IT’S A BLOGGERS WORLD

During the election of 2007 something interesting was going on that maybe all of you did not see. Along with the daily and weekly articles about the campaign in your local newspapers, there was also some great reporting about the campaign on what are known as “the blogs.”

Blog web sites have gone from being behind the scene in politics to a contagious addition for people who want information 24/7.

Along with writing weekly for the Enfield Press newspaper I also have one of these web logs (Blog). I created the “Stokes Report” (www.gregtstokes.blogspot.com) two years ago after the 2005 town election. The goal when I began my blog was to give the Enfield resident’s a source of information that focused on their local community. It was also a way of getting out the minority viewpoint during times of disagreement when town government was in heated debates.

Over the past two years I have written editorials about politics, town events, and local organizations making a difference in Enfield. I also have covered State and National issues that I saw as important to the citizens of our town.

There are many other blogs that I would recommend for you edification. One that I enjoy reading and drawing knowledge from is www.ctlocalpolitics.net. The insight and dialog in this web log provides the reader with a wide range of information from Enfield, to Hartford and even Washington D.C.

During this years election the Blogs were active with daily information about the campaign. Candidates were able to answer surveys and you the reader were able to give your feedback in the comment areas. I found the “local blog world” to be a great asset to any of us who wanted to know the issues and understand the candidates running for office.

Now with every good thing that pops up on the web there is always a negative.

Although Blogs provide a great service to the community, some people have taken advantage of the open dialog for their own destructive purpose.

The worst offenders are the people who comment without giving their name. They log on and make comments under the name “anonymous” for the sole purpose on slandering good people and distracting the voter attention with mistruths.

This was true during the 2007 municipal elections in Enfield. On many of the Blogs you could read “post” that would demean a candidate or spin an issue, with the author of the comment hiding behind a made up screen name to hide their identity.

Of course all intelligent people will see this for what it is, a political tactic to win an election by using negative personal attacks. Well, the Enfield voters were too smart for this and voted people into office based on the issues.

Now, we will still get our news from the local newscast and town papers, but I believe the Blogs will grow into a great source for clarity of issues and open dialog in the future. So, check out my blog, as well as the many others on the web to truly know what is going on in your town.

Before I end this article I want to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving. I hope we all stop and give thanks for all of Gods blessings on us. The Stokes family is especially blessed as we welcome to the world another grand daughter. Izabel Lewanda Stokes Best was born Friday morning, November 16, 2007.

Remember also to think of others during this Holiday Season. The Enfield Food Shelf is in great need of food and financial help now through Christmas.

Greg Stokes