Comment: "Actions speak louder than words"

Saturday's legislative forum drew around 200 people to Decorah City Hall

(Comment by decorahnews.com's Paul Scott):

You've all heard the expression, "Actions speak louder than words."  That phrase is more important than ever when it comes to figuring out what is happening in politics these days.

Take, for instance, the Iowa legislature's vote to change collective bargaining rules for public employees in the state.  Defenders of the legislation say it is necessary "to give local control back to counties, cities and school boards." 

Have counties, cities and school boards in Iowa expressed their appreciation of the legislature's work?  No, they hurried to approve two-year extensions to their current contracts to avoid the terms of the new law.  Nearly 190 school districts--including Decorah--approved contract extensions.  Many counties and cities--including Winneshiek County--also approved contract extensions.

The new legislation could eventually prove to be a good idea, but the local governments that exercise the "local control" that state legislators have been praising so much have been running as fast as they can to avoid the new legislation. 

Another way actions will be more important than words is if teachers--especially in border counties like Winneshiek County--begin leaving Iowa to take jobs in Minnesota, which doesn't have such rules.

Remember, in politics it's always wise to pay attention to what happens, not to what people say!