Another Yes Vote-reposted with permission
"Finally found a time when 1) I was on the ground; and 2) spouse was at home and/or awake. Got my VIN and PIN and cast my vote for IBT 1108.
I have voted in every election for which I was qualified since I was 18. In most national, even local elections, there is a sense that, individually, one's vote probably doesn't carry much direct importance; this is not to say that voting is not an important civic duty(!) - it's just that seldom do elections of that scope come down to individual votes. I have to say that this election is probably the first in which I felt truly that my individual vote might carry any specific importance.
In that vein, I feel that each of us need to reflect on and appreciate the importance of each person's vote in this election.
To those of us who have voted: each of us having made a personal commitment to join a larger cause, we are now obligated to reach out to our friends and co-workers to help them understand our ideas, our reasons, and our decisions. Talk to your friends, your acquaintances, your fellow pilots whom you encounter in your travels. You have taken a brave stand: approach those you meet bravely and ask them if there is any information you can give them to help them make their own decision. Listen to their questions; if you don't know the answer specifically, ask any of the Organizers and get the straight scoop. Take a name and 4-letter so you can get the info back to them. If they have a differing viewpoint, hear their side with consideration. If you disagree on a point or a conclusion, please, do so politely. Part as friends and remember that you'll be flying with him or her someday; how they see you, now, will color how they'll see us, then.
To the vast majority who read, but seldom post: If you are still undecided, please, talk to one of us - you need not publicly post if you're not comfortable with that - write someone a Private Message. Ask us the "hard questions"; heck, ask us any questions; clearly, I personally have nothing to hide, not even my name. I am not alone in that. We'll tell you what we know; if we don't know for sure, we'll find out and get right back to you, or we'll have someone who does know get back to you.
Much has been written about what happened and why. Timelines have been expounded upon, motives have been speculated on, accusations and counter-accusations have been made. All irrelevant at this stage; we are where we are. However; throughout all of the finger pointing, angst, daily Q&A and ongoing drama, no one seems to be able to specifically answer one central question:
When there are people meeting to make decisions about things which affect my life, why is it bad for me to have a voice in that discussion?
There is also the issue of trust. Jim Eppley wrote a very nicely worded piece on trust which he posted on the Company discussion board. He also had the class and respect to send it to me personally prior to posting it, and we discussed it at length. Jim and I are good friends, and although we reached different conclusions, we remain good friends. Jim has expressed his thoughts well, and I think I've expressed myself adequately. Whereas Jim is still willing to trust a verbal assurance from our Company's management, I (among many others) have chosen to place my trust in a written agreement that cannot be changed capriciously. I am reminded of the Russian proverb: Доверя́й, но проверя́й (Trust, but verify), made popular during the 1980's by President Reagan. I think it speaks to the issue of trust as being required on both sides of the issue: I will trust the Company, and believe that what the Company promises to do for me is true; but they in turn must trust me enough to put their promises on paper and put their name to it. In this way we demonstrate our trust in, and to, each other.
This is the critical time; the election is far from over and the shape of our Company's future hangs in the balance. I encourage us all, frequent posters or casual lurkers, to talk to those we meet; keep the tone of our posts and discussions civil; ask and get answers to the questions which matter to each, and let's work together to climb this ship back up to our best cruising altitude.
Best regards,
Mike McLeod
"Finally found a time when 1) I was on the ground; and 2) spouse was at home and/or awake. Got my VIN and PIN and cast my vote for IBT 1108.
I have voted in every election for which I was qualified since I was 18. In most national, even local elections, there is a sense that, individually, one's vote probably doesn't carry much direct importance; this is not to say that voting is not an important civic duty(!) - it's just that seldom do elections of that scope come down to individual votes. I have to say that this election is probably the first in which I felt truly that my individual vote might carry any specific importance.
In that vein, I feel that each of us need to reflect on and appreciate the importance of each person's vote in this election.
To those of us who have voted: each of us having made a personal commitment to join a larger cause, we are now obligated to reach out to our friends and co-workers to help them understand our ideas, our reasons, and our decisions. Talk to your friends, your acquaintances, your fellow pilots whom you encounter in your travels. You have taken a brave stand: approach those you meet bravely and ask them if there is any information you can give them to help them make their own decision. Listen to their questions; if you don't know the answer specifically, ask any of the Organizers and get the straight scoop. Take a name and 4-letter so you can get the info back to them. If they have a differing viewpoint, hear their side with consideration. If you disagree on a point or a conclusion, please, do so politely. Part as friends and remember that you'll be flying with him or her someday; how they see you, now, will color how they'll see us, then.
To the vast majority who read, but seldom post: If you are still undecided, please, talk to one of us - you need not publicly post if you're not comfortable with that - write someone a Private Message. Ask us the "hard questions"; heck, ask us any questions; clearly, I personally have nothing to hide, not even my name. I am not alone in that. We'll tell you what we know; if we don't know for sure, we'll find out and get right back to you, or we'll have someone who does know get back to you.
Much has been written about what happened and why. Timelines have been expounded upon, motives have been speculated on, accusations and counter-accusations have been made. All irrelevant at this stage; we are where we are. However; throughout all of the finger pointing, angst, daily Q&A and ongoing drama, no one seems to be able to specifically answer one central question:
When there are people meeting to make decisions about things which affect my life, why is it bad for me to have a voice in that discussion?
There is also the issue of trust. Jim Eppley wrote a very nicely worded piece on trust which he posted on the Company discussion board. He also had the class and respect to send it to me personally prior to posting it, and we discussed it at length. Jim and I are good friends, and although we reached different conclusions, we remain good friends. Jim has expressed his thoughts well, and I think I've expressed myself adequately. Whereas Jim is still willing to trust a verbal assurance from our Company's management, I (among many others) have chosen to place my trust in a written agreement that cannot be changed capriciously. I am reminded of the Russian proverb: Доверя́й, но проверя́й (Trust, but verify), made popular during the 1980's by President Reagan. I think it speaks to the issue of trust as being required on both sides of the issue: I will trust the Company, and believe that what the Company promises to do for me is true; but they in turn must trust me enough to put their promises on paper and put their name to it. In this way we demonstrate our trust in, and to, each other.
This is the critical time; the election is far from over and the shape of our Company's future hangs in the balance. I encourage us all, frequent posters or casual lurkers, to talk to those we meet; keep the tone of our posts and discussions civil; ask and get answers to the questions which matter to each, and let's work together to climb this ship back up to our best cruising altitude.
Best regards,
Mike McLeod
