Just as a point of reference, I have served 4 years as an Alderman on the Stoughton, Wisconsin City Council (pop. ~12,000), and was chair of the Finance Committee for 2 of those years, so I am not uneducated as to what it takes to responsibly run a city.
Without getting into specifics, this council, as a whole, is the most incompetent group of so-called leaders I have ever witnessed, with the possible exception of the County Commissioners.
I wish ignorance was the only veil that they were living beneath. At least ignorance can be corrected by knowledge, should they actually wish someday to pursue it.
Been watching them for 20+ years now, and ~15 of those as a resident. Just when you think it can't get "better," it does, and I fully concur with you. Some even have evolved to best themselves. Honestly it's hard to turn away, you can't make some of those stuff up.
What I found enabling this, ultimately, was a culture of apathy in the community. Elected's can be replaced but apathy is a much harder thing to fix.
I must confess, your text and related footnote #3’s pseudo-intellectual drivel—dripping with metaphors about castration and veils—left me dizzy. Since you’ve invoked my name, though, I’ll take a stab at decoding the sarcasm, if only to keep up with your bitter wit.
You wrote:
---“This self-liquidation is known as Positivity, total deference to Staff, which is freedom of a Brighter & Beautiful sort. (In our analogy, freedom from one’s male anatomy.) To act outside of the veil of ignorance—what Mr. Jeff King so astutely refers to as ‘Progressivism’—is to be accused of Negativity, i.e., of occasionally voting No.”
Let’s unpack that. When I say “progressivism,” I mean the dictionary version: using government to force social change, a game both left and right play with gusto. Take your crew’s crusade to censor the library catalog, all in the name of “protecting the children.” That’s progressivism, right-wing style—parents outsourcing their job to the state. Funny how your “veil of ignorance” blinds everyone when it suits your allies.
But let’s check the premise. Is a library even a core government function? I say no. Defund it, and poof—debate over. Same goes for TIFA and BPU, unelected fiefdoms frittering away hundreds of thousands with zero oversight. Dissolve them, and your hand-wringing over Mr. Mackie’s salary might just vanish. It’s so easy to get lost in emotional details when the answer’s painfully simple. Constitutionally limited government.
As for “Negativity,” that’s just the establishment's tired playbook. I’ve been called worse—remember when you were in High School the councilman’s “666” sermon in session, painting me and others as the devil’s spawn? Charming. But a “No” vote isn’t negativity, nor is a “Yes” positivity. It’s weighing facts and solving problems. Ironic you bring this up with the FOIA vote, since I emailed Mayor Paladino, Manager Mackie, Councilman Flynn, and Wolfram with a easy solution to the problem. Even got one follow-up.
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Jeff King
Date: Mon, Jul 7, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Subject: Victim Advocate for Hillsdale County <> FOIA request
You might be able to work with her or at least discuss a policy with her to avoid this in the future. I'm surprised your city attorney wasn't aware of this.
Councilman. Wolfram hit this spot on as to why she might not want to come to the meeting. And Tammy can define "victim" per Councilperson Flynn's concern.
they moved the books, not removed. Furthermore anyone can order any book, they restricted none of that. "The library issue" has been gas lit to kingdom come by many, one in particular.
And, as far as we know, they did not even succeed at moving the books. Though Mr. King doesn’t like to let such difficulties get in the way as he nimbly dodges the issue.
Because I did dodge the issue. By not making it a role of government to provide daycare.
James, I never said move.. I said censor, and I was clear it was the children’s section. (Protect the children). Further, my point was to point out the progressive agenda so the semantics are irrelevant.
I saw a “we” just slip. Imagine the outrage if they censored the borg nursery.
My "typical approach", and what I was clarifying in your footnote, is what I consider progressivism and the role of government. It not to babysit your offspring, at least the few of you that aren't incel's.
