Front Page  »  

Our constitutional responsibility

February 20, 2010

BY NOEL FOERST

Unhappy with water development plans drafted by Paso Robles City officials, a group of residents formed to take part in their local government.

For this action, they’ve encountered the ire of Tribune columnists and editors, along with KPRL radio talk show hosts, all clinging to the concept that local government officials can do no wrong, and the rest of us should just stand back and pay up.

Newspapers and KPRL at their best are trumpets for the people. At their worst, they are advertiser-driven flutes for the established powers, assisting in stifling dissent by the people.

That a newspaper and a local radio station would use their bully pulpits to criticize people for getting involved in local government is appalling.

KPRL and the Tribune’s rhetoric at these grassroots efforts is bizarre and insulting to the very people it purports to serve.

Whenever people strive to take part in important community decisions, they should be praised, and not reviled.

The citizens of Paso Robles have spoken at the November election and want our City officials to take a different approach to an expensive public works project. Citizens’ wishes are not to be brushed off as irrelevant. We reside in a Republic, and have a right to peaceful and productive dissent.

Noel Foerst is a retired law enforcement officer living in Paso Robles.


Loading...
Subjects:             
Related:


4 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

The People of Paso Robles spoke when they approved spending the money to build the Water Project initially. Of course everyone forgets that vote when they must pay for it.


0

ARon, And on what date can you tell us were the funds actually approved by the voters? A few lackeys in Paso Robles still believe the electorate of Paso Robles approved the spending of the bond money to build the Nacimiento pipeline. If you are not one of those few I would encourage you to inform us better by reporting the date of voter approval of the bonds. Thanks!


0

Welcome to Los Osos!


0

Ditto Mr. Foerst!


I am reminded of the quote, “Newspapers always excite curiosity. No one ever lays one down without a feeling of disappointment” (Charles Lamb, 1833).


The Tribune doesn’t even excite curiosity — particularly when it comes to public affairs. And to pick one UP, let alone lay it down, is all too often a rendezvous with disappointment.


0