Letters to Artvoice

Truth or Spin

Marketers, public relation directors, advertising executives, spin doctors. All have become so adept at honing their crafts to sell the most to the audience they have elected as their target.

This ranges from calorie-laden fast food and music with less then positive messages to kids, to technical gadgets that we could probably live without, to elected officials shaping a message from truth or fiction.

In most cases substance and truth is lacking, the emphasis being on the hook, jingle, logo…whatever will catch on with the target population they are trying to entice by their message.

This approach is tried and true and works as can be evidenced hearing both adults and children mimic catchy lines and buzz words from commercials and other advertising campaigns. Too bad we all weren’t as quick to seek, learn and pass on information of substance such as fine art and literature. Or as important as facts and figures about the importance of saving our natural environment.

A good example of spin is the current issue of which trees stay and which are removed in the town of Amherst. Current buzzwords among residents as passed on from town officials; “heartwood damage” and “”Charlie Brown” trees. Good ones. The residents have embraced these buzzwords, not questioning the science behind the words when they are told their trees need to be cut down. If the arborist says one of those two words then it must be true. It makes us feel better to believe that their is truth in the decision.

Have any elected officials to date asked for the results on our environment due to this massive tree loss? Have any elected officials asked about the science in determining tree removal?

Nature, as life, is complicated. With just a few hits on Google doing research I have found a very scientific measurement by the US Forest Service that determines whether a tree will survive after receiving heartwood damage. Suffice to say that it is not as simple as “that tree is showing heartwood.”

Nature, as life, is also not perfect. Walking through the forest, all of the trees are not perfect. Some for whatever reason have had stunted growth, storm damage or disease. In spite of this they continue to thrive, making up our very delicate and complicated ecosystem in which each living thing is dependent upon another. Should all of the less-than-perfect trees on governemnt-owned land in the US be cut down because the federal government is afraid of liability and litigation?

We are watching our tree lines shrink by the minute in Amherst. With the shrinking tree lines we lose climate control, water control and pollution control. Not to mention the natural beauty which we are all entitled to without the interference of local government because they are afraid of litigation.

Truth or spin. Ask questions…it is your right and your responsibility.

Cathy Skora

Buffalo

MACHINE POLITICS

The Political Machine in New York State is well-maintained and highly functioning (“Targeting Delaware” and “Follow the Money,” Artvoice v6n34). However, one has to wonder why the media even bothers to report on these matters. What will be done about it? Who is going to demand answers? Well, not very many people, I’m afraid.

When the county budget crisis erupted in 2005, people were angry at the government. A small handful of citizens tried to mobilize a “revolt” against the ineptness and corruption in this region. But they mostly fell on deaf ears, because in the end most of the citizens just couldn’t be motivated beyond their anger to get out of their chairs. And so this region continues to wallow in its own mediocrity.

The blame lies as much at the feet of our elected officials as it does the people. I point my finger at those citizens who do nothing when our government leaders fail us over and over again. I point my fingers at those citizens who see the well-connected continually reaping wealth through their political friendships at the expense of taxpayers, and do nothing to demand accountability. The media provide us with the information, yet for these citizens their only concern is for the Sabres or American Idol. Their inaction allows the Machine to run unobstructed. Their inaction perpetuates the factory closings. Their inaction keeps Buffalo stagnant. Their inaction allows Buffalo, Albany and their friends to go on as normal, because they know nothing will be done about it.

This writer no longer wishes to be an unwilling accessory to the Machine, so going to another state is becoming more of a reality. Most people are not so naïve as to think that political machines do not exist in other regions of the country, but the one in New York State is a colossus. It becomes clear that without citizen involvement this region can expect nothing more than what it currently has. As long as this laziness exists, it will certainly be well-deserved.

William Berryman

Kenmore