Gregg Hough: Beliefs of Human Relations Committee define their truth

To The Daily Sun,

With the elections over, the Human Relations Committee is consumed by the idea that the city doesn’t want them anymore. The possibility the new mayor and council may disband the committee is why there is a feverish rush to get it turned into a standing committee.

The Human Relations Committee insists it should remain a city committee simply because they believe their work is important. And since they personally feel they are helping, they claim this automatically makes their committee valuable. According to their own subjective view, if they perceive they contribute to community wellness, then it must be true no matter what objective facts indicate.

Members of the committee argue they provide “guidance, support and dialogue,” but these claims are based purely on how they feel rather than measurable outcomes. They say, “We believe we’re making progress,” therefore concluding they must be making progress. If some residents disagree, the committee suggests those individuals simply don’t see the value yet. Their logic: our belief defines truth.

Even when presented with concerns about costs, relevance, or duplication of efforts, they dismiss them on the grounds that they feel morally justified. They argue that because they personally care, their position is unchallengeable. But caring is not governance.

In reality, the committee is in denial substituting subjective conviction for objective results. They avoid independent evaluation, claiming outside judgment is unnecessary because they know their intentions are good. At one point they agreed that if they are disbanded that they would continue their work all together in the private sector.

I for one think that is exactly what they should do. If their methods and effort have merit, then they will achieve their goals, and if they do not then the city will not be on the hook to pay for failed initiatives and policies.

Gregg Hough

Laconia