Personalities, not issues have dominated this election cycle. It's not that there are no issues to discuss. It's just that our democracy has apparently developed lazy habits. The digital revolution has made it easier than ever to engage in meaningful dialog, but for some reason many avoid it. Of course, being able to communicate does not make it any easier to assemble and digest information or to synthesize thoughtful positions or opinions.

Case in point: Over at blogspot.com, pro-McShane partisans have egregiously ripped off the content of this site, re-posting on theirs to "let the fun begin" by opening the material to public comment. The only problem is that their effort has resulted mainly in demonstrating their campaign's hallmark smearing and bashing tactics. It is virtually devoid of constructive effort on any significant issue. Check it out for yourself. There is a lot of small-minded and mean-spirited blather going on over there. It is impossible to say whether they lack initiative, ideas or manners.

In hopes that it might stimulate a bit of creative thought and commentary on their part, I am today providing ten issues that I feel have been wholly under-addressed this season. Perhaps these ideas will stimulate thought in others before they mark their ballots, too. There are lots more issues. These are just a few, from mainly a city perspective. I encourage everyone to define their own. We would all benefit from actually discussing them.

1) The systematic exclusion of neighborhoods from the planning process.
2) Piecemeal instead of comprehensive planning.
3) The systematic abdication of the Council's authority.
4) The systematic usurpation of the Citizens' authority.
5) Repression of political expression.
6) Slavish compliance with the Port's plan to privatize our waterfront.
7) Inept and cowardly delay on protecting the Lake Whatcom Watershed.
8) A steady move toward phony public process.
9) A sleepy Council and ambitious administration.
10) Nonexistent intergovernmental affairs.

Click on any item for a more detailed description. If you'd like a taste of the kind of abuse anyone expressing their opinion is likely to suffer, then tune into the counterfeit blog site to see the kind of contribution they are making. Meanwhile, I encourage everyone to consider their issues and to share them while you get out the vote.