Keep in mind what these workshops are: work sessions, where decisions are not made, but ideas are exchanged. While open government and accountability is important and vital, it is also important for members to be able to “think out loud;” to consider all ideas, and ultimately reject many of them. If every idea is recorded and broadcast, fewer ideas will come up for fear that an electorate will seize upon that statement and use it against a member politically, even if the idea is ultimately and rightly rejected.

If we want to encourage thinking outside the box, broadcasting a brainstorm session is not the way to do it. This is why executive privilege exists, why (in part)lawyer-client communications are privileged, why not EVERY statement, every thought, of every counsel member ought to be broadcast. Certainly decisions and the rationales for them ought to be made in open meetings, and the decision-makers held accountable. But it does not necessarily make for good government to watch all the process.

Remember the line about sausage?

That said, I don’t live in Wichita, so what I think on this point really don’t matter, do it!

Something to hide?

If you fail to pay your cable bill, instaed of cutting your service they should televise local gov’t meetings 24/7 on every channel until you pay up!!