This speaks to all of the ills of government writ small
When I read this story (H/T: NRO) I got angry - how DARE they think that they, officials of government, have the right to control their citizens this way! Then I became sad, knowing that the citizenry had not complained, these same officials would not have seen anything wrong.
The right to enter homes - just because I don't cut my grass or paint my house? Right, that rings well to how Americans like their government - intrusive and bullying, right? I have no problem if a house needs to be condemned, or there is sufficient evidence that there code violations (e.g., too many pets or people in a given building, holes in the structure, et al).Kenneth City delays decision on neatness ordinance
KENNETH CITY — Council members caved in to demands from an angry crowd and delayed approving a neatness ordinance until officials explain every word of the 26-page document to Kenneth City residents.
In what was estimated to be the largest crowd to ever attend a Kenneth City Council meeting, an outraged group of residents railed at the proposal that would regulate the upkeep of both the exterior and interior of all property in the town.
The proposal basically sets standards for upkeep and appearance and gives town officials the right to enter homes. If the owner refuses to allow the official to enter, the town can go to a judge for an "administrative search warrant" to allow access to the interior of buildings. Violations would cost up to $250 a day.
And, who is the boss of who here? Someone trying out for bully-in-chief?
Sounds like somebody needs to do some education at both of these town - officials and residents both! Oh, let's go back to the officials knowing their place:[snip]
Still others said town attorney Paul Marino was overstepping his bounds. Marino, who drafted the ordinance at the urging of the mayor and council, defended himself, saying he felt the audience was trying to shoot the scribe and that he was only doing his job. One person in the audience claimed that council member Al Carrier had driven by his house as a way of threatening him to drop his opposition to the ordinance. Carrier did not respond to the charge that he was abusing his office.
Others said the council needs to explain every part of the ordinance to residents and that after that, the residents should be consulted about redrafting the new rule, if necessary, to tailor it to Kenneth City's needs. As it is, the ordinance is a virtual copy of others in places like Fort Walton Beach and Belleair Beach.
Well, with this attitude, there's only one good thing to say - these folks have riled up the citizenry. And guess what?[snip]
"Let's see if you all show up for a workshop," Marino commented, adding he would go through the document paragraph by paragraph if that's what the council wished. And Carrier said, "If you are not here, you have nothing else to say."
The election is March 10.
As shown by this civics test, what have we lost in this country? How come our elders and parents have failed us so badly in passing on the fundamentals of our society? And it is unconscionable that our schools system have flunked the greatest test.
This is what you get when government decides that it knows better than you do how to run your life. This is what you get when elected officials either forget or deny that this country was founded with the idea of limiting what government should be able to do to its citizens. What seems to be at stake here? Nothing less than the philosophy of private property, illegal search and seizure, and free speech
And then people wonder why I try to limit what my government tries to do...
