RECALL: Respect and honor, folks

I am amazed and dismayed about the fuss over the Recall petition. First of all, it should not be the Press’s position to seemingly further the efforts of either side of this debate. In fact, I have never been in a city where its elected officials have been so obviously, and publicly, against a recall; I would think that they would want to have a vote of confidence before they proceed with their agenda.

In America, the only way that a “vote of confidence” can happen is by citizens petitioning for a recall vote to be placed on the ballot, unlike other countries, where simply a majority vote within the ruling body can topple their government. To reiterate, citizens can only petition for a recall vote to be placed on the ballot, and only then it goes to a general vote. The City Council needs to remember that it is their privilege, and honor, to serve the people, and not their veritable right.

Have we really lost our way in this country? Are we really hearing our governing body saying that we, the citizens, cannot make a proper decision over the McEuen Park issue? This effort to place the recall on the ballot should be a real wake up call, and should be welcomed as a demonstration of our American Democracy at work.

Let us get back to the honor that this country was founded upon, and return the power to the very people for whom the government is there to serve. No one in an elected position should ever feel that they own the position that they are in, and, accordingly, they should act in a manner that reflects humility, and respect, for the people who elected them. A recall vote is a very democratic principle for which our elected officials should show honor and respect, and most certainly not disrespect through words and actions.

JONATHAN SEDGWICK

Coeur d’Alene