Kanye West grabs mic from Taylor Swift at the MTV VMAs and makes a fool of himself

Kanye West grabs mic from Taylor Swift at the MTV VMAs and makes a fool of himself – it wasn’t hard for Mr. West. He’s a professional troll.

Click here for a larger image: http://twitpic.com/hp3da

September 14, 2009 by Kevin Dayhoff http://tinyurl.com/mt2bj4

By now many folks are aware of Kanye West’s cringe worthy YouTube moment when he jumped up on the stage last night at Radio City Music Hall during the MTV Video Music Awards and grabbed the microphone away from Taylor Swift and ranted that Beyoncé had been overlooked for the “Best Female Video” award.

Swift, 19, who had won the award for “You Belong With Me,” was just beginning to say, “I always wondered what it would be like to maybe win one of these someday, but never actually thought it would happen...”

Well, her moment in the sun that did not happen as a result of the crass, bizarre behavior of Kanye – anything goes, cuz I’m self-absorbed and narcissistic – West.

I can’t wait to read the reaction of my colleague and good friend, Kenny Burns, who is my resident Kanye West authority. Read, “Red Maryland: Memo to Kanye: Liberals Do Not Care About People, period,” By P. Kenneth Burns, the editor of Maryland Politics Today.

After I read Burns’ column, I was pondering; gee, I wonder how he really feels. Were you holding back on us Mr. Burns?

Last night, our hearts went out to Swift. It was her first award, and, well, West pissed on her parade ‘real good.’ She did not finish her acceptance remarks…

Fortunately as tacky and classless as West was; the hero of the hour was Beyoncé, who showed some grace, poise and class; and invited Swift up on stage to say a few words, when Beyoncé was awarded “video of the year” for “Single Ladies.”

According to one account I read, “Beyoncé recalled that she won her first VMA at age 17, as a member of Destiny's Child…”

Several years ago, I had taken an interest in Kanye West’s career after the release of his “The College Dropout” record debut in 2004.

Yeah, since I am also a college dropout, it was the title that first captured my attention…

Of course, that was before his September 2, 2005 outburst, “George Bush doesn't care about black people.” I’ve been quite successful in ignoring him ever since.

Oddly enough, if you will recall, that outburst came days after his “Late Registration” album had been released, which I had considered purchasing.

Apparently the fact that I did not purchase it did not cause Mr. West any problems. And since it was rather artistically creative, perhaps, in the end, the joke was on me and it was my loss.

It has been said, that his Tourette’s-like outburst about President Bush helped the sale of his album. That he was “rewarded” for his behavior.

Now, isn’t that stupid. Isn’t it elementary that if a person can behave so bizarrely towards someone or something in which you agree needed the rebuke – the same person may exhibit the same behavior in a manner that could be upsetting. Bad behavior in a cause in which you believe does not make the behavior acceptable.

Yeah, Yeah, I’m well aware of the Ezra Pound discourse on talent. That we can appreciate someone’s talent even though the artist may hold a worldview or behave in a manner that is abhorrent. Whatever.

It is my money and my time and I just cannot bring myself around to support a troll.

I have no problem disagreeing with an artist and enjoying his or her work. I have a problem with jerks. That said, I still like Neil Young, so where the line is drawn for me, is, well, I guess, unscientific.

A little research will reveal that Mr. West seems to have a knack for Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, for which he has not, obviously, been successfully treated.

Be sure to read, “EMA’s Shocker: Kanye Stage Invasion!,” on the MTV United Kingdom site:

“The Best Hip Hop winner lashes out after missing out on Best Video award...
22:47, Thursday, 2 November 2006

“Click here to watch Kanye's stage invasion... Watch the EMAs again on Overdrive now...

“Kanye West unleashed an amazing outburst after failing to take home the gong for 'Best Video' for his 'Touch The Sky' promo at the EMAs.

“Crashing the stage as friends of the winners Justice V Simian collected their silverwear for 'We Are Your Friends', the hip hop star spat, "F*ck dis! (My video) cost a million dollars, Pamela Anderson was in it, I was jumping across canyons and sh*t! If I don't win, the awards show loses credibility. Nothing against you (J&S), but hell man."

“His verbal tirade left audience members gasping but it didn't end there.

“After the show the offended star continued to vent his spleen in the press conference.”

