Nashua has a problem. It is swirling the bowl, to the left, in a predictable downward turn. A Nashua Rep. wants to label online engagement with public officials as harassment. There is a move to constrain requests for public documents under the state’s right to know law. Even the School District is into suppressing speech.
The Nashua School Board, like most liberal-leaning organs, isn’t genuinely interested in public comment. They only put up with it because they must. Public comment wastes time. And it does. They have no intention of listening to anyone who disagrees with the majority.
More often than not, public comment is a game for the Left where people who agree with a proposed board policy advocate to give the impression of public support. It’s not uncommon for the left to use the public comment time to target political opposition.
It’s a game you are meant to lose, especially in increasingly liberal bowl-swirling cities like Nashua.
Only in rare circumstances of overwhelming public outrage or obvious legal threat will they listen. And then, more than likely, ending the meeting to stop the momentum against them. Call it a night, and hey, we’ll think hard about what was said and take this all up again at the next meeting.
But why wait until that happens. Why not do whatever you can to intimidate people into not speaking at all. Take a look at this.
Before Wednesday the 20th, this was just a sign-up sheet. No warnings or disclaimers, which we’ll call speech intimidation. You can talk if you want to risk it. But certain comments may subject the speaker to legal action?
And how about the bit at the bottom. Please do not air our dirty laundry in public. We’ve got a quiet unpublic process for that. So, no complaining about how we do our jobs. That includes (I assume) administrators, teachers, staff, board members, and especially the Superintendent.
Out of the ‘Blue’
No one wants to take credit for the change as of this writing, but the odds-on favorite is Superintendent Jahmal Mosley. He’s got that career bureaucrat vibe. Protect the citadel at all costs. This is not surprising. The ruling class political culture in Nashua is on a fast track to limit or end the nattering class (taxpayers) who keep bogging down the machine of government with their ceaseless inquiries and interruptions.
This preamble to the School Board Meeting sign-up sheet is just the latest example.
It’s a real shame the people of Nashua don’t take their elections (or violations of election law) seriously. You just rubberstamped the same crowd that’s got it out for you. That includes the head-nodding Democrats who think these sorts of moves are a good idea because they presume it protects policies or positions they support.
First, that’s mob rule. Second, registering as a Democrat does not protect or exclude you from their hubris. You are not allowed to disagree with them either.
Maybe the Nashua City Republican committee will have better luck in the legislative elections in 2018. Perhaps they’ll get involved in publicly challenging all of these anti-free-speech moves. Show public support for people in government who oppose them. Make a spectacle of this creeping tyranny. Talk about it loudly and often.
Maybe?
