But Legislators could potentially abuse their sole authority to enforce the meaning of the term "disruptive".
We have just heard one Legislator say that a "meaningless sign" is the work of a "mental terrorist".
Just how far do you think they need to stretch the interpetation of disruptive before having the person removed from a public meeting?
Only a few days ago, this was a debate about whether the sign was blocking another person's view. Now it is exactly where Sheriff Phillips warned the Legislature, by establishing a dangerous precedent.

Joker, it's concerning to me that you consider our First Amendment rights to be "petty cr*p." Without those rights, we wouldn't all be blessed with your presence here on this blog.

I think you are the one who needs a hobby, Joker. Might I suggest reading the Constitution and the Bill of Rights for a start? Then maybe taking some time to ponder the price paid for us to have those rights and why they are always worth fighting for.

You ask what Bob has accomplished here. The answer is that he is awakening citizens to the fact that many of our county legislators forget, just as you have, why the First Amendment exists in the first place.

It's readily apparent to me, by reading their legislation, that the intent is to purposely leave a gray area with the words, "otherwise disruptive." It is totally up to the Chairman to interpret what constitutes a sign that is otherwise disruptive, and then gives the chairman sole authority to command a Sheriff deputy to remove the sign and the person.

Based on the history here, I for one see this new power they are creating for the chairman being abused. It leaves it up to citizens to file law suits when it is abused, and the county will spend large amounts of time and money to defend its new and certainly very questionable policy.

All this for what? Because our legislators are so mentally fragile they can't stand any criticism from the people they are supposed to represent?

Thanks for paying attention. The dynamics you describe are the playing field of Jackson County politics. Because of our "first class" status the County can institute many policies and ordinances that apply to its citizens.

Soon the Legislature will finalize steps to establish its own court system and APPOINT someone to be THE JUDGE to give the appearance of being independent and impartial.

This is what has happened to the Ethics Commission. While my comments may seem premature, because they have not yet made a final ruling on the behavior of the Legislature.

It is now abundantly clear the Ethics Commission has gone out of its way for almost two years, just to help the Legislators avoid the predetermined consequences of taking public money for personal gain. They have played this game, with the help of the attorneys hired by the county, to conceal whether they have corrected this violation as they ordered in August 2006.

To this day, the Ethics Commission has allowed the Legislators to receive free legal services and billed to you and me, the taxpayers nearly $30,000.00, just to shield them against their own investigation. When it was pointed out that this action contravened their own rules, they replied, "We don't have to enforce our rules, just the County Charter"

That the part that gets lost

That’s what gets convaluted and lost in a discussion like this.
It doesn’t matter what Bob’s sign says, it’s his right to say it that we have to defend.
If they think they can shut us up at our own Gov’t meetings then they get the feeling of run away power.
Remember the quote form school I the 60’s,
POWER corrupts, abslusotle power corrupts absolutely.
I didn’t under stand that as a kid but I do now.
That’s what makes me so crazy about our up coming election, the apathy people show with the desire of discussing the canadates. They either don’t care or feel like there is nothing they can do, or they are happy?
I believe when good men do nothing problems ensue.
I don’t care what you say Bob but I defend your right to say it.

I am no threat to you joker. But I do understand why YOU choose to remain anonymous.

Right before I go to sleep, I will have the fond memory of the guy in the red truck and the loudspeaker,he was such entertainment. I was happily pregnant with my only child and this man gave me the most beautiful poem, I have kept always, yes he might have been a kook, but a nice one. Good night, Joker

I have no problem with defending free speech. It's the unnecessary crapola dished out by idiots like Bob that make a travesty of the entire concept.

Does someone have the right to stand in the middle of the Independence Square, paint himself purple and sing "I'm Henry the 8th I Am?" over and over?

You bet.

I also have the right to point out that he's a freakin' idiot for it.

The point, fellow citizens, is this: Bob's unhappy over the way the County's being run. Fine and dandy. So he goes to the Legislature meetings and holds up signs with stupid, childish sayings on them.

Does he have the inalienable right to do this?

Yes. Freedom of speech.

Do I have the right to say he's making a complete fool of himself by doing this?

Yes. Freedom of speech.

Bob's sign campaign has managed to do two things: cause the Legislature to waste time dealing with the perceived threat, and given Bob some attention.

Does anyone have any better idea of what the problems are and what needs to be done to fix them?

No way.

But Bob's got things right about one thing. He's been in the news so much, nobody misspells his name now.

Face it, Side-Show Bob is simply an over-educated, self-righteous pain in the butt with a penchant for flamboyant nonsense.

Guess every podunk needs a village idiot.

Joker, if you attend the Meeting on Monday in Independence, you won't even need a sign to hold before Legislators will ask you to leave.

Where is this one ?

I'm with you EJCJoker.

It's sad that those that choose to (or have to) the ability and time to be activists are spending it and taxpayer's resources bickering over holding up signs. It seems most of the phrases I have seen quoted from the signs are childish-like quips that you would hear a 10 year old brat say on a playground.

However, I don't know who is worse, the legislature for giving the issue the time of day or those that instigate such childish behaviors?

It really is nothing to be proud of, because in the end, it changes nothing for the citizenry. Phrases such as "open government" or "free speech," are used to justify the behavior and the drama created around the issue, when it really seems like a cheap attempt to involve one's self in Jackson County politics. It's all really very juvenile. And by the tone of the responses it seems those in the thick of it are so self-absorbed in the drama that they have yet to take a step back and take a look at the big picture.

So I just want to say thanks for wasting my tax dollars on your games.

When I read comments like yours, it reminds me of why someone needs to step up and deal with these issues. I hope you find something worth speaking up about, someday. Until then, remember that Silence is Golden.

Bob, convince me otherwise....

What is the issue here other than when you hold up signs calling people names they get mad? Because that appears to be what really has happened.

How is this helping to solve anything in JACOMO government?

How is this helping the people of JACOMO, other than the few that want to hold up signs?

Why not address the legislature like an intelligent person and speak your opinion on issues?

Don't get me wrong, I am not happy with how the county is run, I have been employed for the county before under contract and have experienced many of the shortcomings first hand, but how is this going to help change any of that?

OK I will try but helping you understand this is actually more difficult than working through this issue with them.

The system is broken, the usual decision making processes are a major malfunction. The stated method as being one of cooperation is an understatement in that it is really a "tid for tat" bartering.

The “clan” makes the agenda from a series of resolutions in which certain favored clientele provide services for the county or its citizens. Many have done business with the county for years others have just gotten on board because Shields is “out the door”.

This administration has claimed a cash shortage for cutting back contracts in effort to expedite cutting the wasteful contracts, but also used it as a method to “starve them out”. These specialty contractors are eliminated and the new shell organizations just walk right in.

The stampede is just beginning. The decisions are being made behind closed doors and nearly every vote is a lockstep decision. The effort becomes one of accruing enough cooperative effort that when your pet project or issue comes to the table, others let you “win”. As long as the public has no stake there was no problem.

Now, we have the First Amendment issue. Suddenly the public does have a stake in the decision, but for some of the Legislators the stake should be through my heart, not supporting the law. Thus, the system breaks down. In some ways, this is a game, but now they “anted up” and the pot is too big to walk away.

The Constitution has already made the "intelligent" argument for me, it's now up to them to hear it ringing in their heads.