A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.
This quote, attributed to Samuel Butler who lived in the 1600s, is also quoted in Dale Carnegie’s 1936 self-help book How to Win Friends and Influence People.
Aptly so, the quote appears in a particular chapter titled You Can’t Win an Argument.
This is where the City of Dumaguete finds itself in.
The impasse between the City Council and the City Mayor over the 2024 budget has forced both parties to draw the line, and neither refuses to budge from their position, all in the name of good governance and public service.
On social media, you can find both sides ventilating their positions, and not a few socmed users have given their ten cents worth of what should be done instead.
True, a public debate might convince the audience, but will it convince the other side?
A proven recipe for winning an argument is that you do it in a one-on-one conversation. Don’t do it in public, and treat it as a joint initiative for discovery, rather than a contest.
That is why we laud the efforts of Vice Mayor Maisa Sagarbarria and some Councilors who want to go the extra mile, and meet with the Mayor to find a solution to this impasse.
We remain optimistic this time-honored solution will find a quick settlement/agreement to the problem whereby the City will benefit with having an approved budget for this year soonest.
