Pass the Mic

Imagine for a moment that any citizen of the Untied States was allowed the opportunity to express their concerns directly by speaking in front of the collected group of senators on Capitol Hill. This would be a triumph of democracy and Listening to the Voices of the People, right?

Wrong. It would be unrestrained disaster. For every Joe or Sally citizen lined up behind the microphone with legitimate concerns there would be several cranks and loudmouths from the tinfoil-hat brigade eager to rant about the IRS, alien abductions, or every conceivable petty civic squabble. Instead of legislating on behalf of the voters our representative body would be constantly flogged and brutalized by vox populi.

Thank goodness most Republicans and Democrats can fathom the true nature of representative democracy, and no such cockamamie forum has been put in place. As citizens our wishes are expressed in two year increments at the ballot box, and not by direct participation. We do have the option of expressing opinions to our representatives by mail or phone, maintaining weblogs, or engaged in the archaic act writing letters to newspaper editors. Or, if we feel worked up about something, we can storm the Mall in D.C. to have a fun protest march with all of our likeminded pals.

Now I see the news about potential rules which might limit direct public input to discussion at the Cincinnati city council. On the local blogs there are the same predictable charges of fascism leveled against anyone who thinks there should be anything less than unlimited, undisciplined public comment. Even the notion of respect for the seriousness of public proceedings is derided as a tyrannical, oppressive limitation. If Colonel R.J. Puffinsby wants to read a poem that expresses his feelings about the trash disposal service - so goes the argument - who are we to deny him that right?

We can be reassured that those who adore the culture of complaint will speak up on his behalf. Meanwhile the rest of us have some reason to think positively: New Mayor Mark Mallory has asked the people of the city to ask themselves "What are you going to do to make our city better?" And maybe I'm just an old conservative bastard, but see that as a directive on personal responsibility. Instead of pointing fingers at city council, instead of focusing with dreary intensity on what others are doing wrong we should instead be at work improving our neighborhoods, supporting the local economy, and doing our part to make the city flourish.

If we do all of that and our elected officials manage to screw it up - then we throw them out on their arses and put a better crop of politicians in office.