The World newspaper, which is owned by Lee Enterprises, really doesn’t want grassroots democracy in Coos County. In an editorial about the groups working to repeal sections of the NDAA the paper acknowledges they are organized and informed and “the activism they’re practicing is quintessentially American.” Then the editors explain that they don’t approve of acting like an American when “streets need new paving” and then can’t resist insulting these quintessential Americans by instructing elected officials to treat them like children, listen politely and pat them on the head and send them along.
“The anti-NDAA group should keep on doing what it’s doing: appearing before local governing bodies just like any other advocacy group. That local governing body can listen attentively, then get back to the job it was elected to do.”
There is that phrase again, “the job it was elected to do.” We heard John Sweet utter it as well as Melissa Cribbins even though she eventually signed a resolution opposing key provisions. It seems that not everyone has the same opinion of what elected officials are supposed to do even though America’s history is rife with examples of citizens speaking truth to power and gathering resolutions and letters and initiatives from across the country to present before Congress.
Its curious why the paper is making such a big deal about these groups advocating for a cause at all since it is a very American thing to do. Perhaps the local power structure feels its control slipping away as Coos County residents become actively engaged in the democratic process and has urged the editors to quell the rising tide by belittling their efforts and marginalizing the people involved.
Whistleblower Edward Snowden recently explained his choice of Glenn Greenwald and the Guardian to leak his documents.
After 9/11, many of the most important news outlets in America abdicated their role as a check to power — the journalistic responsibility to challenge the excesses of government — for fear of being seen as unpatriotic and punished in the market during a period of heightened nationalism. From a business perspective, this was the obvious strategy, but what benefited the institutions ended up costing the public dearly.
In short, we can’t trust corporate media even in small towns because it is driven by profit, not democratic values. The World has aligned itself with a perceived local power structure even as that core group sees its power eroding and dug in its heels on the issue of whether or not the people may redress grievances before elected officials.
Click your heals 3 times, Dorothy and repeat after me “There’s no place like home… there’s no place like home… There’s no place like home!” I’ve got news for you, sweetheart, you won’t need the Russians to invade when your own so-called representatives simply hand over your Constitutional rights like a two-bit whore having a Sunday half-off sale. So bend over, Dorothy, since that and cheap insults are all you seem to be good for. Just disregard all of the evidence that OUR government is no longer the servant of the people that put them into power, and disregard all of the hard work our forefathers put into carefully crafting the most important document attempting to protect people from the FACT that Tyranny rises up again and again when left unchecked by the clueless, naive, and downright ignorant fools who think institutions will automatically have in its heart the best interest of its people without any overview from the people themselves. Naive, or dangerously stupid?? Hmmmm…
The rubbish uproar over the cross on the war memorial in Mingus Park made nation sites today, Raw Story being one of them. Since The World also freezes out comments from any reader who doesn’t toe their line of Happy Thoughts, I’m not allowed to post this on their Happy Facebook Page, so I will share some thoughts on Coos County from around the country. I have no respect for Deliberate Ignorance, and it abounds here.Enjoy :
“Wow, I read the linked article. Everyone should. Look at the pic in the linked article. No damage.
Look at the subhead: “City manager says he plans to cancel public meeting regarding the controversial cross”
More freeze peach from politicians.
So the city brings in a bunch of Texas christofascists to help them deal with an obviously unconstitutional endorsement of religion.
I’m so glad they’ve solved unemployment and decaying infrastructure that they can afford to lose lawsuits.”
AND THIS:
“We will not back down when it comes to honoring the First Amendment”
“Uh, hey guys, uh, you sort of need to understand the First Amendment before you can defend it and based on your track record, you really don’t understand the First Amendment.”
AND MY PERSONAL FAVORITE:
“Um, this sure has false flag written all over it.”
“The City of Coos Bay retained the services of the Liberty Institute”
Ah, so they’re a bunch of dumb fuck christofascists running that town. I’ve been to Coos Bay, it’s kind of a shithole.
Instead of offering a reward, why don’t they just put a webcam on it?
If their jesus penis is getting defaced, maybe god doesn’t want it there.
AMEN BROTHER, “JESUS PENIS” PERFECT !!!
don’t forget “the Russians are coming”
Y’all live in paranoid and sad world.
“local power structure” – LOL really?
hope you typed that with your tinfoil hat on!
World’s Article Patronized Patriots
Calls for Counter Attack Strategy against Citizens
The August 13th Op-ed piece put out by the World’s editorial board can only be characterize as a counter attack against the citizens’ effort to get the local governments to uphold their oath to the Constitution. Such was insulting, patronizing and transparent to all but the most naive in these matters and / or those desperately in need of praise and acceptance.
The editorial board’s advice to the local governing bodies on how to deal with citizens:”… listen attentively, then get back to the job it was elected to do. How UN-American. Ignore the citizens but do it politely and sugar coat it with praise. This is the fundamental reason we are losing the Republic and the personal Liberty for which it once stood i.e., indifference to the citizens.
The editorial board apparently thinks the citizens behind this movement are so inexperienced, so naive or so emotionally crippled they cannot understand the true nature of the board’s article. The board surrounded its real message in pseudo-praise of the citizens involved. Leading off with: “They are nothing if not passionate” the meaning of which became clear by the end of the article i.e., The World’s editorial board thinks we are naive zealots.
The article was not so much of a message as it was a demonstration of how to counter attack the efforts of the citizens. It encourages the local governments of Oregon to largely follow the path taken by the Coos County Commission: deny, delay, and deceive. The board even characterized the Coos County Commissions’ passage of a do nothing resolution, of its own design, as a “partial victory”. In fact it was and will remain a total loss for Liberty unless the citizens now take appropriate action to re-educate the Commission on their true responsibilities which includes being responsive to the will of the citizens. The Commission’s action was cowardly and deceptive.
The board apparently believes a key to success of this counter attack is to heap insincere and meaningless praise upon those leading the charge. Pat them on the head and tell them they are smart little boys and girls and that they really appreciate our patriotism and our “quintessentially American” activism.”
They are like the politicians in the middle of a new election cycle who pump out the words and phrases their researchers tell them the “tea party” people will responded to like: “conservative”, “original intent” , “fiscal conservative,” “self reliance” and “personal responsibility.”
The board’s comments that the citizens involved in this effort are ” well organized, educated on their position and motivated by patriotism…”, ” [t]heir presentations are thorough, their arguments persuasive…,” “the activism they’re practicing is quintessentially American — citizens actively engaged in the conduct of their government…”are insincere tripe and only meant to divert, delude, deceive and defeat the actions of “We the people.”
We do not need anyone to tell us we are good little patriots and how proud they are of us. We understand what the politicians’ oath of support means and what it requires of them and we understand when they are not up holding it. They do not need to be proud of us they need to fear us.
The editorial board’s article exposes it’s misunderstanding of or a disregard for the fundamental way this Republic is suppose to operate, where the citizens are the “kings” and the government is the servant. It is instead promoting a type of benign feudalism in which the government is sovereign and rules over its wards of the state, the citizens, in a patient and forgiving majesty.
Thanks but no thanks.
Richard D. Fry, Esq.
General Counsel
Patriot Coalition
Maybe they could divert some of the spying money into a street paving fund, then Lee Enterprises would be happy?
Or maybe the Coquille Police could spend a little less time stopping people for no apparent reason, and divert some of their money into a street paving fund.