To the Editor:
The whole fiasco was unnecessary. It’s infuriating to read that $2 million to $3 million was wasted, especially in light of the decision to raise ferry rates. We, the people, are paying for this mistake, although we had nothing to do with creating it. In fact, we tried to be heard, but our voices fell on deaf ears.
There is absolutely no accountability for this debacle. In fact, the general manager is being rewarded for his ineptitude by staying on as “senior advisor”? A man who ignored advice is now giving advice? How absurd.
Unless those involved learn not only what happened, but more importantly how and why it happened, costly errors will continue. We are too quick to point the finger at a single person, when many people and an entire system are involved. I hope there is a thorough process to understand, and correct, the factors that enabled this fiasco, and an examination of what could have been done to avoid or stop it, but wasn’t.
If I learn only how to correct an error, but not what led to it, I am doomed to make additional errors until I understand the underlying causes — be they wrong assumptions, faulty thinking, etc.
Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, one of the world’s most successful and influential hedge funds, lost his own and his investors’ money early in his career by a single move. When the money was gone, he set out to understand not what happened — the answer to that was obvious — but how it happened. Only then could this flaw and all its subsequent errors be avoided going forward. Dalio concluded hubris was the flaw — believing in his own abilities above all else, and not hearing from other experts, especially those who would challenge and correct his assumptions, his thinking and conclusions. He has since addressed this underlying factor by surrounding himself with experts who challenge his thinking. Better yet, they have ideas of their own, and the collective intelligence is more than the sum of the parts.
Anne Perschel
Chilmark
P.S.: After writing this letter, I realized that I too failed to be aware, vocal, and accountable for vital services in my own community. Why did I not know Massachusetts has an inspector general who serves as a watchdog for taxpayers, and investigates mismanagement of funds, among other things?
The answer: Because I rely on those with official responsibilities, in this case the board of governors, to be accountable. I failed to live up to my own responsibility to understand the board’s bylaws, and to be an aware active citizen in my own community. I attended one public meeting. Was dissatisfied with what I saw. Went home and did nothing more.
Next step: Call the inspector general to request a thorough postmortem and recommendations to be shared with the general public and elected officials for the purpose of addressing underlying problems with the Steamship Authority.
