It Was 229 Years Ago This Great Experiment Got Underway

Representative Democracy Works, But Only Through Participation Of Those Governed

by Johnny Gunn

Oh, what wonderful and meaningful words they were, echoing up and down the Atlantic coast, separating those 13 colonies from King George forever.

"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

Is there another preamble to independence and freedom stronger than those words? They were spoken July 4, 1776 and signed by 56 members of Congress August 2, 1776. The following are the words most often quoted and remembered:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

It's that last sentence that is too often neglected today. "The consent of the governed." That consent comes by way of the ballot box and the ballot box only. All the vitriolic editorials from the left and right mean nothing compared to the ballot box. Hundreds of millions of broadcast commentators speaking their liberal or conservative views are worthless without the ballot box.

"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such for, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

Those that wrote these words, those that supported these causes, those that bore arms were considered traitors of course, and prices were put on their heads. We can't bring ourselves to go to the polling place while 229 years ago it was your head to go. In the end, King George lost, and the concept of representative democracy came alive.

The framers of our constitution used many of the words from the Declaration of Independence in the document, but it appears it is the final chapter that laid the groundwork for the concept.

"We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States."

It's that wonderful part, "...in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies ..." that puts the concept of representative democracy to paper. It will continue to work only as long as "...the good People ..." give that authority, and that comes straight from the ballot box.

Have a Happy Fourth of July, watch the fireworks, burn tons of hot dogs, swill some suds, and make a promise to yourself to that " ...Authority of the good people ..." to make your voice heard, intentions known, and freedom preserved.

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City Of Reno Blunder Might Cost Lives

Are There More Lawsuits In Future?

by Johnny Gunn

The Reno City Council sold the old city hall building and site and it's expected that a children's museum will be taking over the old building. It sounds really good on paper but there is a huge problem that was never brought to the council table. Can you remember why you moved city hall from the old location?

There were some sound arguments for moving, such as space and age, but the one big argument was the safety of the building. Can't you folks remember being told the building just might fall down around your ears if a rather large earthquake should come around? Can't you remember being told that to retrofit the old building to withstand strong temblors would be too expensive? Are you saying it's not safe enough for you, but it's OK for the kids?

During a quake a few years ago, according to city building inspectors at the time, Reno City Hall was seriously damaged, and there was never any seismic retrofitting. There has been continuous discussion over the safety of the building. Well, that is except during this last set of discussions when the city might have an opportunity to shuck the old place off to somebody.

On Sunday June 26 a temblor measured at 4.8 on the Richter Scale shook up the Truckee Meadows, so we know that earthquakes do happen around here. Long time residents have felt many jolts over the years, and potential seismic activity is included in all building plans in the area because of it.

According to a press release from the city, the building will bring in about $1.85 million. There is no estimate of what the court might decide if the building should happen to fall on some kids during a large magnitude earthquake.

When that contract of sale is written I certainly hope words such as seismic retrofitting, such as danger from earthquakes, such as unsafe at any speed are included. If not, somebody wake up Patricia Lynch because she will have to endure another losing court battle.

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