Comments on: State Attorney Completes Consolidation Study Commission Probe http://www.northescambia.com/2010/04/state-attorney-completes-consolidation-study-commission-probe Local News for Molino, Bratt, McDavid, Century, Walnut Hill, Cantonment Sat, 11 Apr 2026 12:01:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: David Huie Green http://www.northescambia.com/2010/04/state-attorney-completes-consolidation-study-commission-probe/comment-page-1#comment-39433 David Huie Green Sun, 18 Apr 2010 21:38:18 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=16159#comment-39433 REGARDING: "Why do people engaged in public business lose their 1st Amendment Right to speak and associate with whomever they wish whenever they wish about any topic they wish? I do not believe that the broad domain of the Sunshine Law is constitutional as it too arbitrarily limits the speech rights of individuals." I wonder about the Constitutionality myself every now and then. On the other hand, they actually are not forbidden to speak or associate. They are forbidden to do it in secret. I sometimes enjoy imagining every official having to wear a wrist device with audio, video and GPS recording, available to all to review. Sure it would deny right of privacy of public officials, but that is part of the concept of "public" officials. The real idea is based on a futile attempt to force politicians to be honest. If they are allowed to meet privately with potential sources of money, surprisingly many of them vote the way the sources of money desire and they receive money in return. When not done by Congress, this is called bribery. Consider commissioners who met with contractors who gave to their campaign funds and then convinced other commissioners to throw out a bid to favor the contributor. Consider WD giving money to Willie Junior to vote to buy land at an elevated price, ultimately leading to suicide and immediately leading to loss of public money. Anyway, if you insist you would only take a position of public trust as long as you could make backroom deals, you might be wise to eschew such positions. Most voters might be tempted to reject your candidacy. David considering monitoring politicians more closely than convicted criminals because they handle more of my money REGARDING:
“Why do people engaged in public business lose their 1st Amendment Right to speak and associate with whomever they wish whenever they wish about any topic they wish? I do not believe that the broad domain of the Sunshine Law is constitutional as it too arbitrarily limits the speech rights of individuals.”

I wonder about the Constitutionality myself every now and then.

On the other hand, they actually are not forbidden to speak or associate. They are forbidden to do it in secret. I sometimes enjoy imagining every official having to wear a wrist device with audio, video and GPS recording, available to all to review. Sure it would deny right of privacy of public officials, but that is part of the concept of “public” officials.

The real idea is based on a futile attempt to force politicians to be honest. If they are allowed to meet privately with potential sources of money, surprisingly many of them vote the way the sources of money desire and they receive money in return. When not done by Congress, this is called bribery.

Consider commissioners who met with contractors who gave to their campaign funds and then convinced other commissioners to throw out a bid to favor the contributor.

Consider WD giving money to Willie Junior to vote to buy land at an elevated price, ultimately leading to suicide and immediately leading to loss of public money.

Anyway, if you insist you would only take a position of public trust as long as you could make backroom deals, you might be wise to eschew such positions. Most voters might be tempted to reject your candidacy.

David considering monitoring politicians
more closely than convicted criminals
because they handle more of my money

]]> By: Bob http://www.northescambia.com/2010/04/state-attorney-completes-consolidation-study-commission-probe/comment-page-1#comment-39379 Bob Sun, 18 Apr 2010 01:25:20 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=16159#comment-39379 Without getting into a name calling facade, let me remind all of the voters and citizens of Escambia County that one thing you can be assured . The major players in this consolidation issue will surface again. Just remember who they are and don't forget to send them packing as soon as their name ssurfaces. Without getting into a name calling facade, let me remind all of the voters and citizens of Escambia County that one thing you can be assured . The major players in this consolidation issue will surface again. Just remember who they are and don’t forget to send them packing as soon as their name ssurfaces.

]]> By: Jim http://www.northescambia.com/2010/04/state-attorney-completes-consolidation-study-commission-probe/comment-page-1#comment-39377 Jim Sat, 17 Apr 2010 23:17:49 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=16159#comment-39377 Dear sean on April 17th, 2010 10:00 am: Thank you for your pledge to "NEVER" enter public service in Florida. We don't need any more public servents that can't understand that the difference between right and wrong. We have far too many already. Dear sean on April 17th, 2010 10:00 am:

Thank you for your pledge to “NEVER” enter public service in Florida.
We don’t need any more public servents that can’t understand that the difference between right and wrong. We have far too many already.

]]> By: Sean http://www.northescambia.com/2010/04/state-attorney-completes-consolidation-study-commission-probe/comment-page-1#comment-39342 Sean Sat, 17 Apr 2010 15:00:09 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=16159#comment-39342 Why do people engaged in public business lose their 1st Amendment Right to speak and associate with whomever they wish whenever they wish about any topic they wish? I do not believe that the broad domain of the Sunshine Law is constitutional as it too arbitrarily limits the speech rights of individuals. I would NEVER enter into public service in this state as I have absolutely no desire to abnegate my rights of speech. I understand the intention of the law to prevent complicity, but the effect of the law is that it discourages those who might otherwise participate in public business from doing so. Why do people engaged in public business lose their 1st Amendment Right to speak and associate with whomever they wish whenever they wish about any topic they wish? I do not believe that the broad domain of the Sunshine Law is constitutional as it too arbitrarily limits the speech rights of individuals. I would NEVER enter into public service in this state as I have absolutely no desire to abnegate my rights of speech. I understand the intention of the law to prevent complicity, but the effect of the law is that it discourages those who might otherwise participate in public business from doing so.

]]> By: A Watchman http://www.northescambia.com/2010/04/state-attorney-completes-consolidation-study-commission-probe/comment-page-1#comment-39319 A Watchman Sat, 17 Apr 2010 12:33:52 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=16159#comment-39319 Hmmmmmm . . . . I thought FS119 Sunshine forbade the unpublished meeting, not the time, place or topics talked about. Didn't we have a 5th Dist. Commisioner who fell prey to that over meeting with Volunteer Fire Department people - even though no improper topics were discussed. Well silly me! Hmmmmmm . . . . I thought FS119 Sunshine forbade the unpublished meeting, not the time, place or topics talked about. Didn’t we have a 5th Dist. Commisioner who fell prey to that over meeting with Volunteer Fire Department people – even though no improper topics were discussed. Well silly me!

]]> By: Oversight http://www.northescambia.com/2010/04/state-attorney-completes-consolidation-study-commission-probe/comment-page-1#comment-39310 Oversight Sat, 17 Apr 2010 10:44:06 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=16159#comment-39310 This sounds like a very light investigation that has a heavy sugar coating put on it by the State's Attorney to me. I'll assert that the lawyer for the state is influenced by the retired state supreme court judge and there was no way that the prosecutor would ever find fault in the judge. Besides, most folks know that there was plenty of "dirty behind the scenes" politics surrounding this scheme to get all of the county's residents to assume Pensacola's debt. All I can say is thank goodness the consolidation commission is now defunct and the consolidated government push is dead. This sounds like a very light investigation that has a heavy sugar coating put on it by the State’s Attorney to me. I’ll assert that the lawyer for the state is influenced by the retired state supreme court judge and there was no way that the prosecutor would ever find fault in the judge. Besides, most folks know that there was plenty of “dirty behind the scenes” politics surrounding this scheme to get all of the county’s residents to assume Pensacola’s debt. All I can say is thank goodness the consolidation commission is now defunct and the consolidated government push is dead.

]]>