[vietnamvet]

I read the local papers and I go online to see what the city and county, and State are up to.

When an issue is at hand that I feel my input needs to be read into the public record or at the least heard by the City Council I attend the meetings.

The number of citizens that attend is rather low in numbers. At times there are only two or three people that come to the podium to speak. Going way back to those old school days when we were asked to read, out loud, while standing in front of our entire class not many of us were exactly thrilled. It goes back to that time as the reasons we do not, for the most part, wish to speak our minds in an open public forum. It is this psychology that the politicians are counting on. The more of us that do not stand to confront the "leaders" we elect and the ones appointed, such as a city manager, the more things these leaders can pass and heap upon us. The excuse we hear from our leaders is they passed that "rule/law/ordinance because there was no opposition to it. To stand in front of a board of "leaders" can be quite intimidating for people. This is why large groups of people pick people to speak at meetings for them. The "anonymous voice" is used because people can say what is on their minds with out fear of outing themselves to the general public, or suffer repercussions from an upset public official.

Okay, so what if the city of Palm Coast, Flagler County Commission, at all meetings had to enter into the record the fact they had read and took into consideration all "anonymous voices" that were sent to a "Citizens mailbox" where each citizen would have an opportunity to tell then what's on your mind?

Well we actually do have that in place except you have to tell them who you are: go here for the city
http://palmcoastgov.com/contact/

Go here for the County:
http://www.flaglercounty.org/index.aspx?nid=76

Go here for the State:
http://www.myflorida.com/contactus/

Contact all these and tell them you would appreciate a place where you could state your opinion without giving your name, address, phone number to just anyone.

Yep, you guessed it. There are places for that too you can find for city right up to the POTUS!

By the way, just to inject a bit of thought, the "anonymous voice" we have on this very forum and with the red dot issuing is much the same idea, IMO.

[cats100]

this discuss what? the topic say something about discussing something and the thread is blank.

[bluebandit]

my thread wasn't blank BB

[EmmaHoney]

I can tell you from personal experience some reasons given me. "I work for the county", "I work the school system", I work for the city of ...............", or "I work for .............." When employers (especially the major employers in the county) hold you accountable for your opinions made in public then you are not so inclined to make them with your name attached. I could understand their reasoning of not wanting to put their jobs in jeopardy.

[emile]

All emails sent to any government offices in Florida are part of public records. As such they are subject to the Sunshine Laws. It's no wonder that city employees are reluctant to have their names published.

[cats100]

people are not supposed to be using their work email or work computers for anything personal anyway. when posting anywhere public, why would you say where you work anyway?

[EmmaHoney]

people are not supposed to be using their work email or work computers for anything personal anyway. when posting anywhere public, why would you say where you work anyway?

I don't believe that is part of the problem. Attending public meetings or using the sites established require names, and "Why don't more people speak up" being the point and question, if I understood VV correctly.

[Tricie]

I think this is great information. I for one have attended many city council meetings and have only spoken a couple of times. It is very intimidating. I find it much easier to put my thoughts down on paper, or key board as it may be, than to stand in a room full of people who seem to be tolerating me. I am not a public speaker.

[Beachtime]

I prefer to put my name to any letters, e-mails etc. I own what I say and prefer to be taken seriously, especially in important matters. If something is submitted annonymously, I think it becomes a credibility issue. How can anyone take it seriously if you do not own up to it?

Some may not like what I have to say, others will support it. It is a chance you take when you become involved. You can't please all the people all the time. I sign my name.

[vietnamvet]

In American politics it is often of great hope on the part of the elected and appointed officials at any and all levels of government that the people will not feel comfortable speaking up and stating/sharing their opinion(s) in a open live public forum, never mind a closed forum message system where you have to tell "them" who you are. A point brought up that the workers for these officials cannot say what is on their minds for fear of losing their employment because their Boss or a friend of your Boss is offended and wants you fired.

But what if the people could get a group together that would hold meetings and decide on the issues it would make known to these officials through people these groups support as there "Voice"? People who have posted here that they are not intimidated would be perfect for the position. National politics have them, they are called these days, "Super PACS." How would we then, the people of Palm Coast, Bunnell, Flagler Beach, The Mondex, and all the others in Flagler County and Flagler County itself start and create a group, non-partisan, that would do this?

Actually the group is well established and it is right here. The problem is defining how to create a thread that would contain posts of questions about subjects that are at issue with the people without turning it into a verbal brawl of each others opinions. Is it even possible? I would like to think so. Like red light cameras. Most of us don't like them, some of us want them, others don't care. The point is however do we really need them? Are there going to be increases in the amount of rear end crashes at intersections because drivers aware the cameras are there will stop quick, or slam their brakes on in front of a tourist or a big rig that cannot stop who does not or may not have a clue we have red light cameras.

In this new modern world of electronic everything we need an app for this!

I have heard Senators speaking about the people who write them without leaving a name. Being they are very aware that people often talk with each other and a friend calls a friend and on and on it goes! Politicians are more in fear of those they cannot directly address because it is often the opinions of "the masses" that quite frankly do not vote for them and get their friends to do the same. Many a campaign manager has "ears on the ground" to ferret out the unknowns. The they address those unknowns openly thereby putting a halt to the underground speculation.

But it all goes back to us. Those of us who stand in direct disagreement with a politician toe to toe and ask the hard questions. How do we make sure they hear the silent majority?

Nixon may just have said it best. This link is Nixon on the silent majority. Read the comments about the speech. All very different to say the least. Do this and then think about it and come back with your input how we here in this little part of the USA can require our leaders to listen to us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3K2N7FZSXc