It's Trump's Country, And Our Fault

It's A Trump Country Today...

by Bill Gouveia for the Sun Chronicle 5/11/18

Make no mistake, this is Donald Trump’s America.

Which is, to an extent, as it should be. As the 19th century French philosopher Joseph de Maistre famously said, “Every nation gets the government it deserves.” We can debate whether or not America deserves President Trump and his version of government, but the fact that America got what it voted for is indisputable.

There is very little President Trump has done since he got elected that can be termed a surprise. He hasn’t snuck up on anyone. He acted like an immature, bombastic, uninformed, arrogant, misogynistic, insulting, rude, and self-serving candidate when he was running. He has done little to nothing that changes that general description since taking office.

In terms of legislative and political accomplishments, he has given permanent tax breaks to corporations and temporary ones to individual taxpayers. He has pushed through legislation to take away health insurance from millions of Americans. The centerpiece of his foreign policy has been to propose the building of a giant wall, eliminate the DACA program that protected children/young people who have lived here since an early age, and a court fight to ban people from coming here based upon little more than their religion.

On the more personal front, Trump the candidate mocked a disabled person during one rally. He insulted the appearance and character of every opponent he had, regardless of party. He lied about revealing his taxes. He lied about crowd size at his inauguration. He has lied about big things, small things, old things, new things, red things, blue things — lied so much he gets special attention when he actually tells the truth about something.

His former campaign manager has been indicted. His hand-picked National Security Adviser was fired, indicted, and plead guilty in a federal investigation. His personal lawyer has had his offices raided after admitting he paid a porn star $130,000 to remain quiet about an alleged affair with Trump. Hell, a tape with Trump admitting to sexually assaulting women came out right before the election — and his popularity increased.

His son, son-in-law, and campaign manager met with Russians during the campaign because he was promised dirt on his opponent. He often mocks his own attorney general, publicly attacks the integrity of the intelligence agencies he oversees, and admitted firing the FBI Director to protect himself against investigation.

But no one should be surprised by all this. Disgusted? Sure. Disappointed? OK. Some are very pleased and satisfied, perhaps even more than they expected to be. That’s understandable.

But don’t be surprised. This president is merely reflecting America, not reshaping or remaking it. He’s not instilling this type of behavior and leadership in Americans — he’s just making it acceptable. He’s the vessel, not the source.

Donald Trump is what happens when we as a people value bravado more than bravery, insults more than integrity, equity more than equality. There have always been Donald Trumps among us (though Trump is unquestionably the trumpiest ever), but we generally chose to keep them from positions we knew full well they would abuse for their own benefit.

This is indeed Donald Trump’s America. But that’s our fault, not his.

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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Norton's Water Problem A Dirty One

Norton's Water Problem More Than Just Water

by Bill Gouveia for the Sun Chronicle

In Norton, the water many citizens have coming into their homes is absolutely awful. The governmental authority responsible for overseeing delivery of that water is arguably worse.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, just Google “Norton Dirty Water” and do some clicking and reading. What you’ll see is nothing short of disgusting. Yet the argument can be made the horrible water is not even the biggest problem in the system.

Norton’s multimillion dollar Water/Sewer Department is overseen by a three-member elected water/sewer board. Over many years, the responsibilities of these part-time, public spirited volunteers have grown to levels never anticipated when it was originally created.

An independently elected board, they do not come under the centralized authority of the town manager. They are not obligated to work in concert with the board of selectmen or other town entities — though they often do. They are ultimately responsible for the multi-million-dollar water/sewer department’s enterprise account, which is not subject to town meeting approval as other budgets are.

Forget for a moment the recent large expenditures for a new water treatment plant, long delayed by the state because of possible archeological issues on the site. Forget the messy way former commissioners worked with other towns and the state to build the Mansfield Treatment Plant, located in Norton, which the town pays to use.

Norton’s town meeting unanimously approved an additional $1 million a few weeks ago to finish the long-delayed plant in order to get rid of the dirty water. Now they might be asked to provide an additional $400,000 or more for a project along Route 123 that is expected to run over budget for reasons many believe should have been anticipated by those overseeing it.

Norton does not have a DPW. Although it has consolidated many smaller departments into the general responsibilities of the highway department, the town continues to suffer from a lack of centralized authority and responsibility on the water/sewer side. But it is difficult to blame commissioners, past or present, for that.

On several occasions over the years, Norton voters have declined to eliminate the water board, or bring it under the authority of the town manager by making it an appointed committee. But they have changed the board of health, tax collector, town treasurer, and town clerk positions to appointed ones for similar reasons.

