Re: Pick the bones out of this | Forum

PeterH Feb 5, 2006 19:53:32

Replying to nigelswift

While I applaud the sentiments you express - haven't we learned that confrontation doesn't get us anywhere? If we want them to listen shouldn't we try to establish a platform before exchanging insults? The last thing we need is to drive influential people into a corner. Once there - their views harden to save face. We have to find a way to allow them to go our way without having to admit they have got it wrong and done nothing useful for decades. Machiavelli would convince them that Nigel's concept was really their own.

Littlestone Feb 5, 2006 20:02:53

Replying to PeterH

>Machiavelli would convince them that Nigel's concept was really their own.<

Ah, this is also true (scrunches banner and considers new tack).

nigelswift Feb 5, 2006 20:14:58

Replying to PeterH

Peter, Machiavelli was my great great uncle on both my mother's and father's side, fear not. And I'm also well aware ot the value of reasonableness. (You may be surprised to know that HA get on very affably with EH on a number of local low profile issues).

However, the "establishment" is by no means single minded on this issue. EH are extremely keen to build a multi multi-million Countess East Visitors CentreTheme Park. To follow the logic of what we're talking about here would render that unnecessary. I would be pleased about that. So perhaps would you. I'm not sure how any campaign by us can do other than bring us into head to head confrontation with EH's vision. On the other hand, it would align us with an awful lot of other important people. Isn't it healthy that the issue should come to a head rather in a sector-wide debate rather than be resolved unilaterally?
It won't be us that decides, it will be the merits of the case, and no-one will have cause to complain. Let's air it, widely, and see what happens.