Violated trust does harm
Merrimack County Judge Dan St. Hilaire has stated that the changes to the settlement plan for survivors of severe abuse at the former youth detention center fail to show evidence of “immediate irreparable harm” to them. I disagree. By changing the rules mid-prosecution, this actually causes irreparable harm to all of us and to our government. Government rests on the trust of the people — trust that those elected and appointed will have the integrity to do what they say they will. This broken promise effects those abused in a very personal way, in fact adding to the powerlessness that abuse victims may feel. It also affects me and you. In a time of such turmoil between citizens and each other, and citizens and the government, those currently in power in our state government have shown us that their word is meaningless. What will be next?