You simply must read the rest of the account, here: EMA’s Shocker: Kanye Stage Invasion!

This is priceless. You can’t this kind of stuff up. If I had included such a scenario in a short work of fiction, I would be berated because it failed to suspend disbelief…

Ya know folks. This could be serious. Mr. West may have some sociopathic psychopathy involvement, such as antisocial - dissocial personality disorder or Coprolalia.

So, maybe we should feel sorry for him, because he is obviously not a well man – a victim, if you will?

Nah, the guy’s a troll. What say you, Mr. Burns – take it away... And don’t hold back.

-30-

20090913 KED Kanye West grabs mic from Taylor Swift

http://www.mtv.co.uk/shows/emas/news/39507-emas-shocker-kanye-stage-invasion

http://redmaryland.blogspot.com/2009/09/memo-to-kanye-liberals-do-not-care.html

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2009/09/kanye-west-grabs-mic-from-taylor-swift.html http://tinyurl.com/mt2bj4

http://twitpic.com/hp3da Kanye West grabs mic from Taylor Swift at MTV VMAs makes a fool of himself http://tinyurl.com/mt2bj4

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/kevindayhoff Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1040426835 Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems: http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/ Blip.fm: http://blip.fm/kevindayhoff_soundtrack

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/

Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/) http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

Cellphone karma

Cellphone karma

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wz5oReSa_U

OMG!



Cellphone karma

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFuq01NvEnA



20090904 sdosm YT Cellphone karma

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/kevindayhoff Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1040426835 Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems: http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/ Blip.fm: http://blip.fm/kevindayhoff_soundtrack

Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/) http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

20070824 Margaret K. 'Peggy' Villella, 62, of Westminster

Margaret K. 'Peggy' Villella, 62, of Westminster

Many of us in the community were taken aback to open the Carroll County Times Friday morning and read that Peggy Villella had passed away.

Over the years as an appointed and then an elected official I had gotten to know Peggy as the ever-cheerful and vivacious receptionist for the Carroll County Times office on Railroad Avenue in Westminster.

When I moved to the other side of the computer and began writing columns for “The Advocate,” a weekly publication of the Carroll County Times, every time I visited the office, she would, no matter how hectic the day, act as if I were the only person in the world she needed to greet and help that day.

In a Carroll County Times article which was published in the paper today, (Face of the Times remembered for her warmth,) Karen Karaszkiewicz wrote what many of us felt, that she was the “face” of the Carroll County Times. In many ways a model for what corporations and government agencies need on the front desk – such as, for example, Kay Church, the receptionist for Carroll County government in the Carroll County office building on Center Street in Westminster. (See: 20060706 KDDC Aunt Kay Birthday Cake and the Commissioners and 20060713 Happy Birthday Kay Church)

Ms. Karaszkiewicz wrote

“A woman who was known by many as the face of the Carroll County Times will be remembered by friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors for her charisma and upbeat attitude.”

[…]

“For about the past 10 years, she had worked at the front desk, spreading her cheerfulness to everyone who walked into the building, whether they were customers or coworkers, according to Lori Blake, director of administration.”

Over the years in which I got to know her, she never ever had a bad thing to say about anyone. And as Ms. Karaszkiewicz wrote, “For about the past 10 years, she had worked at the front desk, spreading her cheerfulness to everyone who walked into the building, whether they were customers or coworkers, according to Lori Blake, director of administration.”

Upon hearing the news, Carroll County commissioner Dean Minnich spoke of having gotten to know her over his past years as newspaperman and remarked that she was always so upbeat, positive and always greeted you with a big smile. “There is so much bitterness in the world and it is such a shame to lose such a sweet person.”

Carroll County Times city editor Jamie Kelly spoke for many when he said, “It’s been a shock. She was just a wonderful lady. She loved people and it showed. It will be hard to adjust to the Times without her...”

There are many such folks in Carroll County and it is people like Peggy Villella that make our community a wonderful place to live. She will be greatly missed.

Her obituary reads:

Margaret K. 'Peggy' Villella, 62, of Westminster

Margaret Kay "Peggy" Villella, 62, of Westminster died Thursday, Aug. 23, 2007, at her home.

Born July 10, 1945, in Washington, D.C., she was the daughter of the late James E. and Charlotte Houk Freeman. She was the wife of Frank Xavier Villella Sr., her husband of 39 years.

