To the Editor:

Last Wednesday (Aug. 10) I was in attendance at the Democratic Village Caucus. Essentially, it was one of the most undemocratic meetings I have ever witnessed. Not that I had anything against any of the nominees - I did not and do not. On the other hand, it would have done me no good if I, or any of the many participants, had wanted to say something or ask any questions about positions that the candidates might have, etc. We felt set up and shut up, nomination by nomination. As Karl Ortmeyer pointed out two years ago, the “good ol’ boy” network was in full swing once more. When one party becomes so dominant that it stifles debate even within its own ranks, there is something drastically wrong. We call ourselves Democrats, but we certainly were not practicing much democracy last Wednesday.

Perhaps the only thing that will sufficiently rattle our teeth is to have some good strong Republicans do it for us in the general elections to be held in November. The two-party system was created just for situations like this. You know - make the dominant party explain itself--do not just let them walk away from the tough questions like solving the problem of a non-working dam and using reserve funds to pay for that it - unfinished though it may be, etc. If we do not like the answers then elect someone else.

Dick Hutchinson

Potsdam