Those citizens! They say the darndest things | TheNewsTribune.com | Tacoma, WA

In Pierce County’s case, speakers who don’t have nice things to say about council members are advised to say nothing at all. Speakers who violate the rule risk being cut off or removed from the room. Councilmembers say the rule is necessary to maintain decorum.

(Ironically, most county residents wouldn’t know whether it was maintaining decorum or not since the council decided 17 months ago to turn off cameras during the public comment period — a decision the council is now reconsidering.)

Yelm is a bit more specific in its ban on public comment. Speakers cannot say “Wal-Mart” or “big-box stores”? or “moratorium.”

The council apparently is fed up with people who criticize the council for not trying to stop a Wal-Mart that could dramatically change the small town. It says to remain objective, it cannot hear citizen concerns.

Here is another word neither the Pierce County or Yelm council will like: thin-skinned.

Elected officials have to expect to take some knocks. If they open their meetings to public comment, they have to expect knocks there.

How does one get elected without a clue about law, tradition, rights? mjh