Give better reasons, not louder ones

Letter to the editor

To the editor:
   In his recent editorial supporting expansion of the Trenton Mercer Airport, Tom Kramer of Lawrenceville adopts what seems to be the current strategy of airport proponents: If they raise their volume enough perhaps no one will notice the absence of any convincing arguments.
   Mr. Kramer reduces the debate to two armed camps, the "Me" people versus the "We" people. Anyone who thinks an un-airport thought is nothing more than a spoiled member of the Me Generation, acting counter to the will of the people. According to his math, about 100 people showing up at a freeholder meeting somehow represents the majority of the Mercer County population.
   I consider myself in the true majority of Mercer County citizens: those who will make a decision based on a reasoned review of the facts presented by all interested parties. Neither "Me" nor "We". No name calling. No villains. Just whether it makes sense.
   And the reality is that supporters of airport expansion just haven’t come up with the goods. They’ve yet to make a valid case that our tax dollars should be used to support the interests of a relative few. They’ve dangled some very questionable benefits before the eyes of the public and failed to address the anticipated detriments.
   Perhaps that’s why they now feel the need to go on the attack through letters such as Mr. Kramer’s, and by clumping themselves at freeholder meetings to make themselves appear bigger than they are.
   If airport expansion supporters (as well as opponents) want to reach the hearts and minds of the true majority of Mercer County residents and businesses, it will take more than just making their voices louder and belittling anyone who disagrees. Give us the facts. And if your arguments aren’t strong enough, simply repeating them more vigorously won’t make them any better.
Gene Truncellito
Lawrenceville