Comment 46944

By Undustrial (registered) - website | Posted August 31, 2010 at 23:35:36

While I wholeheartedly agree that anybody and everybody have the right to bring up issues about his business interests, I don't feel that it should exclude Mark Chamberlain from having his say. First off, because everyone who's involved in a choice like this should be able to voice their opinion BECAUSE they are a stakeholder, not in spite of it. And secondly because I believe in free speech in general.

The difference I see here between businessmen like Mark Chamberlain and businessmen like Ron Foxcroft or Bob Young is that Mark Chamberlain's arguments stand on their own merit, regardless of who makes them. Ron and Bob's arguments rest on their positions as businessmen.

Many people on here, myself especially, have been very critical of the power and privilege wielded by a very small number of businessmen over the city's political life, especially on this issue. For this to be more than just name calling, it needs to be even-handed. Nobody can be above scrutiny when their business interests affect so many other people, and especially when they're receiving taxpayer dollars. I'm not saying that Chamberlain's opinion on these matters should be discounted because of his business interests, but his business interests should not be ignored because we approve of his stance on this issue. Same goes for any other millionaires who want to speak up.

"Today, the notion of progress in a single line without goal or limit seems perhaps the most parochial notion of a very parochial century." — Lewis Mumford

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