The No Spin Zone: Vienna 22180 Style
Love Him or Hate Him, He Does Limit Spin
We have had an ongoing conversation with Larry B. who lives outside the Vienna Town limits. Larry has expressed an assortment of views about this site and how he views the world. Larry provides us a great opportunity to address this site's style and method along with the use of "spin". Some of his comments and our feedback:
If I am reading something in the local newspaper I have a general belief that it is an unbiased report and will give equal time to both sides of an issue. Is this blog setup for that type of discussion?
Our response: We do not have the general belief that the press is unbiased. That belief seems naive. For example, the Vienna Town Council proposed banning the video taping of public meetings. The reporter who was there to hear the proposal to this day refuses to acknowledge which specific Council member proposed the ban. Seem unbiased to you? That is but one small example of the "unbiased press core". This site is not setup to act as a bulletin board. The site has a clear point of view just like every other newspaper or TV program. You have now been given the opportunity to say your peace, but just like Bill O'Reilly's show we are not going to post "spin" for you.
What I don't believe in is asking me and others to take at face value the views being presented without sharing in an exchange to have an understanding of all sides of an issue. ANY issue can be presented to try and persuade a view. I'm sure those following Hitler thought it was a good idea at the time.
Our response: For example, what is the other side of the issue of the historic district controversy? Can you be specific? Just saying that there is a lawsuit pending, sorry no comment, is a copout. There are 150 pages of specifics on this site comprising audio, video, letters, memos and commentary. The best you can offer is a Hitler comparison?
I have yet to see an outline here of the key issues, the incumbents stance and what the new candidates propose instead. So let's have an open discussion on these issues. Show me alternatives. Besides saying what the existing council members have not done, tell me what could have been done differently. What alternatives were at their disposal that they elected to not leverage?
Our response: Election issues have been outlined here. Ignore the specifics? That is your choice.
How do I or any other reader know that the person(s) running this web site do not have a personal "ax to grind" with one or more of the incumbent candidates?
Our response: There is definitely a political ax to grind by most contributors to this site. However, the accusation that this site offers personal attacks is baseless. It is a "tactic" to say this site is "nasty" or "personal". People spinning that mantra refuse to acknowledge the content on this site. They don't like what this site exposes.
I don't need the mudslinging & fighting. I just need to know the issues so I can form an opinion on which candidate will best represent my views on the issues. So why not 'lay it all on the table' and let the voters & other interested parties see the facts. Not the emotions, not the personal ambiguities. Just the facts.
Our response: Enough rhetoric. Enough spin. Enough of your no details approach. Can you specifically address what the "mudslinging" and "fighting" is exactly? Is pointing out how Laurie Cole votes against new homes, but gets her own new big home, is that "mudslinging"? In terms of "facts", this site exposes more facts than any Vienna resident has ever seen before in the public arena.
