“Lawsuits are not democratic,” City Council President Rudy Renaud was quoted as saying on July 17. “It’s a process left to those who are privileged, which leaves a whole lot of people on the sidelines.” Montesquieu rolls in his grave.
Just the day before, the ACLU filed a lawsuit in California challenging Donald Trump’s latest asylum restrictions. The Florida Immigrant Coalition filed a lawsuit in Miami challenging that state’s law prohibiting Sanctuary Cities.
Before then, Richard and Mildred Loving’s lawsuit legalized interracial marriage. Hillary and Julie Goodridge’s lawsuit made same-sex marriage legal in Massachusetts. James Obergefell’s lawsuit made it legal nationwide. Oliver Brown’s lawsuit desegregated public schools. Jami McDuffy’s lawsuit improved how Massachusetts’ state government funds local schools. If I am being heavy handed in my examples, it is only to show the colossal levels of ignorance and arrogance packed into Renaud’s quote.
Am I saying a lawsuit filed by a local sprawlbuster in a rinky dink municipality is somewhat equivalent to landmark civil rights cases? Indeed I am. When someone elected by 24 percent of the of the town’s registered voters disregards any or all of the remaining 76 percent (and in this case disregards a good chunk of the 24 percent who voted them in), we can now have a serious discussion of privilege and things not democratic.
I’m not writing to endorse Al Norman’s views but to endorse a system allowing everyone to have a say. What truly “leaves a whole lot of people on the sidelines” in this small town is a city government with a mayor and 13 councilors. We would be far better served and better governed by a Selectboard and Town Meeting.
Marc Odato
Greenfield