You direct a library in a small conservative-minded town in middle America. The library is not going anywhere. The library has LGBT content books in the children's section. Many parents do not tend to their children in the children's section, assuming that the content has been curated appropriately for children. What would you do, if anything?
My bad, Jack keeps saying moved, I was talking about Jack to you in another post, I just hear a lot of static over the library thing. Most of it, is a bit off.
Kelly twice, Joe once, and then Ronda got a good beating for speaking up not to long before that.... Great showings out of "fathers".... not to mention all the other stuff that goes on, "the commission stands united" Doug after I asked about Kelley and Joe.... It was more of a threat than a statement.
Jack "don't internet", Honestly it's best just to listen to Jack. He is nearly always correct. I'm not in any way a fan of Mr. Beeker's work but if he was not requested by council..... and if your not going to planning commission meetings....?
That being said, what's going on at Hillsdale Township planning commission meetings needs a serious eye. Before WE have windmills menacing town like giants.
It says "county review", Hillsdale Township is ripe for satire, scorn, and scrutiny.
Dang I missed that one, he can be absolutely savage, he'll knock you to the floor.... but he never delivers the "killing blow".... It's weird to me, but "I'm not from here" and he very much is. I don;t understand why Jack never held elected office, his ability to dig into wonk and deeply understand it is rare here.
Just as a point of reference, I have served 4 years as an Alderman on the Stoughton, Wisconsin City Council (pop. ~12,000), and was chair of the Finance Committee for 2 of those years, so I am not uneducated as to what it takes to responsibly run a city.
Without getting into specifics, this council, as a whole, is the most incompetent group of so-called leaders I have ever witnessed, with the possible exception of the County Commissioners.
I wish ignorance was the only veil that they were living beneath. At least ignorance can be corrected by knowledge, should they actually wish someday to pursue it.
Been watching them for 20+ years now, and ~15 of those as a resident. Just when you think it can't get "better," it does, and I fully concur with you. Some even have evolved to best themselves. Honestly it's hard to turn away, you can't make some of those stuff up.
What I found enabling this, ultimately, was a culture of apathy in the community. Elected's can be replaced but apathy is a much harder thing to fix.
Thank you for your service to your community.
Each meeting is full of small gems.
.....Some of the better "drama" out there. The only issue is the more you watch the more you tend to get "dragged" in.
You are spot on, I have been following this Council for 15 years, ran for office three times. This is the worst Council we’ve ever had.
I must confess, your text and related footnote #3’s pseudo-intellectual drivel—dripping with metaphors about castration and veils—left me dizzy. Since you’ve invoked my name, though, I’ll take a stab at decoding the sarcasm, if only to keep up with your bitter wit.
You wrote:
---“This self-liquidation is known as Positivity, total deference to Staff, which is freedom of a Brighter & Beautiful sort. (In our analogy, freedom from one’s male anatomy.) To act outside of the veil of ignorance—what Mr. Jeff King so astutely refers to as ‘Progressivism’—is to be accused of Negativity, i.e., of occasionally voting No.”
Let’s unpack that. When I say “progressivism,” I mean the dictionary version: using government to force social change, a game both left and right play with gusto. Take your crew’s crusade to censor the library catalog, all in the name of “protecting the children.” That’s progressivism, right-wing style—parents outsourcing their job to the state. Funny how your “veil of ignorance” blinds everyone when it suits your allies.
But let’s check the premise. Is a library even a core government function? I say no. Defund it, and poof—debate over. Same goes for TIFA and BPU, unelected fiefdoms frittering away hundreds of thousands with zero oversight. Dissolve them, and your hand-wringing over Mr. Mackie’s salary might just vanish. It’s so easy to get lost in emotional details when the answer’s painfully simple. Constitutionally limited government.
As for “Negativity,” that’s just the establishment's tired playbook. I’ve been called worse—remember when you were in High School the councilman’s “666” sermon in session, painting me and others as the devil’s spawn? Charming. But a “No” vote isn’t negativity, nor is a “Yes” positivity. It’s weighing facts and solving problems. Ironic you bring this up with the FOIA vote, since I emailed Mayor Paladino, Manager Mackie, Councilman Flynn, and Wolfram with a easy solution to the problem. Even got one follow-up.
