A Personal Note

Among my own childhood memories are those of my parents and their friends gathered around our kitchen table to discuss Medfield Town meeting articles especially as they related to the education of their six children. They instilled in me a love of the forum as the "purest form of democracy". For Towns with populations less than 15,000 it has been proven to be the most honest and least corrupt form of government yet devised. For all the critics who say that a town meeting with only 100 plus voters present is not representative of the town because it is less than 10% of the registered voters, I would respectfully argue that our meeting has better than 80% of THE PEOPLE IN TOWN WHO CARE, and perhaps as many as 90% of those that are well informed on the issues.

Absolute independence characterizes Town Meeting. No one tell us how to vote. When a man or woman rises and cries, "Mr. Moderator" and is properly recognized, no person living is powerful enough to make him/her sit down. So long as they keep on the subject, use proper language, and follow parliamentary procedure, they can say what they please. Every citizen in the hall knows the same privilege will be extended to him/her in turn. In a day where "big government" wants to provide answers and take control of even the smallest of local issues, it is refreshing to see people grasp hold of their own lives and make their own decisions.

I am honored to be your Moderator. I am grateful to you who are patient while I get "on the job" training. As a new member of the Massachusetts Moderators Association, I am privileged to learn from over a hundred seasoned Moderators around the state via our Internet discussion group. I am particularly grateful to Warren Turner, Moderator for the Town of West Bridgewater for most of the material for this pamphlet. I hope that it encourages your participation in Town Meeting.

Paul S. Scribner
January 10, 1999