Our forefathers left Europe for a number of reasons: religious oppression, taxation without representation, and an inability to participate in government. As a result, the United States is the most diverse religious nation on earth. We hold separation of church and state to be a sacred value. And nobody can say that our elected officials feel an ability to raise taxes without political repercussions. However, our city council violated our rights as Duluthians the other day when it met behind closed doors to discuss the prickly issue of retiree benefits. Our ability to participate in local government was stymied.

For this blatant disregard for Duluthians and our role in the political process, the city council deserves extraordinary criticism.

Clearly, any government body should meet in closed session in the face of a law suit, when a public meeting might compromise the integrity of the case. Once the case is decided by a judge, the matter should then be open to anyone. In the case of the retiree benefits, it is unclear why the city council met behind closed doors. No known immediate court case was pending. Therefore, one can only assume that the council met secretly to avoid criticism - either from those who are demanding immediate resolution to the matter or from the retirees who have reason to be concerned.

To be sure, the retiree benefit crisis is one of the most important issues the city needs to resolve. At last count, the unfunded portion of retiree benefits stood at $178.5 million dollars. Conflicting information now indicates that the city might be liable for up to $280 million dollars – dollars that by law we must begin to pay. This says nothing of static revenues that assure diminished city services or the effects of cutting benefits to the retirees. These issues must be resolved or we may face bankruptcy.

Regardless of what criticism or heated discussion might come when our local government discusses sensitive issues, we must discuss them openly and embrace whatever criticism arises. Certainly, we would not tolerate this kind of behavior from the federal or state government – why would we tolerate this kind of behavior from our local city council?