Power corrupts
There's a certain type of person who simply can't be trusted to wield any sort of power. You know the type -- they were the self-important, arrogant jackasses in your high school class who somehow managed to avoid having reality give them a good kick in the butt.
Today's example is something that probably went under the radar in the run up to the Thanksgiving holiday. On Tuesday night, the board of trustees of MiraCosta College -- a junior college in north coastal San Diego County -- voted to make sure nobody criticizes the public trust their little club.
The Code of Ethics approved yesterday calls for the publicly elected board members “to speak with one voice once a decision is made or policy adopted.” They are also to “abide and uphold the final majority decision.”
An ad-hoc committee of three board members would be created to investigate any allegations that a trustee had violated the code, and any offender would be barred from future closed sessions.
Also, according to the new policy, only the board president may speak to the media.
To illustrate just how ridiculous this is -- and undoubtedly unconstitutional -- let's put it in larger terms. Suppose the House of Representatives passed a similar measure. Only Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House, can speak to the media. Republicans, and even dissident Democrats, are not allowed to criticize any bills passed by the majority.
If you can't do it at the national level, you can't do it at the school board level either. Seriously, how do these twits get elected? What the board needs to do is trash this "ethics code" and go to a refresher course on the democratic process.
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Here's the code, sir: if conservatives tried this, the ACLU would be in court yesterday to have it struck down.
If liberals do it, the ACLU is invisible, because its okay if liberals do not follow the Constitution.
Understand now?