But what the paper will not do is allow blatant publishing of misinformation and half-truths. Those will not go unchallenged when the truth is known. That explains the number of Editor's Notes appended to letters/opinion pieces in this week's paper.
Here are a few untruths that have been relentlessly presented and relentlessly countered in recent weeks regarding Waitsfield's proposed municipal water project.
Untruth: All taxpayers will have to pay back loans to build the system.
Truth: Only users can legally pay back the loans to build the system. If the town hooks up to the system, all taxpayers will pay a proportionate amount of the hook-up and use fees for the project, but only for the town's use, not for that of all users. This is an important distinction. Users only will pay. To the extent that the town is a user, its use costs will be apportioned among all voters.
Untruth: There is no need.
Truth: Verd Mont trailer park needs an extensive water system upgrade, the Mad River Green Shopping Center trucks in water because it does not have enough, Green Acres condominium complex has a nearly dry well, the town garage has no source of water, the Joslin Library and town offices need water. And that's just a few.
Untruth: If passed the project will lead to massive growth and development in the town, in Irasville, its wetlands and beyond.
Truth: Waitsfield's Town Plan and zoning ordinance govern/regulate development in the town and do not call for such development. Those documents call for orderly, regulated in-fill development in Waitsfield and preservation of prime ag lands.
Untruth: If the water bond passes the select board can extend it at will or commit the town to the larger more expensive sewer project.
Truth: The town can legally do neither.
Many communities would give their eye-teeth to have an electorate as involved, passionate and participatory as those who live here. Many newspapers would similarly wish to have so many letters and opinion pieces.
But no one wants to publish false information.
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