YEARS AGO ACROSS the river a new supervisor won election promising to bring common sense and fiscal discipline to a town in need of both. His campaign pledges were more than political blah, blah, blah. The town was drowning in a soup of opinions cooked up by people who considered themselves experts on every topic under the sun, regardless of the facts. These great thinkers were eager to enlighten the new Town Board.
The supervisor’s initial town meeting went smoothly enough at first, as he presided in an amiable, low key fashion. But unable to remain silent a moment longer, one of the wise men began to babble. Swiftly, not saying a word, the supervisor picked up the gavel and brought it down on the table with a crack like a shotgun fired in an oil drum – so loud that everybody in the room jumped.
He savored the silence for a moment, then the supervisor calmly reminded the audience that the board had set aside parts of the meeting for public comment and everyone who wished to speak would have a turn. The great thinkers quickly grew impatient and left, taking their great thoughts with them. Town meetings got shorter and more productive.
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