Are The Watchdog$ Too Negative?

Katy Citizen Watchdog$

We’re Taxpayers. It’s Our Money.

Are The Watchdog$ Too Negative?

Criticism is by nature taken to be negative. Critics are those that are against the status quo or, at the very least, question the status quo. And so, our forefathers in Texas, those that believed the government of Mexico was unjust, too should be considered critics; thus negative in the minds of those that accuse us of being so.

I don’t see it that way. Our forefathers rose to the occasion, exhibited uncanny bravery, and died for the cause of liberty. I do not liken the Watchdog$ or myself to be remotely close to that level – sorry, I’m not willing to die to bring justice to our school district. But I, along with my fellow watchdog members are more than willing to hold ourselves up to the same criticism that we dish out. No one is above reproach and that is what our form of government is all about.

Some of our followers, and most of our opponents on certain issues, claim we are too negative, that we need a kinder, gentler Watchdog group. You are entitled to that opinion but I will not apologize for the zeal in which I have confronted the leadership and the zealous followers of KISD. If I’m wrong on an issue – and proven such – I am the first to admit I was wrong, offer my apologies and set the record straight. The Watchdog leadership has done so in the past and will continue to do so in the future. We’ve been accused of spreading disinformation but few have been able to identify one piece of information we have gotten wrong.

I do not want to spread false information because that’s not fair. You cannot stand up and confront a perceived injustice and do so on false pretense. My ethical make-up will not allow me to do so. That is the number one operating procedure among the Watchdog$ and I urge all participants in this arena to adhere to this ethical stance.

This issue of Radio Free Katy is particularly harsh. It attacks the very nature of the leadership of KISD and we call on a change in this leadership, from the superintendent to the Board minus one. We call on a true debate to be exhibited in Board meetings and not childish and uninformed letters to the editors. The debate should be based on fact. And because we have been against the status quo, we’ve been ostracized for it. We’ve even been asked to sell our homes and move out of the district if we don’t like it. Sounds like Nazi Germany to me.

If you agree with us, welcome aboard. It promises to be a fun ride. If you oppose us, then great: that’s what democracy is all about. But if we can be accused of being negative, so can our opponents and so we’re all at the same party. At the end of the day, there are no winners or losers. We hope that our presence helps to foster a better school district that will focus on its only task: TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN.

If the bond fails, so be it. It means that the voters have rejected the leadership being exhibited by this administration. If it passes, then so be it. The Watchdog$ won’t go away and our focus will return to making sure that the authorized bond money will be spent on what it is supposed to be spent on, that all promises are kept – which has not been true in the past – and that our elected leadership begin doing their state-mandated role: to supervise the superintendent. We will still insist on a changing of the guard. This Board has been together too long and we need fresh blood to carry us into a new era.

And so, label us negative if you wish, but be reminded that critics have provided the very freedom in which we live. To deny a voice is to condemn our forefathers.

Fred Hink, Katy Citizen Watchdog$

Date: 11/06/2006