She was a graduate of Patterson High School. She had been a receptionist and cashier for the Carroll County Times since 1992.

She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of Carroll Post 31 American Legion and of the VFW Post 467, both in Westminster.

She enjoyed going on ocean cruises, weekend getaways and trips to the mountains. She liked eating crabs and collecting dolls. She also enjoyed watching scary movies and science fiction movies; her favorite was the original version of "The Thing."

Surviving, in addition to her husband, are sons Patrick and Frank X. Villella Jr., both of Westminster; a brother, James E. Freeman of Lighthouse Point, Fla.; a devoted friend, Rita Shea Schiff of Baltimore; and eight nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at St. John Roman Catholic Church, 43 Monroe St., Westminster, with Monsignor Arthur Valenzano officiating. Interment will be private.

The family will receive friends from noon to 3 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Pritts Funeral Home & Chapel, 412 Washington Road, Westminster.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, Memorial and Tributes Processing Center, P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA 23058-6536.

Villella Margaret 19450710 20070823

EMA’s Shocker: Kanye Stage Invasion!

“EMA’s Shocker: Kanye Stage Invasion!,” on the MTV United Kingdom site:

The Best Hip Hop winner lashes out after missing out on Best Video award...

22:47, Thursday, 2 November 2006

Click here to watch Kanye's stage invasion...

Watch the EMAs again on Overdrive now...

Kanye West unleashed an amazing outburst after failing to take home the gong for 'Best Video' for his 'Touch The Sky' promo at the EMAs.

Crashing the stage as friends of the winners Justice V Simian collected their silverwear for 'We Are Your Friends', the hip hop star spat, "F*ck dis! (My video) cost a million dollars, Pamela Anderson was in it, I was jumping across canyons and sh*t! If I don't win, the awards show loses credibility. Nothing against you (J&S), but hell man."

His verbal tirade left audience members gasping but it didn't end there.

After the show the offended star continued to vent his spleen in the press conference.

You simply must read the rest of the account, here: EMA’s Shocker: Kanye Stage Invasion!

This is priceless. You can’t this kind of stuff up. If I had included such a scenario in a short work of fiction, I would be berated because it failed to suspend disbelief…

Civility, Music, Music West Kanye

20061102 sdsom EMAs Shocker Kanye Stage Invasion

Update: Journalists Burns-Kenneth Burns, Music Swift Taylor,

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/kevindayhoff Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1040426835 Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems: http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/ Blip.fm: http://blip.fm/kevindayhoff_soundtrack

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/

Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/) http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

20060831 KDDC Why go negative?

Why go negative?

The Carroll County primary election is less than two weeks away and it could not come too soon for many of us.

Reading the letters to the editor has especially become painful for us who follow government and politics closely – and know better. To read letters in which misinformation, misleading information, personal attacks, puffed-up naiveté and a total lack of understanding for how government works for the particular office in which this or that challenger seeks, has been disillusioning.

And the specter of good people with good ideas and thoughtful approaches – going negative is just bewildering. It is as if they have lost their minds for the duration of the campaign?

My column in The Tentacle for this week is called, “Why go negative?” It just scratches at the surface of how this primary election has been so painful.

I, for one, have heard very little in the way of a substantive discussion of the issues or new ideas. I have heard much about how much certain folks are clueless and don’t like this or that candidate.

And perhaps competing for the worse affront is how folks demonize opponents personally simply because they disagree with them on certain issues.

Most of the time, the folks who are demonizing are the very ones who plead for respect for their ideas and approaches.

What amazes me are the folks slinging the mud, who after the elections will still have to work with their opponent in some way, shape or form. No matter how professional – or religious someone is, folks have memories.

I know my motto has always been: “To forgive is divine; to forget is not my policy.”

Memo to the many folks running for office this fall: There is only one species on the planet that has a better memory than an elephant and that is a politician.

Meanwhile some of the choices we need to make in the voting booth September 12th, 2006 are difficult. I, for one, may make it easier by simply choosing only the folks who have not gone negative.

The last thing I need is an angry outraged community leader with the warmth and humanity of a water moccasin - to take challenges to in the future.

Anyway the cleaned-up version of my Tentacle column that went to press yesterday, Wednesday, August 30th, 2006 is “Why go negative?”

