Critical Mass

Most Montana blogophiles are now aware of the travails of Moorcat down in Dillon.

He has an interesting point up about critical mass. He postulates that events in Dillon are reaching a political crescendo that he believes/hopes will lead to change.

Is it just me, or is Moorcat not alone?

Even before I read of Moorcat's struggles, it seems I had encountered case after case where bureaucrats, politicians, and other small people with power used that power to avoid, ignore, or squash the rights of citizens. Over the last year or so, I recall reading more than several articles from all over the country where tinhorn dictators are choosing to inflict their will on those they should be serving.

You can't smoke outdoors, you can't smoke in apartments. (And I don't smoke) You can't drink bottled water.

But hey, we don't have to go to California to find our petty tyrants. In Missoula, the elected officials crack jokes on email about those who muster up the courage and effort to make their opinions known. In Great Falls, we have a time limit on public comment. Our officials sign contracts to make public records private.

In all these cases, too, those in the spotlight feel they are in "public service." Every one of them would, I suspect, vehemently protest the suggestion that they are subverting the constitutions they are sworn to protect.

Nope, you can't swing a dead cat anymore without hitting some board member, council member, commission member or bureaucrat who is willing to ignore your rights in the interest of their own personal brand of expediency.

Yeah, there's critical mass alright. I just wonder what side of the podium it's on.