April 14, 2005

A Thousand Flowers Not Yet Blooming

Brian Mosely of the Shelbyville Times-Gazette nails it in a very inciteful commentary about ethics scandals in the Tennessee legislature, and the flak that freshman state Rep. Stacey Campfield, a Knoxville Republican, got from House Democrats because he started a blog about the legislature - and posted a political joke he'd recieved via email that wasn't flattering to Democrats:

Usually, when you began to take flak, you're probably over the target. Campfield also believes that other lawmakers should set up there own blogs to express their thoughts and opinions. This seems like a great idea. Lawmakers could save a ton of money on mailings and getting the word out to their constituents, not to mention that the blogging software also allows readers to respond to the postings, which would be an excellent way of gauging hometown reactions on current issues.

"When I started my blog I did it to listen to, speak with, and inform people. Not to silence anyone," Campfield writes. "I am not trying to discourage any competition. In fact, I have always felt that trees competing for the light have always grown the tallest. An informed public makes the best democracy."

Indeed. Instead of getting upset over an e-mail joke, lawmakers should heed Campfield's advice and join him on the Internet to converse with and inform the public, unless they wish to remain behind closed doors with closed lips and remain usually notably ungoverned.