DEMOCRACY IN ST CHARLES COUNTY, MISSOURI
It has become obvious to many who attend public meetings that some elected officials have an over reactive need to “feel in control.” Of course, public participation that might be a vehicle for criticism is greatly feared by some politicians and they predictably over react to suggestions that they aren’t “in control.” People sometimes leave meetings angered and dissatisfied with political leadership that engages in restricting lawful freedom of expression. St Peters public meetings are as good an illustration of what we have described as any in the County, but other political bodies are also guilty of dramatically restricting freedom of expression.
Free expression is killed by the enactment of elaborate rules accompanied by phony assertions such as, "restrictions are necessary to maintain order," or dumb actions like roping off sections of seating (as in St Peters), drastically limiting or changing speaking times and having members of the public “escorted” from the room for exercising the right of free speech. FOX News investigative reporter Elliott Davis recently... (read more)
...illustrated some of what the St Peters Board of Aldermen were doing in a YOU PAID FOR IT segment.
All too often, politicians exhibit resentment when questioned publicly, and they promote ways to inhibit public participation and comment. Officials who conduct meetings have allowed sympathizers and themselves, of course, to break the rules as long as comments are “flattering” and seem to be “agreeable.” They will strictly enforce the "rules," interrupt speakers and engage in all sorts of disruption themselves if they hear criticism. This sort of censorship at public meetings is outrageous. Politicians who support unreasonable restrictions on freedom of expression should be voted out of office.
There is a tendency on the part of some elected officials to feel they are especially “gifted” at knowing what the public “really wants,’’ so they feel no need to hear anything but "sweetness and flattery." Criticism is more characteristic of American Democracy than flattery. Perhaps we are moving in the direction of developing a Middle Eastern monarchy or an African tribal system where the head guy's most enthusiastic bootlickers get rewarded with "goodies." We recognize, as do most citizens, the need for an orderly conduct of the people’s business, but the public should not allow trumped up excuses to be used to shut down free expression. Our troops are fighting in Iraq to give Iraqis the right of free expression and yet here, in St Charles County, we have politicians who are working hard to suppress it. I guess some politicians in this country get by with it because, in our lifetime, we have never been denied freedom and, therefore, we take it for granted. Well, wake up folks, in some jurisdictions in St Charles County, Missouri, certain politicians are eroding your freedom of expression because they think you are distracted and you don't care.
