Guest Column: Councilman Bates Responds to Martin Hackworth

Martin writes, “Locals pay taxes for lackluster services and for government officials’ salaries, who deride critics as “negative” and who imagine that the necessary step on the road to prosperity is to require that we all hold hands and sing “Kumbaya.” He also often refers to the “Sunshine and Rainbows crowd” who proclaim everything is perfect even when there are obvious failures. To say this is what I am advocating for is false. Here are exact quotes from my video: “People that love Pocatello aren’t always honest about bad things that happen… When we sugarcoat things and we put on rose-colored glasses we lose trust… We need to be positive, positive as can be, but we also need to be honest. When bad things happen, let’s just be honest about it.” What I am actually suggesting is that we choose to focus on those things that truly deserve to be criticized, such as the examples Martin uses in his article, as opposed to complaining about everything, even good things.

Martin also wrote, “Councilman Bates’ jeremiad about local negativity, which he claims is our most pressing issue, isn’t even original.” First, I had to look up what a jeremiad is and while I am long-winded, if I sounded mournful that’s really just a delivery problem. My family might say I sound that sad and boring all the time. Regardless, I did not say nor do I believe this is our most pressing issue. I don’t know that I could honestly pick one thing as the most critical problem to be addressed. I also state in the video this concern over negativity isn’t new, but that it is time we start to openly address it.

Finally, I feel it’s necessary to address the following, “Councilman Bates actually invokes “woe is us” regarding the burden of being an elected leader in such a sea of negativity in his video. That’s not going to fly. No one bends anyone’s arm up behind their back to run for local public office—you run as a volunteer. Being an elected civic leader requires listening to all constituents, not just the smiley ones. He should come to grips with that (I think that he will).”

I assume that Martin is referring to my point that constant and unnecessary negativity results in discouragement for the people who are trying to make Pocatello a better place. That is a true and unfortunate statement. I don’t think anyone that runs for public office is under the illusion that it will be all smiley people all the time and I certainly don’t need time to come to grips with it. I’ve had my share of non-smiley people since becoming a Council Member and I listen to them. Perhaps though, Martin should consider how his disappointment with the quality of local civic leaders may, at the very least, have a casual relationship with the “sea of negativity” that we swim in. I meet and talk with many, many people far more qualified than myself to be on the City Council who would never consider running for public office. Why? Because of the “sea” they would be required to swim in. As I wrote in the introduction to my video “Criticism is always allowed and is necessary, but needless negativity only makes it harder to shape the future we want.” My goal in suggesting we be a little less negative wasn’t driven by self-interest. I can handle the negativity. What I want is the same thing Martin wants, Pocatello to live up to its potential. Anything that makes that more likely to happen I’m going to push for… including a collective better attitude.