Jan 31
Tags: Governemnt,Stupidity
BLOGGERS — a threat to national security? “Good. We should not fear our government, our government should fear us.” Heh. Indeed. Full story here.
James Joyner has some pungent thoughts.
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Just posted this in the SG letter story chat in response to Timothy Cota’s letter to the editor in today’s SG.
It was a good opening to bring up Jim Hare’s comments at the end of the 1/23/08 council meeting. Part (but not all) of the comments were printed in the SG on 1/23/08.
Hare took it upon himself to call those of us who have said anything about John Ryan’s appointment ’self appointed watch dogs’, ‘blogger babblers’, and ‘bomb throwers’. Bill,he mentioned you using the name ‘Bill’ but he only quoted me. Didn’t use my name though. :^(
He said we are “bomb throwers and the collateral damage is besmirching an attorney who is a pillar of integrity in this community”. I think he meant me. Anyway, he “would ask these people to cease and desist.”
Does he want me to not exercise my 1st amendment right? Methinks so!
Joined: 06 Jan 2007
Posts: 697
PostPosted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:49 pm Post subject: Edit Delete
“We can keep our reps honest only by staying engaged and letting them know we are watching. The only way we can have their backs is if we are breathing down their necks.”~~Timothy M. Cota
Mr. Cota, you are absolutely correct. And although you are speaking of the national government, your statement extends to local and regional government as well.
We all need to keep a very close eye on what our elected officials (as well as their appointees) are doing. Inappropriate people are often elected and/or appointed and frequently are not challenged when they should be.
As do you, I have an interest in our government but my interest is primarily in local government. I like to know how effectively our local tax dollars are being spent and when I see something going on that I feel is ill-advised, I tend to speak up in public and private meetings as well as on blogs.
Such activity brings with it a certain infamy and one must be prepared to have one’s First Amendment Rights challenged in addition to being called a few choice names.
During a recent Elmira Council meeting I listened as Councilman Jim Hare spoke of ’self appointed watch-dogs’, ‘bomb throwers’ and ‘blogger babblers’ as he denounced those of us (myself included) who have actively spoken against the appointment John Ryan as Elmira’s Corporate Counsel.
For those who don’t know, John Ryan was affiliated with a former Elmira city administration and made some rather poor decisions. He recently resigned the Elmira School District following several very poor decisions. While popular with the current administration, Ryan’s history of previous poor decisions makes him, in my humble opinion, completely inappropriate to be appointed to the important position of Elmira’s Corporate Counsel.
It would behoove the public in general to take a much more keen interest in the actions of local, state, and national leaders and bring those individuals to task when their activities/decisions/behaviors need to be questioned or explained.
As you say, Mr. Cota: “Breathe down their necks.” To so do takes considerable intestinal fortitude. In many cases, unless called to accountability, elected and appointed officials will overstep better judgment and act upon what appear to be personal agendas that benefit the good of the few as opposed to the good of the many.
Public servants, who are invariably well paid, should be kept in line by those whom they are supposed to be serving.
Mr. Cota, I applaud your interest in government.
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“The budget will never balance when spending exceeds income”…Fred D. Thompson
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Get used to the future Mr. Hare, it is here and not going anywhere.
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yup, ah do! I’ll be in touch.
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