This is what we're up against from the Conservative, Fundy Community.

[Raven]

I work in a small town that has a large population of conservative Republican, religious fundamentalists. Many of these people are builders or in the building trades. I have been working to bring workforce housing to this community because it deperately needs it. The Town has some land which it got because of a tax foreclosure. We hired a non-profit developer that has 30 years experience in building senior and workforce housing, managing it and maintaining it. I got a call on Friday from one of the pillars of this conservative group who is a builder and whose son is an civil engineer. He basically told me that if I did not fire the developer we have and hire him and his son instead, he would campaign against the housing project. I guess this fundamentalist religion does not teach ethics.

I have a meeting with this guy and a bunch of his cronies tomorrow. This is what I plan to say:

"Do any of you have 30 years' experience in building and managing this type of housing and getting the state and federal dollars to make it happen?"

I know that the answer will be "no".

Then I'm going to say: "Go ahead, fight this project. The result will be that you won't get any jobs as subcontractors and we won't get the housing and your kids won't be able to afford to live here."

And then I think I might say "Go fuck yourselves."

Anybody have any other ideas?

[foxfeet]

1. "And the goat you rode in on." n/t

[NC_Nurse]

2. Sounds good to me. You might want to leave the f-bomb out, but otherwise,

it's perfect. ;-)

[Raven]

6. I know. I said it here to get it out of my system. I am so pissed at these people.

[NC_Nurse]

21. Very understandable. And it would be sorely tempting!

[remoulade]

8. Perhaps, "I suggest you perform a biological impossibility."

:evilgrin:

[tanyev]

3. You gonna have a video or audio record of the meeting?

Might be a good idea.

[Raven]

9. You know, you're right! I'll bring my assistant as a witness. Thanks!

[HillbillyBob]

12. A very good idea to have witness but do also record the meeting

a digital voice recorder would be very good evidence, or even a video recorder connected to your computer with it broadcasting to other witnesses so that when he tries extortion you have him dead to rights so that you can then file suit with the states attorney.

[Warpy]

17. Not good enough. Someone needs to get it on a phone cam, at least

complete with audio.

[beam me up scottie]

4. You're screwn.

I live in a town where some job applications are only earned by going to the church of the owner/supervisor.

Best of luck.

[MineralMan]

5. Then, turn around and leave that place.

Go with your original plans.

[JerseygirlCT]

7. I wonder just how legal a threat like his is.

Do you have access to someone who could tell you? If this isn't (and it sure sounds like it's not) then I'd be sure to ask a lawyer along to your meeting. Bully them right back with a subtle threat of legal action if they continue in this vein.

And congratulations for what you're doing. That's terrific.

[Raven]

11. I have wondered the same thing. The older guy is not a public official but

the son he's shilling for is on my Planning Board. I think that may be a problem.

[Traveling_Home]

10. When I worked in non-Profits....

there was a rule for funding and grants on all our projcts - we couldn't use our no-tax paying non-profit status to take business away from tax-paying businesses by undercutting their bid.

We got grants to have cleaning crews of disabled persons clean office buildings. Part of our expenses and salaries were subsidized by the taxpayer through grants. We could not use that to undercut businesses bids. It's really not fair for a small business that pays taxes to have those taxes used to take business away from them.

If the situation is as you say - there will be a lot of people who will be interested in his story.

[Raven]

13. Yet another aspect of this that I had not thought of! This is why I love you guys! I

don't need an army...just DU's collective brain!

[gratuitous]

14. Draw him out

Record the meeting, by the way, and notify everyone in attendance that you are doing so, as a precaution against memories getting "fuzzy" in the time to come. If they hang around for the meeting anyway (a dubious proposition in itself), simply draw Mr. Big out. Make sure he states his objections fully and for the record. When he suggests (ever so politely, I'm sure) that he and his son be hired as the developers for the project, ask him lots of questions, including your very pertinent one about 30 years' experience.

Go down point by point on every one of their objections. Make them explain each one as fully as possible. Don't assume things they don't say. For example, your post reads, "He basically told me" thus and such. Make him actually tell you, in so many words, that he will campaign against the housing project if he's not given a taste.

This sounds like the sort of project that will be discussed and "ratified" in the court of public opinion. Make sure you can make the case against this garbanzo in his own words, or, failing that, by his refusal to participate in the process. I'm guessing he and his stooges will turn around and walk right out as soon as they see the videotape equipment set up, and you should be prepared to use that to say, "I offered to meet with Mr. Big, but he refused to participate in a meeting once it was made clear that a video record was being made." The public will understand what that means.

[fencesitter]

15. I don't know how you do things in your town,,

But in mine, there is a whole bidding and proposal process to go through. Plans have to be submitted, artist's workups, environmental impact studys, infrastructure considerations, traffic patterns, the whole project can take years. If your fundies can do this as well as the other developer, he's gotta be considered. Of course if he doesn't have the resources to pull off the job in your budget, he can go fuck himself.

[Raven]

19. Well, amazingly, the older guy is a "dirt guy" he plows and excavates for septic systems. He

has never built anything. His son is a one-man office.

[fencesitter]

22. oh jeez, what a windbag.

He can't do the job obviously.

[DCKit]

16. Meeting with the opposition without backup is a mistake.

You need people on your side - the same people who will benefit from this project if it gets built. The scenario you outline sounds like the Republic Congress 1992-2006.

