Editorial Quick Hits: Silencing criticism doesn't pay

The Detroit News

An American Civil Liberties Union settlement with Salem Township officials may help restore free speech and vigorous dissent at public meetings in the Washtenaw County community. At a 2008 public meeting, a resident criticized then Township Supervisor Fred Roperti for lacking "openness and transparency" and was removed by law enforcement officials. When another resident objected to the ejection, he also was escorted out. This is a representative democracy, not a banana republic. Residents have a right to critique the performance of public officials to ensure their tax dollars are used wisely. We're glad the township has settled the suit, paid damages and belatedly recognized by resolution "the rights of the members of the public to criticize ... officials based on their performance without fear of any adverse consequences." It's a lesson the officials should have learned in school, not at the courthouse. It would saved the township from public shame and the taxpayers $27,500 in restitution.

More school districts open checkbooks

More and more Michigan school districts are correctly opening their financial practices to the public. Four school districts -- Gladwin, Clare, Frankenmuth and Coleman -- have joined 54 other districts and two intermediate (county) school districts in publishing their checkbooks online at the behest of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. While half of the 20 largest school districts in the state are now transparent about their finances, more need to join the trend. Taxpayers need to see for themselves that school officials are prudently managing their money and making sure the great majority of it ends up in the classroom.

Not all bad driving habits should be banned

The Michigan House Transportation Committee has decided to complicate law enforcement by approving legislation to make texting while driving a civil infraction. Of course, texting is a distraction and an unsafe practice on the road. But there are many ways that drivers get distracted. By making texting a secondary offense, the House panel ensures that violators can only be ticketed if they are pulled over for another offense. Police officers already can charge a drive with careless or reckless driving if distracted by a cell phone. Educating drivers against the practice may pay better safety dividends than adding another law to the books that may be infrequently enforced.