Within the past couple years, voters at Town Meeting overwhelmingly defeated an article to eliminate the elected water/sewer commission. The argument against it was elected officials are more accountable to voters than appointed ones.

Norton water is not brown because the water/sewer commission is an elected board. But the lack of a unified, centralized approach to protecting and distributing Norton’s most precious natural resource has clearly produced negative results over the last half-century or so.

Norton needs to fix its water. A critical first step would be to fix the way the system is managed and led. There simply is no need for an elected water/sewer commission that gives the appearance of accountability, while actually preventing it.

The solution to Norton’s water problems starts at the top, not the tap.

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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My Oldest Grandchild Is Now A Decade

My oldest grandchild completes his first decade on the planet tomorrow, something that both thrills and amazes me. As our family prepares to celebrate this momentous event, I can’t help but run the highlight reel of how he has made my life better repeatedly through my mind.

The first Gouveia of his generation was born at Falmouth Hospital on the evening of April 3, 2008. He was a bit tardy, but accelerated his arrival at the last moment. I was home in Norton, having just brought my wife home from the hospital after surgery, when we got a text from my son. It was short and to the point, saying simply “Now!”

I looked at my wife, knowing she was not well enough yet to make the hour ride. She simply smiled and said, “Go —if it was me, I would leave you here in a heartbeat.” I kissed her, jumped in the car and headed down 495.

On the way, my phone rang. It was my son. As he started infuriating small talk with me, I heard a baby crying in the background.

“Is that my grandchild?” I asked impatiently. Aaron just laughed. I quickly advised him of just how much danger he was in if he did not answer my question immediately.

At long last he said, “Dad, just hurry up and get here — your grandson is waiting for you.”

At that point I rolled down the window while driving and began screaming at the top of my lungs: “I have a grandson!” I then asked what his name was, but my son merely laughed and said he’d see me when I got there.

The next thing I recall is walking into the hospital room and seeing a bald little person peacefully sleeping. I stared mutely, then walked to the bed to embrace my daughter-in-law. Then I hugged my son and turned toward the new focus of my life.

Aaron picked him up, handed him to me, and said, “Here, hold your grandson.” As I held this miracle in my arms, he added, “By the way — his name is William.” At that point my knees buckled, and I had to sit down before we both fell.

William George Thomas Gouveia (did I mention his name is William?) has been a joy to his family ever since. Though he has been joined in the ranks of grandchildren by two brothers and two adorable female cousins, he will always be our first. The love his grandmother and I feel for him is matched only by our pride in the young man he has become.

Will is smart. He is funny. He is compassionate. He is also a wise-guy of the highest order, definitely inheriting the sarcasm gene from his father and grandfather. He acts like his dad, looks like his mom, and will always hold a special place in my heart. We are fortunate to have been able to be so close to him.

So happy birthday, Will. You cringe when I call you “a decade,” but this is just the start, buddy. Your future is bright. Watch out world — Will is on his way.

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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Blaming Victims Rather Than Guns

Blaming Victims Rather Than Guns

by Bill Gouveia for the Sun Chronicle

The obsession with guns and the “freedom” they allegedly represent has reached new heights.

The latest sick and twisted message from the NRA and other pro-gun groups is that we should blame the victims and potential victims for school shootings. You see those kids walking out in respectful protest? It’s their fault because they have not been nice enough to their fellow students.

Gun advocates believe that fact there are no standardized national background checks to buy a gun is not the problem. Nor is the fact high school students can buy an AR-15 in many states. No waiting period to buy a gun in many places? That’s not the real cause of this violence, they claim.

The problem is that students aren’t nice enough to each other. It’s their fault.

Instead of walking out to bring attention to the need for better laws and policies, those kids should seek out the bullied, the troubled, the unstable and help them fit in. That would be more effective than urging their adult counterparts in government to strengthen and standardize gun laws.

That is such a self-serving, insensitive, and stupid argument.

Hey, I’m all for kids being kind and inclusive. Bullying is wrong, and kids are key in stopping it when they can. We can all be nicer to each other.

But it is sickening to see adults who have power pass the blame for their own shortcomings to kids who don’t. Are we this desperate to avoid responsible gun regulations nationwide?

Is this the most effective way to curb gun violence in schools? Should kids make friends with the kid who is killing his/her pets and making threats towards others? Sitting at the lunch table with an overly introverted peer might make him/her more sociable and involved. Or it could make that outcast more likely to obsess over you.

