Tuesday’s city council meeting was (relatively) brief and uneventful. That’s the third in a row that I’ve described that way. It’s been the case ever since the council returned from its every-other-week summer schedule. You might infer that the summer schedule’s doubling up of content was the cause of the lengthier meetings that all seemed to end chaotically, but that was how meetings went even before the summer so something else has changed. As I wrote last week, this is an observation, not a critique.
Wise advice on heading off the movement to high jack our democracy. We must not allow zealots and demagogues to succeed in their efforts of purposely throwing the sands of hate and fear in the gears of local government in order to make it unmanageable unless it caters to the demands of their bullying. What's next, a petition to approve lynch mobs? If enough people sign one, is that supposed to intimidate local officials from ignoring the law and handing over those the mob wants to terrorize so that they won't be attacked by the mob themselves. You are correct, we need to ANTICIPATE this coming "storm" and prepare our barricades now so that we can withstand it when it comes. Democracy, not mob rule.
Another brilliant column, Dick. We are so grateful for your insights.
Wise advice on heading off the movement to high jack our democracy. We must not allow zealots and demagogues to succeed in their efforts of purposely throwing the sands of hate and fear in the gears of local government in order to make it unmanageable unless it caters to the demands of their bullying. What's next, a petition to approve lynch mobs? If enough people sign one, is that supposed to intimidate local officials from ignoring the law and handing over those the mob wants to terrorize so that they won't be attacked by the mob themselves. You are correct, we need to ANTICIPATE this coming "storm" and prepare our barricades now so that we can withstand it when it comes. Democracy, not mob rule.