August 30, 2006

Why go negative?

Kevin E. Dayhoff

The election season is upon us and - like a horde of ravaging locusts - the negative campaigners are out in full force this cycle. Why?

As the public clamors to hear a discussion on the issues - growth management, infrastructure and school improvement, public safety, taxes and the scope and structure of government - some candidates and their rabid supporters instead sport t-shirts that scream "I've got issues."

Selective quotations and trivialities trumping substance in an obvious attempt to distort the facts seem to be the rule of the day.

And it is always a source of amazement to observe folks who, in the same utterance, plead for understanding and tolerance for their views and then demonize anyone who doesn't agree with them.

A rule among classier community leaders prohibits promoting oneself by personally sniping at someone who holds a different point of view. It is not only bad form but smacks of bullying and could wind up hurting your own cause, as you only look like someone with the warmth and humanity of a water moccasin.

Read the rest of it here.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA. E-mail him at:kdayhoff@carr.org

www.thetentacle.com

Westminster Eagle Opinion and

Winchester Report

www.thewestminstereagle.com

www.kevindayhoff.com

20060813 KDDC The politics of going negative

NY Republican Senatorial primary debate and why it reminds me of the upcoming Carroll County primary.

August 13th, 2006

Let’s back up before we even attempt to go forward. Apparently New York Senator Hillary Clinton has two Republicans vying to run against her in this fall’s general election.

The New York Republican primary has former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer going up against a former President Reagan administration Pentagon official, Kathleen Troia "KT" McFarland.

So far, by many accounts, it would appear that they are running neck-and-neck to see who can be the most unpleasant.

Now perhaps this essay is about the New York Republican Senatorial primary and maybe it’s not. Perhaps it serves as a good allegory for the Carroll County primary?

In Carroll County we have a number of folks who are trying to unseat various incumbents.

Whether some or all or none of the incumbents need to be replaced, is, to be simplistic about it – up to the voters. Inside baseball ain’t going to do it. And if any of the incumbents fail to be re-elected, I either hope or pray that negative politics is not going to do it.

So far, I’m not seeing a lot of campaigning that is reaching the average, overworked, busy Mom and Dad voter at the kitchen table.

Unseating an incumbent is hard to do. Usually a challenger needs to have an overwhelmingly persuasive and compelling platform to unseat an incumbent – or ride the wave of a sea change on the part of the electorate in approach to government. That kind of change of difficult to cultivate in an election campaign, it will only come from the grassroots.

Of course, if an incumbent has demonstrated incompetence, malfeasance, dereliction of duty or a plain and simple palpable lack of skills, knowledge and ability in which to do the job, then that is another story.

None of the incumbents has demonstrated that lacking. Oh sure, there is lots of political spin and rhetoric being bandied about, however, we also have too many young reporters in the county who have never learned or simply don’t have the time for the follow-up question.

The superficial will get ya through the article, but in the long run it is not sustainable...

In the case of the Senator Hillary Clinton’s New York contest, there is no such sea change on the part of the New York constituency and nothing short of miracle is going to prevent her from winning this fall. That’s reality politics.

Regardless of how you may agree or disagree with her politics, unless you are a New York voter, it doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is the facts on the ground in New York.

On a political theory level, being unpleasant will work for sure if you’d like to win the primary and lose the general and be forever remembered as an unpleasant person.

I mean, after being unpleasant for months, whadda ya goin’ to do after the election?

Most folks know that you can’t get to a positive by utilizing the negative. It may work in the short term, but eventually folks catch on that it was not simply situational that you are a negative and unpleasant person, that it is systemic – it is who you are.

Sorta like the rule to never date a married person. What they are doing to their present partner, they can and usually do to you. And when they do you wrong in the future, they will rationalize it just as well as they are rationalizing it to date you now.

Apparently a few folks running for election in Carroll County have yet to figure this out.

And another thing while I’m on a roll; for those who want to plead that the elections this fall are not about taxes, think again. One wonders how many times that must be repeated before it will change reality and make it so.

I’ll put it this way. Taxes and big government are an issue with me. We don’t need bigger government; we need better and cost effective government – in Annapolis and in Carroll County.

As far as temperament, I would almost rather vote for a pleasant accessible, well-intentioned person with integrity - with whom I disagreed about certain issues than vote for someone with whom I agreed, yet was absolutely unpleasant about promoting their position.

