
I agree with Debbie 100%. The Times willingly collected advertising from all the candidates to then later say, “Oh, by the way, thanks for all the money but we’re endorsing your opponents.”
Pathetic.
I think it is time for a refreshing change! Women are as equal as men! Mono county needs to move into the 21st century! Last time I checked mono county is still in California! Seems like some in mammoth have the obenberger syndrome call them “girls”and discriminate! Enough joking aside,… Read more »
“Women are as equal as men!”
Don’t sell yourselves short 😉
They say behind every good man, is a great women.
vote for Ingrid Braun!
Ya and someday we will have a black president!
Debbie: I’d vote for you if you where running. Your letter sound like what I’ve been saying for the last 12 years. Except the “fear” part. It’s not fear — it’s greed plain and simple. Make your money now and worry about tomorrow some other day. Also, your last sentence,… Read more »
The female that I am most looking forward to getting elected is Ingrid Braun for Sheriff! After all the sexist things Obenberger has said on the election path I would hope many females out there are taking notice and will vote for someone who genuinely wants to make a difference… Read more »
I wholeheartedly concur, we need some real navigators to lead this fleet of boat floaters!