The Buncombe County Commissioners will approve tomorrow a code of conduct for themselves. Some parts are very demanding. Other parts are weird; strange grammar appearing to be a tool of exoneration by obfuscation.

“Shoulds” and “musts” quoted from the document are:

  • be aware of their obligation to conform their behavior to standards of ethical conduct that warrant the trust of their constituents [It does not say they must comport themselves ethically.]
  • obey the law [Does that mean the rest of us who haven’t signed the document don’t have to?]
  • demonstrate the highest standard of personal integrity, truthfulness, honesty and fortitude in all public activities [What liar could turn down this commitment?]
  • respect and comply with the law and conduct [an orchestra? a train?] at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity of the office . . .
  • not allow family, social, or other relationships to unduly influence my conduct or judgment [Since the commissioners are addressed in the third person, I’m wondering if they’ve been the voices in my head.]
  • if a county commissioner believes that his/her actions . . . may be misunderstood, the member . . . should consider publically disclosing the facts . . . [A word without definition grants latitude.]
  • be un-swayed by partisan interests, public clamor, or fear of criticism [The list of qualified candidates just about disappeared.]
  • be honest, patient, dignified, and courteous to those with whom they deal in their official capacity
  • be aware of the letter and intent of the state’s open meetings law, and conduct the affairs of the Board of County Commissioners consistent [Can I buy an adverb, Pat?] with the letter and spirit of that law and consistent with . . .
  • be informed concerning campaign finance . . . laws and scrupulously comply with the provisions of such laws [Lawyers can’t even agree what campaign finance laws mean.]
  • attend political meetings
  • advocate and support the principles or policies of civic or political organizations consistent with the Constitution and laws of the United States and North Carolina [I’d like to see the first, but how are they to comport themselves consistently with an internally inconsistent body of law?]
  • maintain the dignity appropriate to the office and encourage members of his/her family to adhere to the same standards of political conduct . . .
  • not make pledges or promises of conduct in office that he/she cannot or will not perform [So, if they begin the meeting pledging allegiance to the Republic . . . with liberty and justice for all; can they raise taxes, take from the working poor to subsidize those with feigned disabilities, claim a right to tell people on mountainsides and by rivers what they can and cannot do with their property, expand foreign debt by accepting federal grants, expand welfare statism – or was that another Republic, the proverbial Republic for Widget Stands.]