Is it possible limiting access to guns for that child might keep everyone safer? Don’t adults have the responsibility of keeping guns out of the wrong hands?

Oh no – we need more guns. We need to arm teachers, place more weapons in among the children. What could possibly go wrong with that idea? A school shooting was ended this week by an armed police officer stationed in the school, but that’s a sad but reasonable reality.

Clearly, this is not an either/or situation. We can and should do both. Bringing kids together and providing stronger counseling services should be pursued.

But in addition to strengthening gun laws — not in place of that effort.

Criticizing these kids for the responsible actions they have taken is akin to blaming the victim in a rape. We should show students as much respect and honor their place in our society as we do guns. Considering it is their lives being threatened, we should be proud these kids have assumed some responsibility for their own safety.

We blame poor mental health services. We blame video games. We blame declining moral values. We blame families. And now, we blame students trying to speak out. We blame anything — except the ease with which guns can be obtained.

Thank goodness our kids seem to get what so many of us don’t.

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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Bryce's Fight Is Our Fight Too

Bryce's Fight Is Our Fight Too

by Bill Gouveia for the Sun Chronicle

Every once in a while, something strikes you right in the heart. With that in mind, I’d like to talk about the Derosiers family. More specifically, 1-year-old Bryce Derosiers, who is my new hero.

Bryce’s dad Jeremy is a police officer in Taunton where he and his family now live, but to me he will always be a Norton kid. That means his amazing wife Jamie, 2 1/2-year-old daughter Aubriella, and young son Bryce are also by extension Norton kids.

Jeremy has been a friend of my son for years. He is an extraordinary young man.

In a cruel twist of fate, both Aubriella and Bryce have a severe form of mitochondrial disease, manifesting in a wide variety of physical and neurological problems.

For Bryce, it became life-threatening last month when he started seizing uncontrollably and wound up in the ICU at Children’s Hospital in Boston.

He had to be placed into a coma to let his brain rest, his incredibly strong mother explained. Doctors have done virtually everything they can to keep Bryce alive, but the odds have not been in his favor. Still, he has thus far defied them and come out of his coma and given everyone hope.

Jamie has documented Bryce’s daily fight on Facebook, and it is nothing short of miraculous.

It turns out Bryce is perhaps the toughest kid ever, and his struggle to survive — supported by the unending and unconditional love of his parents, family and friends — has been beyond all definitions of heroic.

Despite obstacles that would simply overwhelm most kids or adults, Bryce is holding his own. Progress is measured in the smallest of steps, and the ups and downs are unbelievably difficult.

But over time, Jamie and Jeremy have allowed us to watch Bryce’s fight. He clings to life as only the very strong can. He perseveres in a manner only made possible by love, faith, good wishes and prayers of people from virtually everywhere.

Jeremy’s fellow police officers have selflessly donated over 100 shifts to help him and his family in their time of need. People have shoveled their driveway, provided meals and offered support of all types. A GoFundMe account set up by Jamie’s high school friends has raised a considerable sum thus far for the family’s expenses, but much more is needed.

While Jeremy, Jamie and Aubriella are eternally grateful for the love and support, they really want only one thing. They want their “Mighty Brycey” to come back home, to play with his sister and grow up knowing how many people have already loved him without ever actually meeting him.

Jamie spends virtually every night sleeping at the hospital with Bryce. Jeremy is the only one able to make his son laugh since he came out of the coma. These parents give new meaning to the word “family.”

Some of us live to ripe old ages, but never make the kind of impact on this world Bryce Derosiers already has. He deserves both a break and a chance, as do his loving parents and sister.

Those Norton kids are made of tough stuff.

Donations to help the Derosiers family can be made at www.gofundme.com/all-mighty-brycey.

Bill Gouveia is a localolumnist and lifelong Norton resident. He can be emailed at billsinsidelook@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @Billinsidelook.

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Candidate's Conflict Position Inconsistent

Rep Candidate Juggling Conflict Problems

by Bill Gouveia for the Sun Chronicle

This column first appeared in the Sun Chronicle on Friday, March 16, 2018

Attleboro City Councilor Julie Hall is arguably the front-runner for the state representative seat formerly held by Mayor Paul Heroux. With that unofficial designation comes increased scrutiny, and some criticism for inconsistencies surrounding “conflicts”.

Council President Mark Cooper suggested Hall abstain from voting on approving the special election on April 3 for both the debt exclusion and the vacant legislative seat. His reasoning was it could be seen as an attempt to increase turnout and help her chances.

