The title of this post is the title of this Boston Globe (NorthWest) article about the upcoming (June 11) vote in Arlington on a Proposition 2-1/2 override. The article reports that, unlike past override debates conducted via lawn signs, stand-outs, and the occasional flyers stuck under a windshield wiper, this one is relying heavily on an internet discussion group (for which you can sign up here) and two competing websites, www.yesforarlington.org, and www.stoptheoverride.org. (Amusingly, the only website listed by name in the article, www.livefromarlington.com, isn’t directly involved in the debate.)
Particularly in light of the recent discussions on Prop. 2-1/2 overrides on this blog and on others, the migration of the override debate to the internet is an interesting and, in my view, welcome development. The internet is, I think, the fastest and cheapest way to get a significant amount of information out to a lot of people, which is exactly what both sides in the override debates should be doing. (As one of the participants said, "Signs and bumper stickers, I don’t see that as information.") Most issues worth voting on, including but certainly not limited to Prop. 2-1/2 overrides, are more complicated than bumper stickers, sound bites, and 30-second radio ads can capture. So the more information about what’s at stake – on both sides – the better. All anyone can ask of voters is that they make informed decisions.
