Subject:  Over-Stepping Authority, or Politics? |
Author:
Matt
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Date Posted: 08:31:30 03/08/03 Sat
In reply to:
Admin
's message, "Current News Events" on 21:24:33 08/01/02 Thu
I posted this on the havfun plus boards, so I'll post it here too.
Local governments across the country pass resolutions condemning a U.S. attack on Iraq, some are questioning why their town boards are getting involved in foreign policy when problems closer to home need attention.
As of Friday, 104 U.S. cities and two state legislatures, Maine's House and Senate and Hawaii's House -- have passed resolutions rejecting a pre-emptive strike by the United States on Iraq.
"It's an issue that each city needs to take a look at," said Michael Reinemer, spokesman for the National League of Cities. "I think where a city council believes that it needs to make a statement, of course they can do that. Other cities will want to focus more on issues that they really have a direct influence over."
I WILL share my perspective as a city elected guy, We as a city have no right or reason to discuss Iraq during a city council meeting. The cities business is just that, city business. We elect state leaders, (representatives and senators) to represent us on issues of national concern and we elect a president. I don't understand why a city council would, could, or should even consider a resolution of support or opposition concerning a war with Iraq. Its obvious that cities do not have access to all the federal government information concerning Iraq, so how can these city councils make a decision knowing they have a lack of information?
In a raucous City Council hearing Tuesday night, about 250 to 300 people jammed the chamber and the halls. Many of them objecting to a resolution passed last week by the council opposing "a preemptive war against Iraq."
The council, which passed the resolution 4 to 2 on Feb. 18, now appears to be on the verge of rescinding it, with an emergency meeting scheduled for Friday.
"This is the worst experience I've had on the council, without a doubt," said Daniel Przybylski, an eight-year council member.
Przybylski, who voted for the resolution, said he listened to speakers at Tuesday's hearing who demanded his resignation and questioned the moral fortitude of those who'd voted as he had.
"It was nasty," he said.
The debate has pitted friend against friend, neighbor against neighbor and military veterans against each other in the northeastern Minnesota city of 3,700.
Dick Zahn, adjutant of American Legion Post 248 in Ely, was one of the supporters of U.S. military policies who turned up at the hearing to tell the council it had no business sticking its nose in world affairs.
I have called Mr Zahn and I agree completely with his statement, whats your opinion?
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