Thomas Jefferson wrote, in a letter to William S. Smith on November 13th, 1787 that “the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time”:
God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. … And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to the facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.
Of course, we aren’t talking about taking up arms, just separating a few certain folks from their jobs.
Dave Kanner called me at the start of business hours this morning returning my call. As the Bulletin reports top and center on the front page this morning, two out of three county commissioners decided to abstain from signing the DCDDAA contract today.
Therefore I have to retract some of my previous comments; this government did in fact follow the will of the electorate. Dave mentioned that the county does face some legal exposure by delaying; obviously this is not the same as the exposure they face from signing a contract protecting employees which Flaherty intends to disrupt.
Of the decision makers, who is most supportive of the DCDDAA? It appears to be County Commissioner Alan Unger and County Attorney Mark Pilliod.
The Bulletin reports that Unger moved to sign the union contract immediately. Alan was quoted as saying that the county is “stuck between a rock and a hard spot.” In essence, Alan wanted to put the county at further financial jeopardy yesterday. Two more sensible commissioners struck him down.
Apparently, the (soon-to-be) fired DDAs are likely to counter with a suit claiming unfair termination for union involvement. Yet, if the union contract was approved yesterday, the terminated DDAs would have much more solid ground to sue to the county. It’s only logical that Commissioners Luke and Baney decided against this stupid course of action. The Bulletin also quotes Unger as saying “I would rather see it on the bottom side of a half-million dollars than on the top side.” Actions speak louder than words, and Unger clearly acted to make it on the top side of a half-million dollars (or more). Unfortunately Alan Unger’s term does not expire on December 31st, 2010 like Baney and Luke’s do. (Baney is re-elected for another 4 year term, and Luke is replaced by Tony DeBone, who will be an excellent commissioner.)
Mark Pilliod is reported by the Bulletin to have dismissed Flaherty’s accusation that imposing restrictions with the union contract would frustrate voters. Yet letters like mine from last month (and the Bulletin’s from yesterday) clearly show this is not the case, these letters show that we are very frustrated by his interference to protect his buddies.
“They voted in favor of Patrick Flaherty and not in favor of Mike Dugan,” Pilliod said. “Did they say something else? Did they say, ‘We want the house to be cleaned?’ Are there members of the District Attorney’s Office that need to be terminated?”
Yes. Clean it up, guys. What if people had confidence in our DA? That would be a first. Twenty three years is too long for anyone with this much power. Put everyone in the DA’s office and the court system on notice that we expect them to act with the same level of honesty and integrity that these institutions imbue with their tall stone buildings and meticulously maintained walkways. We pay for the buildings to have integrity, what about the people inside?
Was Thomas Jefferson suggesting in his 1787 letter that we re-form our government every 20 years? That’s exactly what’s happening right now. Patrick Flaherty knows that anyone, including himself, who stays in this position of power for over twenty years is not going to be serving the interests of justice, freedom and liberty. Flaherty has been fighting these fascists as a defense lawyer. He knows better than most about their unethical, immoral exercises of power. If he could prove their intent, he could label some of their moves as illegal. That’s a lot of work; as we see, just firing them has turned into a huge debacle. He’s cleaning the house, please step out of his way.