A memo for challengers to the incumbents. I don’t care a rat’s ass about voting the incumbents out. That’s your thing. Hopefully the election is not about your personal feelings, it is about what you bring to the table professionally. I care about voting in folks who have a vision and a positive plan for families, schools, growth and lessening our tax burden.

Think about it, the two approaches are not the same. I’m voting for someone who is thoughtful, well versed in the issues, has a positive plan for the future and a person I can take my problems to (without a preachy condescending lecture.)

It is back to basics time. As a young man, my Mom hammered into me, it is all about what I do that counts. She never cared about what the other kids did. That was not of her concern. I cannot get to heaven based on the sins of others.

You will not be elected based on the perceived sins of the current incumbents or your personal dislikes of certain individuals. You will be elected because the voters believe that you will do a better job.

Stay positive. Voters ultimately want to know what you are going to do. You can say more about what you are against by saying what you are for and are going to do.

If you would like to get in touch with your feelings, go skeet shooting with me. Otherwise, this is about winning an election. I have no interest in electing enraged individuals.

Of course, the purpose of a primary is to win – and win in such a manner that a candidate will carry some momentum with them into the general election.

Going negative always needs to be carefully weighed. Usually folks who are behind go negative because they will often feel that they have nothing to lose.

Many folks become fixated upon serving as an elected official to “contribute and make a difference in the community.” Therefore, anything and everything it takes to win is justified by the winning.

My world view greatly disagrees with that position. There are many ways to serve, make a difference and contribute to a community beyond being an elected official.

I have had a practice and policy to “never” go negative. Although I have been the brunt of a negative campaign or two. When friends and colleagues pleaded with me to respond, I choose not to. If I had to win by going negative – the office and position was simply not worth it to me.

At this point in time, I have no regrets. If the electorate wanted to “hire” someone who moved their ball forward by being unpleasant, that is up to the voters. Ultimately everyone gets their karma.

So anyway, I was surfing the net as I was putting together some thoughts for my next Tentacle column and came across this in the Examiner… This… Well, what is it? I thought I had been diverted to The Onion.

This would be believable if it were on Saturday Night Live – but it is not. Apparently it was live, perhaps a little too live.

And these are the folks that the Republican Party is going to send up against New York Senator Hillary Clinton? I’m not sure whether to laugh or cry.

This is pathetic. Except for one great line: "John, you are like the Clintons," she said. "You taxed and spent like Hillary and behaved like Bill."

I wonder if they later exchanged addresses so that they may exchange holiday greeting cards this winter?

Did they remove all sharp objects from the room before the debate?

I’m sure that Senator Clinton is laughing – and will continue to laugh all the way back to her Senate seat this fall.

If this is what it is going to take to defeat Hillary Clinton, than maybe it is not worth it for the karma of the party? She is simply not that important in the grand scheme of things.

Likewise, if the challengers in Carroll County want to continue to be negative, the incumbents are going to laugh all the way back in office this fall.

_________________

N.Y. GOP Republicans Have Heated Debate
By BETH FOUHY, The Associated Press
Aug 9, 2006 10:34 PM

NEW YORK - The two Republicans vying to challenge Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton this fall tore into each other Wednesday in a debate dominated by angry accusations of personal and professional misconduct and abject dishonesty.

From the early minutes of the hourlong forum sponsored by all news cable channel NY1, former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer found himself repeatedly on the defensive about his unconventional private life and its impact on his tenure as mayor from 1996 to 2004.

While married to another woman, Spencer fathered two children with his then-chief of staff and substantially raised her salary. He eventually divorced his first wife and married his chief of staff.

So with an opening question from debate moderator Dominic Carter about whether a candidate's personal life should be off-limits, the responses got very personal, very fast.

Kathleen Troia "KT" McFarland, a former Ronald Reagan-era Pentagon official, immediately accused Spencer of engaging in adultery and nepotism and said it spoke to his lack of credibility to serve in office.

Read the rest here, if you can stand it - - it gets better, err, Hmmm, I mean worse…

Civility, Hillary Clinton Watch

####

20060615 KDDC The secret life of secret meetings

The secret life of the secretive nature of closed and open meetings

March 16^th, 2006 / June 15, 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff

I first began writing this several months ago when issues over “secret meetings” arose in Mt. Airy. It is my view that suggestions that “secret” meetings were taking place were really all about folks disagreeing with the decisions of other community leaders. To charge an elected official with making decisions “secretly” is an attention grabber as this has become a “cause de jour.”