Hall complied with his “request” and abstained from what was a routine vote that ended up being otherwise unanimous. It did provide Hall with political cover, which may or may not have been the intent. But since councilors routinely vote on funding for elections in which they are involved, the claims of conflict were hollow at best.

Then came controversy over campaign contributions Hall received from individuals connected to entities with business before the council, past and present. Hall claims there is nothing wrong with them legally or ethically, and she may well be right.

However, the idea that voting to fund a special election is a conflict, but accepting money from people seeking your vote to aid their business is not, makes little sense. A case can easily be made that either each is a conflict, or neither is. But having it both ways seems awfully convenient.

Now the issue of whether or not Hall would keep her council seat if she wins the rep race has arisen. Voters are sensitive to that, as they were when Heroux briefly considered holding both posts before wisely deciding against it.

Hall has indicated she would keep both seats initially, particularly because the special election winner only holds office until November. Then that person must run again and win to stay in office.

When asked, Hall acknowledged she currently plans to hold both seats should she win, at least until the November election. She notes that former representatives and councilors Bill Bowles and George Ross held both positions simultaneously, thus creating a precedent. She said that did not seem to cause any problems.

Hall said she suspects that if she won both elections, in November she may find herself not being able to vote on certain issues due to possible conflicts between the two positions. She also pointed out that if she won in April, resigned from the council and then lost in November, she would be completely out of public office.

Which is a reasonable explanation of why holding both would be better for her, but not for why it would be better for the city.

If something is probably going to be a conflict in November, why would it not also be a conflict in April?

Being a councilor is not a full-time job, so this is a bit different from the mayor’s situation a few months back. No one is saying Hall would not have the time, or would be “double-dipping” for two salaries.

Hall is an excellent, well-qualified candidate for state representative. But she is already worried about conflicts. That should worry the voters.

Hall can end that worry by simply promising to resign from the council should she win the legislative seat.

No conflict there.

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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Power Goes Off, So Do We...

When The Power Goes out...

by Bill Gouveia for the Sun Chronicle

(this column appeared in the Sun Chronicle on Monday, March 12, 2018)

I was one of the fortunate few that never lost power last week, despite a couple of pretty powerful storms.

Still, I have gone without electricity for prolonged periods of time before. It is not fun. It can be costly, unhealthy and downright dangerous for seniors and those with medical issues.

Like most, I never think my power comes back fast enough. And I complain about it.

Logic tells us we can’t control Mother Nature. When trees and telephone poles are tossed around like toothpicks, wires are going to go down. Roads are going to be blocked. Crews have to wait until it is safe to start making repairs.

But logic can fade quickly. As the food in the refrigerator starts to stink, so can your attitude. The lower the temperature in the house drops, the lower your spirits sink. Before you know it, you are going through the “Three Stages of Power Loss.”

Stage 1: Adventure. You prepared and now is your time. You break out the generator. You find and light the candles. You locate that stash of “storm food” you carefully stored away. You grab the 20 pounds of batteries you bought just for this occasion. You gather the kids, toast marshmallows in the fireplace and laugh about times gone by.

Stage 2: Anger. The kids are whining. You smell and there is no hot water. You’ve watched 12 Disney movies on your phone and don’t want to go to the car to charge it again. That family you hate a few streets over got their power back three hours ago. The electric company’s website says your power won’t return until midnight tomorrow, causing you to throw a battery through the radio. A tree is resting on your garage, there is water in the basement and your blood pressure and blood sugar are competing for the highest number.

Stage 3: Blame. You power company has one lousy job, to make things work in your house. Now they can’t even do that. They should have anticipated that “bomb cyclone” thing. The four transformers that caught fire should have been replaced years ago. All those property taxes we pay and the town can’t make sure they trim trees everywhere? Why is MY town always losing power, yet that town next door always seems to be lit up? I told my spouse we should have bought the generator.

Then the lights come back on, and things slowly return to normal. The Celtics game is back on TV. The ice cream isn’t melting in the freezer.

You are back to complaining about the price of heating oil, microwaving the leftovers and not going to town meeting to support that budget increase requested by the department of public works in order to trim the trees you were just complaining about.

This past week produced some legitimate complaints concerning state supervision of utilities and their job performance. But boy, are we spoiled.

Our utility companies and communities can always do better. But wouldn’t it be a novel approach if we expressed our appreciation for them when things run well as fervently as we complain about them when they don’t?

After all — we could be in Puerto Rico.

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