US Has To Be Better Than This...

By Bill Gouveia for the Sun Chronicle

What this country and administration did with regard to separating children from their parents at the U.S. border was immoral, unethical, inhumane, disgusting, and decidedly un-American. End of story.

I try and keep this space focused on local matters, with an occasional foray into national issues. But this is something that cannot be ignored. It affects us all. This strikes to the core of who we are as a people.

Punishing those suspected of committing the misdemeanor offense of crossing our borders illegally by taking their children and putting them in detention facilities is so reprehensible. These children are not a threat to national security. Many are incapable of breaking our laws by virtue of their age alone.

If their parents are arrested for serious crimes such as murder, rape or abuse, that separation is necessary. If they are simply accused of illegally crossing the border, be it to seek asylum or not, in no way does that justify taking their children. It just doesn’t, regardless of what some alleged “leaders” may say.

And don’t for a second believe those who say “but this is the law.” It is not. There is no law requiring the government to broadly prosecute all these cases with “zero tolerance”, and certainly no law requiring children be taken from their parents while their status is determined — and beyond.

No, that was a choice made by the Trump administration, the attorney general, and the president. Despite their inconsistent lying about it, this was their policy. The president could have ended it with a phone call or a stroke of his pen at any time. But he waited until public pressure forced his hand.

The president, his chief of staff, his AG and others all admitted they were using these children for leverage. They wanted to discourage more people from crossing the border, and push Congress to fund the border wall. The president says these people are “dangerous criminals” and blames Democrats for the fact children are in camps, even though that is a lie.

Former first lady Laura Bush rightfully and accurately compared this to the shameful interment of people of Japanese descent into camps during World War II. Her words were frighteningly striking and sincere.

Defenders of this policy said the kids are being well cared for, even have videos and movies. Conservative pundits called it “like summer camp.” They ignored that they are behind fences, some in cages. There are pictures of small children wearing numbers — something that should chill us all to the bone.

This was never about Democrats or Republicans, wins or losses, examples or deterrents. This is about innocent children. Those responsible for this horrible policy should be ashamed and rejected.

Let there be no doubt. President Trump created this policy. Giving him credit for now stopping it is a bit like congratulating the arsonist for putting out the fire he started.

In essence, the president has continued his “zero tolerance” policy. Now instead of detaining innocent children alone, he will detain entire families who in many cases are just trying to survive and looking for asylum in the “Land of the Free”.

We have to be better than this. Better than him.

Bill Gouveia is a local columnist and longtime local official. He can be emailed at billsinsidelook@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @Billinsidelook.

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Trust North Korea, But Not Canada?

by Bill Gouveia for the Sun Chronicle

Our President says he trusts the leader of North Korea, but the prime minister of Canada is dishonest and obnoxious.

We live in interesting times.

President Trump this week traveled to Singapore to hold an historic meeting with Kim Jong Un of North Korea. Trump deserves credit for having the courage to accept such a meeting, and for focusing on diplomacy rather than exchanging childish insults the way the two did just months ago. It is far better to be talking about issues rather than who has the bigger launch button.

But the juxtaposition of how Trump treats our neighbors and allies with his handling of a ruthless murdering megalomaniac is more than a little unsettling. In fact, it’s pretty weird by almost any standard.

Kim Jong Un has jailed and been responsible for the deaths of American citizens. He has threatened the Unites States with nuclear annihilation. He has executed many of his citizens and family members in order to consolidate his political power. He has insulted and threatened a wide variety of American presidents and politicians of all parties, and his representatives called Trump “a dotard”.

But after meeting him for five hours, President Trump said the North Korean dictator “loves his people” and added, “I think he trusts me and I trust him.” Trump also said the dictator has a “great personality”, a great sense of humor and is supported by his people (like they have a choice).

In contrast, Trump reneged on an agreement he initially approved at the recent G-7 summit because he didn’t like how Canadian leader Justin Trudeau spoke at a press conference. The president summed up his anger saying, “He gave out a little bit of an obnoxious thing. I actually like Justin, you know I think he’s good, I like him but he shouldn’t have done that. That was a mistake. That’s gonna cost him a lot of money,”

Trudeau’s apparent mortal sin is threatening a response to large tariffs Trump has placed on steel and aluminum. He says Canada will not be pushed around. What Trump complained about most is Canada’s 270 percent tariff on dairy products, something the president has cited as a threat to America’s national security.

Hmmm — he trusts the guy who kills Americans and threatens our country with nuclear weapons. But he goes full throttle after the leader of an allied, neighboring nation who has fought wars at our side because he thinks they are stealing our milk money.

There appears to be a bit of a consistency issue here.

Of course, Trump supporters will claim the president never gets any credit. They will point to the meeting with Kim Jong Un and remind us no other American president has ever done this. They will say he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize.

If the summit with North Korea leads to peace and denuclearization (however that is defined), then give Trump his due. Give him the prize. He will have earned it — but only if his work yields substantive results.

In the meantime, we might consider moving some troops to the Canadian border. This milk thing could get out of hand quickly.

Bill Gouveia is a local columnist and longtime local official. He can be emailed at billsinsidelook@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @Billinsidelook.

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North's Override Was Done Right

North's Override A Model For Others

by Bill Gouveia for the Sun Chronicle

It’s been a couple months since the surprising (to some) passage of a $6.5 million general override in North Attleboro — a town many had considered the least likely in this area ever to override the limits of Prop 2 1/2.

As the dust has settled, many outside North are asking the question — how did they do it? Some in my hometown of Norton, where two general override questions have lost in the last several years, are certainly curious. Norton has never approved a general override.

Of course, there is no “magic answer” to the question of how to pass one. You obviously need very good reasons to back up such a request. It needs the willingness of selectmen just to place it on the ballot. Then, it requires a lot of information, explanation and old-fashioned political skill and elbow grease to get the taxpayers and citizens to support it. All that goes without saying.

North had all that — but then again, they had all that before only to see previous overrides voted down. So why was this effort successful? Was it simply that the need and solutions to the problems were so clear and obvious they could no longer be ignored?

Maybe. But in the opinion of this veteran local political observer, it was much more than that. And it represents a pretty clear model for all who wish to emulate the success of those who got it done.

North Attleboro’s override passed because it was done the right way — from inside the system rather than outside it. This was not just a group of parents or concerned citizens with no local political experience gathering together and influencing those in power. It was not a town-employee led organization seeking to add staffing and salary increases.

This last override was the result of solid leadership from within — plain and simple.

Over the last several years, some veteran selectmen were replaced with younger newcomers who had a different view of the town’s problems and how to address them. They respectfully and adroitly worked from within, bolstering the credibility and reliability of the town’s executive board. They concentrated less on protecting certain political powerbases, and more on what was better for the entire community.

They certainly did not achieve this alone. Any override effort has to have a dedicated band of supporters who work behind the scenes to make it happen, including other town officials. But this time in North, they were not feeling isolated. They did not have to drag selectmen kicking and screaming to help in their efforts.

This last override was a coordinated effort by those in charge of government to make things better. They put forth their argument in a united, reasonable manner — and the people responded.

This last time, the selectmen didn’t just back the override with empty words and gestures. They maintained their responsibility to not campaign, but made it clear where they stood. And folks – that can make all the difference in the world.

The example set by North Attleboro is that overrides are passed when people believe their town government is committed. Kudos to those in North who got it done.

Bill Gouveia is a local columnist and longtime local official. He can be emailed at billsinsidelook@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @Billinsidelook.