It’s challenging to get things done in a democracy. There are all those annoying contrary opinions on what the right course of action might be and which policies to enact in order to meet the needs of the public. How tempting it must be for politicians and civil servants to simply deal with things behind closed doors and through quiet phone calls away from prying ears and eyes and all the fuss and controversy they tend to engender.
With no need for long explanations to people who are not inclined to listen or evidence-based policy, a policy maker could just fly along on gut and intuition or just do things “they way we have always done them.” As Fiddler on the Roof’s Tevia was wont to sing, “tradition!”
But this isn’t the early 19th century and, like it or not, we do live in a democracy, so municipal councillors have to relinquish some of the “way we have always done things” and pay attention to the legislation that defines their roles.
This isn’t a bad thing, in fact, it is a really good thing. But it is a change and change is hard.
Direct democracy is often put forward as an ideal by those who don’t actually have to go through the challenges of getting something done. In the days of the Greek city states, when everyone could gather in the town square and hammer out what needed to be done about the Spartans gathering outside their gates, or how to respond to a neighbouring community’s depredations upon their fields and/or shipping, it was the epitome of democracy. People apparently had a lot of time on their hands in those far off benighted days. It really didn’t work out all that well in the end. By the time decisions were made the Spartans had already scaled the walls and the pirates made off with their booty.
Getting things done in a timely manner requires a certain amount of discipline. Getting things done fairly and honestly calls for a great deal of transparency and accountability, and yes, decorum. That means behaving like civilized ladies and gentlemen as well as having set rules on who speaks when and how.
Most modern councils work on the principle that should someone wish to enter the discussion at the council table they make an application for a delegation. Random interactions from the floor, that realm so pejoratively characterized by the late W.C. Fields as “the peanut gallery,” is a sure recipe for chaos, complete with red herrings and white rabbits for all.
If you think getting things done in a democracy is tough, try shouting your way through an anarchy.
While it may seem wrong to “muzzle” citizens in the council chambers, it is the chair (usually the reeve or mayor) who must enforce the rules of order, in the interests of actually getting the work of council done. It is not an easy task, no one likes to tell their friends and neighbours to sit down and stay silent—but it has to be done if order is to be maintained and work to proceed in a timely manner.
Nearly all councils on Manitoulin do follow those basic tenets of modern democracy. It is past time for all councils to shake off the shackles of the past. What worked well enough in the 1880s is not going to cut it in the 21st Century. Better to catch up to time than be forced into it through the offices of the court or provincial intervention.
