Commentary on the Candidates Forum

Stew Richland

Soap Opera ne Kabuki theater

Theater critic Dave Israel characterized the Candidates Forum as Kabuki theater. I would rather refer to it as a soap opera.

I would prefer to call this soap opera “Dave’s Tavern” where all the customers come to belly up at the bar to be entertained by the so called “Village Historian,”  pontificating about his great accomplishments over the past few years.

Well lets take a look at the script of this soap opera.

Announcer:  Ladies and Gentlemen the story you are about to read is true, the  names have been changed to protect their identity. Any connection with persons living or dead is just coincidental.

Announcer continues:

One member of the cast, Barbara, shares her fears that Phyllis Richland, a former Vice President of UCO for over 18 years of outstanding service to Century Village, has decided to toss her hat in the ring for an open seat as V.P.  She views this as unethical since her husband is already serving as a VP.  She fears that husband and wife will collude to upset the carefully created menu that Dave and his stage hands have crafted. She implies that husband and wife will participate in some sort of web of deceit and manipulation for the purpose of disrupting the smooth running of Dave’s Tavern. We all know that Barbara is the great moralizer and when carefully studied, stands out as the great moral teacher. In this soap opera she paints herself in colors so attractive as to make her a model of imitation. 

Ethical systems are made up of such things as character, thought, passion and emotion. Does Barbara bring a wealth of  evidence relative to her expansive ethical experience?  Her utterances, she thinks, form the framework of moral philosophy which she believes is without rival. 

One compelling principle that guides Phyllis Richland lies in her philosophy of life and that is  altruism, that strange intangible something that sets itself up in her nature in direct opposition to egoism. Her altruism, is based on a  calm regard for others. The evidence is there for all to see.  Obtaining food stamps for those that need help.Contacting FPL to have them lower their rates for those who were in financial difficulties. Just sitting and listening to some of our older residents, holding their hand and letting them vent their concerns and frustrations to a person with compassion and soul.

Now a word from our sponsor.

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Many of Phillis’ supporters were shocked when she made the decision to withdraw from her run for UCO Vice President.  I discussed her decision and emphasized that her experience and talents were needed at UCO,  Based on her moral and ethical standards she could not allow herself to be associated with Dave the UCO Historian after he posted a comment on his blog in which he stated that Phyllis was going to turn the Village into a “Soup Kitchen.”  

For those that are not privy to what this reference let me provide you with the background.  The JCC was providing lunch  for some of our residents. Unfortunately, the JCC decided to end this program. It was proposed at a UCO meeting along with an outside source, to provide the lunch, that once a week we could have those folks that went to the JCC, a lunch in the party room at the clubhouse. It would be a great way for someone to socialize with others and many looked forward to that luncheon.

A member of UCO at that meeting objected and criticized this program and alluded to Century Village becoming a “Soup Kitchen.”  Dave, the UCO Historian, knew that Phyllis did not make that comment.  Yet he decided to post it on his blog. Why you ask? This is how a Machiavellian trained politician without a conscience attempts to shmere “Bull-Duty” for the purpose of impugning her character.

When Phyllis read this post and coupled with the comments that Barbara had made on Dave’s blog and remembering how Dave used every unethical means at his disposal to sabotage her run for UCO president, she concluded, after pondering her decision to withdraw her candidacy for VP., that to be part of Dave’s team was counter to all her ethical, and moral training,and so  she decided to make her withdrawal announcement at the Meet the Candidates forum.  Phyllis regrets that her decision to withdraw from the contest disappointed many of her supporters, but her ethical standards outweighed any other considerations and so she withdrew from the election.

When Olga, during the open question period, asked Dave, “What did you write that caused Phyllis to withdraw from the race?” He feigned that he did not know what  she was referring to.  Of course Dave would not answer the question because,"lest any stain should mar the purity of his character. "

At that point in the question and answer session, I challenged what Dave wrote and declared that Dave’s remarks about Phyllis was a complete fabrication. At that point was asked to leave the room by the moderator. As  you know I am a gentlemen and so I left the forum.

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This concludes today’s episode  of Dave’s Tavern. Tune in at the same time tomorrow to learn more about what extent people will go to keep their power. Remember rush to your local supply store to purchase “Bull Duty” the best product to wipe your Blog clean of repulsive blog comments.

Stay tuned to listen to Nick Carter Master Detective when he tries to solve the case of the missing Blog.