Right To Speak Out In Jeopardy

I hope most West Virginians are as appalled as I was to learn that our Governor threatened one of our citizens with greater scrutiny for speaking out in opposition to the constitutional amendment required to sell the bonds necessary to acquire more debt. Bullying citizens who disagree or who raise important questions about what our government is doing should never be tolerated. It appears the Governor is sending a message loud and clear: Either you agree to do it our way or we will bring the full force and might of state government to bear on your business.

Citizens and businesses are the ones who will pay for any policy created by government, so they should have the right to voice their opinions without threat of reprisal from state officials. Apparently the Manchin administration believes differently. Rather than simply explaining the facts and providing the public with the information necessary for it to make informed decisions at the polls, they would rather take a hard line on anyone who opposes their point of view.

It is a sad day when to defend government policy you have to resort to threats on citizens rather than allowing the constitutional amendment to pass or fail on the merits. If the merits are in question and the government cannot counter the negative facts, then perhaps those in opposition are more correct than anyone previously believed. I hope the citizens have the courage to vote against the constitutional amendment, if for no other reason other than the fact that we do not have enough facts to support it. Only rhetorical opinions exist.

We should insist on better government as we are paying for it.