Reprinted - click here for the original blog in its entirety: http://exit59.wordpress.com/2014/09/26/democracy-is-a-two-way-street
Complaining is a venerable tradition in American politics, and no one should ever feel embarrassed to engage in constructive and informed criticism of their elected representatives. Indeed, a vigorous exchange between the people and their government is not only valuable but essential. Any politician who wearies of being on the receiving end of such feedback should think hard about whether they’re cut out for public office.
Sadly, recent events at the municipal and county levels make clear that the shared responsibility for a productive relationship between the public and its politicians can easily deteriorate to the point of dysfunction....
...Meanwhile, down in Columbus, reaction to the decision of the Polk County Board of Commissioners to restrict public comments during their meetings reminded us that something is very wrong at the other end of the tug-of-war rope. Instead of allowing comments after each agenda item, the public is now limited to speaking at each meeting’s outset, before any item is discussed, and only for three minutes. The challenge for anyone interested in a sincere dialogue is made all the worse when the controlling commissioners add an item to the agenda without notice. This forces the public to show up for every meeting, on the off chance that something substantial will find its way onto the agenda at the last minute. Why the change?[Commissioner Tom] Pack said on Aug. 4 that the previous meeting was a “zoo” with citizen comments being out of order and people slamming their fists on the podium and the chairman’s gavel banging repeatedly. Pack said the board is not getting a lot of constructive ideas and discussions are becoming political footballs.
This should have come as no surprise to Pack and his fellow non-Democratic commissioners, whose actions make a mockery of responsible government. The$179,000 payoff to former Polk County Manager Ryan Whitson, a move that was only made necessary when the commissioners chose to replace the widely respected manager with one of their Republican colleagues, is one example. Another is the invitation afforded to Pastor Thomas Olson to deliver an invocation that was so filled with bigotry and hatred that any respectable board would have immediately issued an apology and meekly vowed never to do that again.
Do the four Republican commissioners really expect the people of the county to accept malfeasance without complaint? It is the height of hypocrisy to treat the public with contempt and and feign surprise when the response is less than polite. (I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!)
At the core of genuine democracy is the public’s inalienable right to complain. But citizens also have an obligation to stay informed. If they can do the latter, nothing should stand in their way of doing the former.
Complaining is a venerable tradition in American politics, and no one should ever feel embarrassed to engage in constructive and informed criticism of their elected representatives. Indeed, a vigorous exchange between the people and their government is not only valuable but essential. Any politician who wearies of being on the receiving end of such feedback should think hard about whether they’re cut out for public office.
Sadly, recent events at the municipal and county levels make clear that the shared responsibility for a productive relationship between the public and its politicians can easily deteriorate to the point of dysfunction....
...Meanwhile, down in Columbus, reaction to the decision of the Polk County Board of Commissioners to restrict public comments during their meetings reminded us that something is very wrong at the other end of the tug-of-war rope. Instead of allowing comments after each agenda item, the public is now limited to speaking at each meeting’s outset, before any item is discussed, and only for three minutes. The challenge for anyone interested in a sincere dialogue is made all the worse when the controlling commissioners add an item to the agenda without notice. This forces the public to show up for every meeting, on the off chance that something substantial will find its way onto the agenda at the last minute. Why the change?[Commissioner Tom] Pack said on Aug. 4 that the previous meeting was a “zoo” with citizen comments being out of order and people slamming their fists on the podium and the chairman’s gavel banging repeatedly. Pack said the board is not getting a lot of constructive ideas and discussions are becoming political footballs.
This should have come as no surprise to Pack and his fellow non-Democratic commissioners, whose actions make a mockery of responsible government. The$179,000 payoff to former Polk County Manager Ryan Whitson, a move that was only made necessary when the commissioners chose to replace the widely respected manager with one of their Republican colleagues, is one example. Another is the invitation afforded to Pastor Thomas Olson to deliver an invocation that was so filled with bigotry and hatred that any respectable board would have immediately issued an apology and meekly vowed never to do that again.
Do the four Republican commissioners really expect the people of the county to accept malfeasance without complaint? It is the height of hypocrisy to treat the public with contempt and and feign surprise when the response is less than polite. (I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!)
At the core of genuine democracy is the public’s inalienable right to complain. But citizens also have an obligation to stay informed. If they can do the latter, nothing should stand in their way of doing the former.