The Balance Without Ad Hominem Petition for Dutchess County

To:  Dutchess County residents

Do you believe that real debate is healthy and a good thing in a democracy?

Do you believe that the best way decisions are made in government is if as many perspectives on an issue as possible are heard?

Do you believe that ad hominem attacks and personalizing issues have no place in Dutchess County government?

Do you believe that someone who is attacked in such a manner has a right to respond?

I do.

Personally, I think that common sense, simple decency, and democracy demand that someone who has been attacked personally has a right to defend themself (see DebateBothSides.com).

Unfortunately, some in the Dutchess County Legislature have increasingly resorted to ad hominem attacks-- while those attacked have not been allowed to respond (curiously). This happened repeatedly during the April 10th Committee Day meetings and repeatedly during the April 14th full board meeting of our County Legislature-- three times, in fact-- re: solar, hybrids, and wetlands protections, for instance (see webcasts for yourself of these meetings and others @ TotalWebcasting.com/Live/Dutchess).

Such behavior should have no place in our county government-- and those attacked with ad hominem attacks should be able to respond without being shut down again and again.

Enough.

If you agree that true balance (without ad hominem attacks) is important in a real democracy, sign this petition, send an email to countylegislators@co.dutchess.ny.us, and pass it along to all you know-- let's nip this in the bud, folks.

Joel Tyner
Dutchess County Legislature Environmental Committee Chair
County Legislator, Clinton/Rhinebeck
324 Browns Pond Road
Staatsburg, NY 12580
joeltyner@earthlink.net
(845) 876-2488

According to Wikipedia, "An ad hominem attack is a personal attack in the form of an ad hominem argument. Ad hominem attacks are often used in a debate or discussion where the speaker wishes to avoid the substance of the discussion and instead resorts to smearing the character of their opponent. It is considered a logical fallacy and is one of the modes of spreading propaganda."
[see En.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem_attack]

According to the American Bar Association, "The Constitution includes several amendments that protect the rights of those accused and convicted of crimes, such as due process of the law, the right to defend oneself, and the freedom from double jeopardy."
[see ABAnet.org/publiced/lawday/schools/lessons/hs_offendersrights.html]

According to the European Criminal Bar Association, "The right to defend oneself is one of the essential principles underlying the concept of a ‘fair trial’." 
[see ECBA.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=92&Itemid=25]

According to Amnesty International in their report "The Right to Defend Oneself", "Everyone charged with a criminal offense has the right to defend him or herself against the charges; see Article 11(1) of the Universal Declaration, Article 14(3)(d) of the ICCPR, Article 7(1)(c) of the African Charter, Article 8(2)(d) of the American Convention, Article 6(3)(c) of the European Convention, Article 21(4)(d) of the Yugoslavia Statute, Article 20(4)(d) of the Rwanda Statute, Article 67(1)(d) of the ICC Statute."
[see AmnestyUSA.org/Fair-Trials-Manual/201-The-right-to-defend-oneself/page.do?id=1104723&n1=3&n2=35&n3=843]

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The The Balance Without Ad Hominem Petition for Dutchess County Petition to Dutchess County residents was created by members of the Real Majority Project and written by Dutchess County Legislature Environmental Committee Chair Joel Tyner (joeltyner@earthlink.net).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.