Only full exposure of this kind of sleaze will prevent these asshats from taking over and destroying this worthy project.

[SoCalNative]

18. Perhaps you should remind the f*cktard

that what he has proposed is called blackmail, and is illegal.

And tell him you have his little proposal recorded, even if you don't.

[BR_Parkway]

20. You need more on your side at the meeting - others in the group trying

to develop the project, stakeholders - hell, get a preacher to open the meeting with a prayer (with a heads up about what they are trying to do, s/he may know the exact versus to call out the cheats).

During the prayer, you could have a "vision" where God tells you not to hire the man in the room with you because he is cheating on his wife (you know he is....). Then close the meeting LOL Amen

[cherish44]

23. Get him to say it on tape and expose him as the extortionist he is...

Take the tape to the state attorney's office, get media exposure, attend his Sunday church service and play it for the congregation...

[Cerridwen]

24. In addition to all the good ideas I've seen here, I might suggest

an email or a letter stating:

Dear Mr. {insert fuckhead's name here}, (I needed to vent a smidge, too :D )

This is a follow up to our telephone converstation, dated {thus and such} in which you stated {insert his paraphrased or quoted comments}.

Please remember to bring your concerns to our meeting scheduled {thus and such}. I would prefer to address your issues {concerns? threats?} regarding {thingamabobby} housing project as I'm sure there may be others at the meeting who would be interested in hearing the concerns of you and your son, {insert son's name here}.

Thank you for your time with this very critical matter.

Cordially,

{your name goes here}

[havocmom]

25. All politics IS local & in too many small towns, particular churches are way to politically involved

They most certainly are economically involved. Fundy church in our area thinks they have a god given right to hold all the real jobs. Took some serious threats of lawsuits against a member who also works for a government agency before the practices at least went a bit more covert.

Don't have any answers, but I know first hand they make it tough for anyone who is not in their church. And they do not mind destroying the community to get their way. No ethics AT ALL. And not the least bit Christian either.

[Raven]

26. This has been a real eye-opener for me. These people consider

the rest of us from "the other world." One of them actually said that in regard to their son dating a non-fundy girl. She was from the other world sent to tempt him. The bizzare thing is that their kids are awful. They drink, smoke, have sex and tear up the towm. These people hate the police because they say "kids will be kids, we'll take care of our own."

[havocmom]

27. Members of the church here don't get speeding tickets, even at 84 MPH in a 25 zone

Damn the kids and old ladies out walking! Full speed ahead!

Same church as Sarah? Makes me think we need to pay attention. You are on one side of the nation, and I am on the other. Lotta small towns in between. This is not just a local quirk. It is a planned movement to impose religious rule on America, and we best take notice.

I know fundy groups encouraged members to run for local offices back in early 70s. They started flooding school boards. Education started really suffering in California about then. The BELIEVERS cut their teeth on local power and branched out. They are a definite minority but placing their brethren in strategic positions; like pharmacies where they deny proper medical care while lobbying for special laws to protect their personal views.

Glad last November went the way it did, but America is not outta danger yet. The Puritans are still trying to control the empire!

[Raven]

28. God! I hear you! This, I think, is a movement. We have an infiltration

of "Free Staters" in this part of NH. Somehow this fits together for me and I hate to think I'm paranoid. I had one of these fundys here tell me that all the public safety he needed was at the end of his gun. These people also say they don't need fire departments because "it's God's will" if someone's house burns down. They also have tons of kids and home school them so they don't need schools.I posted awhile ago that a minister up here, who I really respect, has issued a warning about this stuff. He's on the local college campus and sees infiltration of the free staters there. I have also heard that the Republicans are mounting an effort to take NH back. Where I work, I feel I'm on the front lines of this and it unnerves me. I retired up here...took a job because I got bored...don't need this kind of excitement but if it comes I'll face it....always have, always will.

[havocmom]

29. LOL Us gray warriors do have a battle or two to fight before we rest, Raven

I took a 'quiet little job' as the librarian. What a can of worms! That church had a strangle hold on the position for almost 20 years. The collection (or holes there in) shows the tender mercies of their tenure. Lots of subjects just not there.

They sure do try some interesting tactics to get control over me. Boy do THEY have a job on their hands! ;)

[Raven]

30. I ran a city of 100,000 outside of Boston in my prior life...I negotiated all of

the labor contracts...I had death threats...I was in my callow 30's...I don't have to work now and my kid is grown and educated. Bring it on! Just bring it fucking on! This thread has given me some extra info and courage!!!

[havocmom]

31. Been a Raven fan since about when you joined DU, know some of your history

;) Raven is a hero of mine.
Isn't it great when we find that the passion for fight for what is right does not necessarily fade as we get on a bit? It's nice to be able to spend energy on our passions after our offspring are well on their own. We have plenty to do. Crones of America, Unite!

[Raven]

32. Oh, you make me cry Havocmom! I guess we just keep on! :-)

[George_Bailey]

33. Nope

That's pretty much what I'd say. Ver batim.

George Bailey
http://welcomebacktopottersville.blogspot.com/

[brooklynite]

34. Use a good Bible quote...

Having not read the Bible, I can't give you one, but there has to be one on ethics and responsibility in there someplace...