Don Foreman wrote:

On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:08:27 -0700, "Bill Noble"
wrote:


Do you regard suggestions lacking force of law as meaningless? Would
you prefer your city council to have more absolute power to dictate
your behavior?

It may seem incredibly alien to y'all in Kalifornia, but out here in
flyoverland the notion of a bunch of guys (and gals) getting together
and suggesting whatever to their fellow citizens is quite acceptable.
Matter of fact, it's part of what we elected them to do. We even
understand the difference between a resolution and legislation.

yes, I regard suggestions lacking the force of law as "meaningless" in the
context of a government body - they should not wast their time, the dollars
to light the building while they debate it, or anything else unless there is
an action to be taken - this is no more meaningful, per what you are telling
me, than the "suggestion" that we get out of iraq that some city councils
passed. Now, if they said that there would be free amunition, paid for by
city taxes, that is a government act (we could debate its wisdom), but
otherwise, this is strum-und-drag (hope I spelled it right)

Sturm und Drang.

Perhaps a lot depends on the suggestability and even responsibility of
the populace in question. If nobody in the populace (say in
California) will do anything that's good for the greater number unless
compelled to by law, then suggestions would indeed be useless.
However, if a populace really believes in the leaders it elects and is
strongly motivated to do "the right thing", then suggestions could be
very effective. They might even be more effective than laws, which
must be enforced (cost) and violators must be punished (more cost).

Laws are obviously necessary with any real populace, but I also think
that resolutions can be useful and have beneficial effect.


Don, I live about three miles from the Belleview City Hall. A lot of
people around here are armed, and well trained. The idea is to let the
criminals know that there are less protected places that improve their
chance of survival.


--
You can't have a sense of humor, if you have no sense!