Censorship In Charlevoix County Or All The News That Fits The Agenda

So there I was writing about Charlevoix County government with special attention paid to the transit department, when lo and behold I am censored by no other than the Charlevoix County Republicans Facebook group page. Yes, I have been erased from the annals of that small group of Republican partisans that claim righteousness in Northern Michigan while practicing suppression of opinion not to their liking.

This is not the first time I have been censored for voicing opinions, nor am I alone. This very thing has also happened to me and others who have attempted to criticize county transit on their Facebook page. Simply being critical of county government can and will get your comments censored. Even at a recent meeting of the county commissioners, when I read comments from a prepared statement I was censored in the minutes of that meeting. Not personal attacks, not profanity, just straight up criticism will be enough for removal.

I was contacted by a local news organization requesting documentation of the questions and concerns I had raised. I was told that they wanted to print my critiques, so I promptly sent the proof. The news editor thanked me for fulfilling his request and then he was not heard from again. When I inquired, he stated that he was still trying to determine the best way to present the information. Now, several weeks later, nothing. What happened, I don’t know; I have my suspicions, but that is all.

So what is it that causes such Orwellian response? Could it be the time I shed light on the biased and discriminatory practices of the transit department? Perhaps it was my criticism of the actions of the Charlevoix County Board of Commissioners. Or my recent call for the progressives in the Charlevoix County Republicans to accept the results from this presidential election and support President Trump. Maybe it was the time that I dared to state that secure borders are the right of all nations and securing our Southern border will improve national security. No, I believe that it wasn’t one of those things; it was any of those things. Dare to state the truth and be ready for censorship.

The elitist mentality of our county government, the good ol’ boy, go along to get along, us against them approach to government seems to be their modus operandi. How do they do it? How are they able to continue such abhorrent behavior? Well, consider the state of our society. The subversive tactics that gave us political correctness, safe spaces, and intolerance of dissenting opinion, have allowed this type of behavior to go unchecked. That and the fact that we the citizens of Charlevoix County don’t speak up often enough, or loud enough, or long enough.

I for one will keep on speaking. The right of free speech is the cornerstone of this great Republic, and as long as I am able, I will continue to accept the responsibility of the citizenry to speak truth to power.