The issue is being brought up again, as some of the very same folks who recklessly engaged in character assassination and accusations that previous elected officials held “secret” meetings are now conducting themselves in a similar manner.

The issue as to whether or not “secret” meetings took place is one matter.

But more importantly, is the matter of why is it that such meetings and methodologies of approach were unacceptable before and now they are. There’s the rub.

When charges of “secret” meetings are bantered about frivolously, it trivializes what is otherwise a very serious issue and does a disservice to citizens.

Making decisions with the utmost of transparency in today’s government is a must. No longer is the paradigm of “Madisonian” representative government, where elected officials are chosen to make decisions for the folks they serve, appropriate.

In today’s’ world of 365/24/7 news and information dissemination, citizens often know as much about the complex issues as the elected officials and constituents these days, often as not, want a say in the decisions and have “hired” elected officials to implement those collective decisions.

It is called “Jeffersonian participatory government” and this columnist happens to feel that it is a better form of government.

Ultimately, as I will touch upon further down in this piece, the hypocrisy of the folks making the claims of “secret” meetings is rancid. The very folks repeating the accusation as often as possible, in an attempt to “make” the charges appear to be true, are smart enough to file a complaint with the “Maryland Open Meetings Compliance Board.”

Nevertheless, all of this has a deleterious affect on the quality of government.

The manner in which public officials are treated in today’s slash-and-burn, win at any costs public dialogue continues to fathom new depths.

Why would anyone want to do the job? How many, otherwise capable and competent community leaders, have said to friends, family and colleagues – “you have to be nuts to be an elected official these days.”

If, we as a collective society continue to treat well meaning folks, who leave the comfortable cocoon of their private lives, to take the office of a locally elected official at, perhaps, 75 cents per hour, and all the abuse you can stand; then we are only going to have nuts seek the positions.

Instead of a conversation about what is in the best interests of the greater number of citizens and what can bring us together, the discourse has deteriorated into a series of reactionary conversations and ugly character assassinations; often involving unpleasant public hearings, uninformed, if not childish conspiracy theories, political spinelessness and personal attacks.

One of the latest in a series of personal attacks is where otherwise honorable citizens have been tried and convicted by innuendo in various local publications, for holding “secret” meetings or not bargaining with their constituencies in good faith. Simply because they may have a different approach to what they feel is the best path to the future for Carroll County.

This may work for the uninformed masses, however, the approach is being used by folks who otherwise, should know the law better and should set a better standard for public conversations.

Point of order: in the State of Maryland, a meeting is either “open” or “closed.” The terms “open meeting” or “closed meeting” are legislated terms, governed by state law.

Just as there is no such thing as being partially pregnant, there is no such thing as deliberations being held by decision-making elected or appointed officials in a “secretive nature.” Unless, that is, the term “secretive nature” is being used in an attempt to recklessly accuse persons of wrong doing, by manipulating public opinion.

In actuality, that level of conversation is really much more appropriate for an idle and often uninformed chatter in a local bar and not quite the standard of what we would like to expect from community leaders in a position to mold and shape public policy.

If indeed, the decisions were made in a “secretive nature,” the proper term for that is “illegal nature.”

If there is any question as to whether or not meetings were held inconsistent with Maryland State law, the issue can be brought before the Maryland Open Meetings Compliance Board. The final arbiter of such matters is the compliance board, not a columnist, politician with an axe to grind or an editorial board with an agenda. In situations where individuals disagree with a decision of the compliance board, the matter can be determined in court.

For additional information, the Web site for the Maryland Office of the Attorney general has excellent information available under “Open Government.” The web address is: http://www.oag.state.md.us/opengov/index.htm.

Instead of suggesting that a public body has violated the law and manipulating a trial in the court of public opinion, take the matter to the Open Meetings Compliance Board Complaint and get a formal determination or otherwise, forever hold your peace.

The procedures for asking the compliance board to make a determination if there has, indeed, been a violation of the law, can be found at: http://www.oag.state.md.us/Opengov/Openmeetings/complaint.htm.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

####