Dear Friends and Neighbors,
“A popular government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy; or perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.”
James Madison
THE FIRST AMENDMENT
James Madison is “the father of the constitution” and wrote the First Amendment.
The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and the right “to petition the government…”
This is the backbone of our representative government.
THE WESTMOUNT PETITION
Some Warren County Citizens have chosen to execute their First Amendment Rights by sending out a petition on the Westmount Nursing home sale –
http://www.savewestmount.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/PETITION-TO-SAVE-WESTMOUNT-NURSING-HOME2.pdf
Petition signatures need to be collected by Sunday, April 5. Petitions can be dropped off at the following locations:
The McCabes
Peter McDevitt
30 Orchard Drive
50 Hunter St
Queensbury, NY
Glens Falls, NY
Chris Farrington
Joanne Gavin
7 Prosser Circle
24 Halada Drive
Warrensburg, NY
Lake George, NY
Those drivingthe petition are doing so against great odds. They have a very short timeframe to collect 2,000 signatures; and started with no organization or funding. Plus there have been attempts to discredit and marginalize them.
Debating the merits of the nursing home sale is fair ground, but no one should try to prevent people from their constitutional right to petition. These folks have every right to petition. You have every right to sign or not.
THE INFORMATION
In past blogs, I have done my best to inform you of the current situation with the nursing home. I have provided my own opinion, information from both sides of the debate* and press reports.
* For more information, please go to these websites: www.savewestmount.org; www.warrencountyny.gov
The Experts of the First Amendment Center (www.firstamendmentcenter.org) state:
“In Madison’s view, a functioning and fair government depends on a free flow of information from the government to the people as well as from the people to the government.”
So be it.
Mark Westcott
You can also find my views on www.westcottupny.com