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Jeff King
Date: Mon, Jul 7, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Subject: Victim Advocate for Hillsdale County <> FOIA request
To: Joshua Paladino <joshuapaladino4hillsdale@gmail.com>, David Mackie <dmackie@cityofhillsdale.org>, <gary.wolfram@hillsdale.edu>
The state victim advocate for Hillsdale County is Tammy Jones, see below
image.png
https://michiganprosecutor.org/training-units/victim-rights/victim-advocate-directory/
You might be able to work with her or at least discuss a policy with her to avoid this in the future. I'm surprised your city attorney wasn't aware of this.
Councilman. Wolfram hit this spot on as to why she might not want to come to the meeting. And Tammy can define "victim" per Councilperson Flynn's concern.
Sorry, too long so we didn't read.
What about footnote 13 though? Thoughts?
*TLDR Yeah, that's always a risk, your eyes glazing over.
its a local disease, wiite anything more than a couple paragraphs and be in any way nuanced and local government's eyes glaze over.
Or government wannabes.
It’s the responsibility of the writer to not bore the reader.
We, Jackie must bore very easily then.....
The Borg never were known as deep thinkers. But oh can they throw a party.
It’s rumored they in fact were the reason Hillsdale’s own Delta house was bulldozed.
they moved the books, not removed. Furthermore anyone can order any book, they restricted none of that. "The library issue" has been gas lit to kingdom come by many, one in particular.
And, as far as we know, they did not even succeed at moving the books. Though Mr. King doesn’t like to let such difficulties get in the way as he nimbly dodges the issue.
I thought it was TLDR grasshopper?
Because I did dodge the issue. By not making it a role of government to provide daycare.
James, I never said move.. I said censor, and I was clear it was the children’s section. (Protect the children). Further, my point was to point out the progressive agenda so the semantics are irrelevant.
I saw a “we” just slip. Imagine the outrage if they censored the borg nursery.
It was TLDR. But we know your typical approach to the library.
We've established that your eyes glossed over.
My "typical approach", and what I was clarifying in your footnote, is what I consider progressivism and the role of government. It not to babysit your offspring, at least the few of you that aren't incel's.
Was that too long?
How about a hypothetical:
You direct a library in a small conservative-minded town in middle America. The library is not going anywhere. The library has LGBT content books in the children's section. Many parents do not tend to their children in the children's section, assuming that the content has been curated appropriately for children. What would you do, if anything?
My bad, Jack keeps saying moved, I was talking about Jack to you in another post, I just hear a lot of static over the library thing. Most of it, is a bit off.
You truncated a very important part of Kelley's comments. The part where she was jailed for bringing this up. Twice according to her.
Kelly twice, Joe once, and then Ronda got a good beating for speaking up not to long before that.... Great showings out of "fathers".... not to mention all the other stuff that goes on, "the commission stands united" Doug after I asked about Kelley and Joe.... It was more of a threat than a statement.
Jack "don't internet", Honestly it's best just to listen to Jack. He is nearly always correct. I'm not in any way a fan of Mr. Beeker's work but if he was not requested by council..... and if your not going to planning commission meetings....?
That being said, what's going on at Hillsdale Township planning commission meetings needs a serious eye. Before WE have windmills menacing town like giants.
It says "county review", Hillsdale Township is ripe for satire, scorn, and scrutiny.
His comment about migrant grasshoppers was particularly entertaining if not poignant.
Dang I missed that one, he can be absolutely savage, he'll knock you to the floor.... but he never delivers the "killing blow".... It's weird to me, but "I'm not from here" and he very much is. I don;t understand why Jack never held elected office, his ability to dig into wonk and deeply understand it is rare here.