Published May 8, 2023
A well-informed electorate can be a threat to those who want to keep power - even in a small town such as Fredon.
Without a newspaper to cover Fredon or Township meetings held through modern online streaming services, a large amount of the information about our school and local political commentary is coming from private social media pages run by elected officials. So, if you aren't getting your information about Fredon from Townhall or the school directly, you may be having your information funneled through "state-run social media."
Why is "state-run social media" harmful to elections and democracy?
If we consume our information about local topics from private pages run by elected officials who lean to the far right (or the far left), information about elections (school budget, garbage referendum, candidates on the ballot) and Township issues can be controlled through censorship strategies or a heavy lean toward what some officials want us to know or think or how they want us to vote.
Posts with dissenting voices or facts can be (and have been) deleted.
Admins and moderators can hand-pick members and call foul on posts they don't agree with to remove them (these fouls can be arbitrary and subjective).
Opinions that don't help those in power also seem to be stiff-armed online through intimidation attempts by their most loyal supporters.
School Budget Example
A great example is the school budget debate over the last few years.
Many Fredon taxpayers were censored or removed for their questions or supportive opinions about our local school. I believe this censorship caused the budget debate - and other conversations about Fredon issues - to be very unbalanced online.
If only one side can talk, only one side's perspective can get out.
Today, on our "state-run social media" sites, we’re being told that the current Board of Education (BOE) is "brilliant" and led by heroes in the school's "turnaround story."
I've listened to the censored and intimidated voices on this topic and have personally watched a completely different truth unfold myself.
Another Budget Perspective
The budget turnaround in my opinion goes back a few years. The last two BOE Presidents and their teams deserve the credit.
In fact, last year, under different leadership than today, the budget called for $0 cost to taxpayers. This budget was voted down (yes, you read that correctly).
This year’s budget proposal called for an additional $50 for every $100,000 in assessed property value. This budget was approved.
The $0 tax increase last year was the biggest win of the last few years, but that story doesn't appear to fit what the supporters of the "state-run social media" want you to think: that "all is sunny in Fredon" and both the school and Township are getting along today so the school finally deserves support.
Why Did The Budget Finally Pass?
The senior far right leaders in town appear to have gained enough seats (power) total between both governing bodies (Township Committee and BOE) to feel safely in control of both entities.
This may have led to the rest of their far right supporters calming down their language about the school on "state-run social media" - which may have also contributed to the low voter turnout and the passing of the budget finally this year.
Another Academic Perspective
Fredon's largest "state-run social media site" was launched around the end of 2017 and appears to have been a true public community forum at the time to help neighbors during a power outage.
Since that time (2017-2018):
The school's administrators and BOE leaders have been heavily criticized on the site while one-by-one all but a few moved on after serving their time.
We fought over the school budget vote while the State decreased our budget too.
The school turned over administrators a few times.
We all faced a pandemic without notice.
And, the culture wars took over the school's public meetings.
Other schools in Sussex County emerged from the same exact obstacles felt during the pandemic (online learning, masks, and absences) and state budget cuts with HIGHER scores. Fredon has not.
I personally see a strong correlation between the quality of Fredon's education now and how the school has been used as a pawn by a few to gain power. The board has lost key academic expertise necessary to help make sure a school is run successfully and it has been heavily politicized online and offline.
The latest Board's leadership has been at the helm for approximately six months. I'm not sure that is enough time to claim "brilliance" or accomplishment just yet, but I do hope the school is turned back around quickly and we stop talking about much more of anything but budgets and academics.
If we are concerned about our property values and we don't want the State telling our school what to do, then we need to improve these scores and have a true "turnaround story" soon.
Fredon's Electorate Doesn't Match Its Elected Officials
If true free speech and a healthy democratic process that encourages constructive debate existed on these sites in Fredon, the political mix of our elected seats should more closely match that of our citizenry - but it doesn't.
To be fair, I want to make sure I emphasize that I believe Fredon's moderate and hard working elected officials on the Township and BOE have all taxpayers' best interests at heart and use social media responsibly and fairly. My sincere thanks to them!
Until modern streaming services host Township meetings and a true newspaper returns to the area with a bit more commitment to balanced reporting and equal advertising space for elections, please read agendas and minutes, go to meetings, and reach out directly to Townhall and the school administrators for more accurate information about issues important to you.
Education truly is a power no one can take away from you, and your educated vote in Fredon matters more and more if we want to live freely here.
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