Most would shrug their shoulders over Eyman’s use of ‘B.S.’

So The Herald Editorial Board says I’m “not being censored” (“Eyman needs to end his ‘B.S.’ protests over voters guide,” The Herald, Sept. 17.)

Really? For my voters pamphlet argument against a sales tax increase in Mukilteo, I wrote: “Politicians always say the need for higher taxes is ‘indisputable.’ We call B.S. on that.” One of the dictionary definitions of B.S. is exactly what I had in mind: “it is said when someone tells a lie.”

Nonetheless, the government censored it.

Snohomish County Auditor Carolyn Weikel said the rules allow her to censor speech that is “libelous or otherwise inappropriate.” She explained why such a broad censorship authority is needed: “In trying to define what can and can’t be said, you can’t get everything,” she said. “By making it broader, it takes into consideration all the things you can’t remember when writing your legislative rules.”

When the government and politicians give themselves unbridled discretionary authority to define what can and can’t be said, we’ve moved light years away from the First Amendment and free speech.

Fighting over “B.S.” seems pretty silly, doesn’t it? But to me, this is serious stuff. Whenever the government tries to censor speech, it’s important for the people to question that authority.

For the past two weeks, B.S. has been widely printed in newspapers, including The Herald. Was there rioting in the streets? Did packs of wolves attack the citizenry? No.

I’m pretty sure regular citizens shrugged their shoulders and said, “You’ve gotta be kidding.” I believe what I wrote is well within the mainstream of political speech, and I firmly oppose the government telling citizens what they can and cannot say in a publication that’s only read by voters over the age of 18.

Voting age citizens are not snowflakes. We are adults who deserve to be treated like adults. And as a political activist, I’m not comfortable with the slippery slope we’re on regarding the almost daily degradation of our right to free speech guaranteed by the First Amendment. Government censorship is a dangerous thing and it deserves vocal resistance, not quiet acceptance.

It’s total B.S.

Tim Eyman

Mukilteo