Councilman's quote defies democracy
At the Dec. 27 meeting of the Red Hook town board, Councilman James Ross made a surprising statement that I quote in full:
     "When you turn 18, you have the privilege to vote in this country. And that's a privilege that should be taken responsibly. The unfortunate problem is for political purposes many of the Bard students have been duped into voting and changing the political atmosphere of our town. And for nothing more than a self-serving political purpose. So I don't want to hear politics, and say this board plays politics."
     And this on an evening when he led the railroad appointment to a board seat hastily vacated at year's end - for political purposes. Maybe Ross doesn't "get" democracy, or maybe he just doesn't like it. In any case, we should remember his words and deeds on this evening, when his seat comes up for election.
     I did not personally attend the meeting on Dec. 27 but was able to watch it in its entirety on the Internet, as anyone can do if interested in finding out how the town board really works.

Jeff Perry, Red Hook

Writer should deepen grasp of democracy
Jeff Perry's letter ("Councilman's quote defies democracy," Jan. 9) is definitely written by someone who has a lot to learn about democracy.
     Perry wrongly accuses James Ross of "not getting democracy." Perry's letter is especially ludicrous because Ross has been the elected choice of Red Hook citizens for more than two decades. Fortunately, our local government is based on the voice of the majority and not only one person.
     At the Dec. 27 meeting, Ross said, "The unfortunate problem is, for political purposes, many of the Bard students have been duped into voting and changing the political atmosphere of our town." The key word is "duped" and that was the problem in the last election - students were duped. Ross, like the majority of us Red Hook citizens, loves the Bard community - and the enormous benefits these exceptional students bring to Red Hook.
     It's simply not true a local Republican vote is a wrong vote for Bard students. Ross never said students shouldn't vote - he merely said they shouldn't be "duped." Duping people into voting a certain way is what I call "defying democracy."
     If I were Perry, I'd spend less time on the Internet and more time attending town board meetings. He should interact with truly democratic-minded Republican town board members such as James Ross, Harold Ramsey and Supervisor Sue Crane. He should do this, especially before he throws political "stones from a glass house" that many of us Democrats and Republicans can see through.

Rosemarie Zengen, Red Hook

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