Comments on: Town Council: Public Comment Is a Privilege, Not a Right

By: Mike Kuzma, Jr

Mike Kuzma, Jr — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 16:42:31 +0000

Tacitus told us millennia ago . . .

“The more numerous the laws, the more corrupt the government.”

I could have SWORN that I kept hearing — ONLY during the W years — that dissent is the highest form of patriotism.

True or not?

By: Sandy Mayer

Sandy Mayer — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:39:32 +0000

Obnoxious sign wavers and unreasonable demands have nothing to do with Hitler.

We established and voted for our leaders. Let them do their job and lead.

If you want something done you have to go through the proper channels or all you have is chaos.

By: Mike Kuzma, Jr

Mike Kuzma, Jr — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 16:26:45 +0000

If I am not mistaken, the opprobium concerns the COUNCIL not following proper protocol. So, if I follow you, Ve must do vat the Government DEMANDS of us, and no disruption vill be tolerated!!

IMHO, you have the ABSOLUTE right to be ‘disruptive’ since members of our Armed Forces have DIED for us to have that right.

And in case I was too obtuse, HITLER was a firm believer in not allowing dissent.

To those of us on the Right, it goes like this……..

“I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

Gah, it’ s sad what happened to our Country.

By: Sandy Mayer

Sandy Mayer — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 03:11:25 +0000

I am sure that if proper protocol was observed by the speakers and sign carriers, there would be no need for extra rules and regulations.

If you are deliberately disruptive to a meeting of local government, you will be asked to leave and it has nothing to do with freedom of speech.

You do not have the right to be disruptive in any public meeting, Boy Scouts, church or the Town Council of Cape Charles.

By: Mike Kuzma, Jr

Mike Kuzma, Jr — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 16:38:40 +0000

Mr. Sacco & Mr. Munz, the America you grew up in and fought for has rejected your values and ethics.

Government for the People, by the People and of the People has been replaced with an imperial presidency and we all know that leadership starts at the top.

Expect ALL governments to eschew the will of the People and proceed as they darn well please.

We, the People sacrificed the great American birthright of Freedom, Liberty and Individual Freedom for gifts from the government. We have gone from a land of Makers to a land of Takers.

Mr. Gay, in regards to your comments on Free Speech, I direct you to the many many articles and speeches from leading liberal lights over the last four years regarding how ‘free speech’ is highly over-rated. Professor Eric Posner of the University of Chicago wrote a particularly vile piece.

To all commenters above, keep the faith and continue to fight the good fight!

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

By: David Gay

David Gay — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 15:15:38 +0000

As a veteran I agree with Tony and Roger. Are there any other veterans who think that free speech is a privilege and not a right? I doubt it but if there are I would like to hear from you.

By: Wayne Creed

Wayne Creed — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 23:21:35 +0000

Thank you Tony and Roger for bringing light to the intellectual darkness that is descending on this serfdom. I understand that you did not go to war to defend our freedoms ‘just for kicks,” and you know better than we the state of things here. Decorum, order, civility, punctilio, politesse are just tools of the trade: http://youtu.be/5Xd_zkMEgkI

By: Jennie Rogers

Jennie Rogers — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:51:07 +0000

Having worked for the Town back in 2002 until 2004, it comes as no surprise that there are many council members (of which the majority aren’t even from the Shore) who think [ . . . ] — and it is beginning to show. The colors of the Town were revealed to me after getting a $400,000 grant for the town, in which I in turn gave my 40% towards the match — and was denied a raise. I got nothing for that experience and barely a thank-you and not even a note about my hard work when it was in the paper. The [. . .] is about to hit the fan. So I think I will sit back and watch. The Town will reap what it has sown!

By: Roger L. Munz

Roger L. Munz — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:18:14 +0000

The town council once again is alienating the public, instead of working with the public to resolve problems. They are setting themselves above the law in using the “us” and “them” theme. Is the town council so afraid to listen to divergent opinions? Shame on you! Is this America, or a take off of Cuba, or perhaps Iran. I DON’T LIKE THIS, AND THE DIRECTION YOU ARE HEADING. Please stop and reconsider your actions. This doesn’t sound like the America I grew up in, and fought for.

By: Bruce Lindeman

Bruce Lindeman — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:16:56 +0000

Just for kicks, Google “town rules of decorum for meetings”. I think you’ll see pages and pages of links to similar rules of decorum returned to your browser. Many towns have similar rules in place already. I don’t think that the town is trying to squelch “freedom of speech” but simply trying to place legitimate paramaters around those rights for the purposes of maintaining order in these meetings so that the meetings remain productive. We, as citizens, can and should speak. But, the Golden Rule should remain in effect in these meetings as it should in all of our affairs.