It’s so easy for propaganda to work,

and dissent to be mocked.
Harold Pinter

Dissent is a long American tradition. You are reading this in the United States because a number of people, for a variety of reasons, joined together in questioning the authority of the King of England.
Many times throughout history, change only occurred after a period of dissent – Suffrage and Civil Rights come immediately to mind. Some would argue that when things are askew, patriotism demands dissent rather than a passive acceptance of the status quo; particularly when what exists only serves a portion of the citizenry.
Dissent creates awareness by forcing issues to the forefront where they become subject to debate, discussion, and sometimes adoption. In the process many are educated and some change their position.
Dissent reminds elected and appointed officials that they were not “anointed” and are not free to move ahead without considering the wishes of those they claim to serve.
Of course, those in power, their buddies, and others who nestle close in hopes of gain, have a vested interest in quieting dissent. And since all dissent begins with questions, power is focused on quieting those who question, either through name-calling and ridicule, ignoring, or out-shouting them. It’s a plus,if, as often happens locally, the major media can be swayed to act as an arm to power and perpetuate the ridicule.
Take the recent case of the Coos County governance meeting being held in The Mill Casino. There were some valid reasons, mostly logistical and economical, to hold the meeting there.
However, most politicians are aware that votes turn on the people’s perception of issues and actions. Such a politician would take preemptive steps to deal with the public’s perception.
If circumstances made it “necessary” to hold a meeting that had been declared public but would effectively exclude a large portion of the public, a savvy politician would have taken pains to explain why it was the only option available.
In this case, of course, the urgency is solely due to political expediency. Cam Parry and Fred Messerle were both appointed rather than elected by the people. Both have used the position to further their own ends and neither has been shy about it.
And both are determined to get the governance change handled before the election and the two are out of office for this term. Parry is not running, though some suspect he is crafting his next position with his call for a new County Administrator.
Fred Messerle is running for re-election and, quite reasonably, doesn’t want to take a chance that the change, which he has championed, doesn’t go through. After all, there’s always the chance that despite large campaign contributions, he will lose the election.
Given the public’s reasonable questions of statutory jurisdiction,instead of disregarding those concerns with a lofty arrogance, a politician who was truly interested in what the people wanted would have pro-actively educated his constituency.
He would have talked about Public Law 280 and perhaps, enlisted the aid of the County Sheriff to explain why the Sheriff having criminal jurisdiction over the Casino on land controlled by the tribe under Public Law 280, meant the County Commissioners can also claim they have jurisdiction.
Here was a missed opportunity to connect with voters, educate them, and let them know they were heard. But, as seems apparent here, if you think you have enough friends with money to get you elected or to accomplish what you want to do, then there is no need to accommodate the working people who vote.

Jessica Lloyd-Rogers is the editor and publisher of the Coast Lake News