DEAR EDITOR:
The term
”
shuck and jive
”
is an old ethnic phrase that basically means a
”
contemptible lie
”
.
DEAR EDITOR:
The term “shuck and jive” is an old ethnic phrase that basically means a “contemptible lie”. A term used in the Dispatch on Nov. 15 by a “gentleman” expressing his disappointment because he backed the wrong political horse in an old race. It is also ironic that the tantrum used to express his contempt for the school bond victory, that Mr. Brescoll should humiliate himself with his own “shuck and jive.”
Mr. Brescoll claims that The Dispatch had refused to print any letters that were in opposition to school bond Measure I in the last week before the election, but in the Nov. 4 edition of The Dispatch, the evening before the election, Mr. Brescoll’s letter of opposition took center page.
To further insult the intelligence of anyone who reads The Dispatch, Mr. Brescoll also attempts to “prove” that “Gilroyans” were ripped off. He uses spurious replication, to create a numbers game in which the same figures are used from two or more categories to create a “proof” of nothing but more “shuck and jive”.
According to Mr. Brescoll, “Of the 41,000-plus city population, (41,464 – 2000 census) 8,469 took the time and responsibility to cast a ballot.” This is how the numbers come out using the 2000 census for Gilroy. Of the 41,464 residents, 13,501 are under the age of 18 years old. That leaves 27,963 persons of voting age, of that number there is an unnumbered segment of non-citizens ineligible to vote.
Before I can estimate that number I must deduct the actual voters, which is 8,469. That leaves a total of 19,494. For sake of argument, say 1/4 of the adult voting population is ineligible to vote, we subtract 4,873, that leaves 14,621, the total that did not vote. Add in the 3,182 opposition voters. That equals an estimated 17,803 who did not vote or opposed the school bond.
Mr. Brescoll also alleged that “… just over 10 percent of “Gilroyans” burdened all Gilroy taxpayers with a 25-year millstone,” called improving public school facilities, for the sake of public education.
Mr. Brescoll’s phantom percentage factor alleges that the number of Measure I supporters represent only 10 percent of the total population or 5,297. Now did I miss something or did the 2000 census miss counting 11,406 people? If that is the case, then the school bond is at least 10 years overdue (growth projections for the year 2012 is about 52,000). The same as it would be if 5,287 represented 10 percent of today’s population.
Harold Williams, Hollister
Submitted Wednesday, Dec. 4
The Golden Quill is awarded occasionally for a well-written letter.
