As in so much of society today, Gooberville suffered a breakdown in civil discourse. The Gooberville City Council meetings grew longer in length as citizen and politicians took to calling each other doodyheads and such things, getting into personal, vindictive arguments, rather than attempting to debate issues in a civil manner.

The Mayor asked the City Attorney to draft an ordinance to force people to behave in a civil manner. The City Attorney said, “Let me think about this. I will let you know soon.”

As they entered Gooberville City Hall the night of the next Council meeting, the Mayor told the Attorney that he had not heard from the Attorney as promised. “Ah, I think you will find tonight that the matter will be resolved without need for a new ordinance.”

Indeed, it was sensed in the meting as it began that something was quite different that evening as people looked around the room. The first citizen approached the dais for the public input portion of the meeting.

“As you low life scum know, I am Wally Weasel of…ow! What the…ow” Wally grabbed the back of his neck where a wooden ruler had struck him. “What was that for?”

“Apologize to the Mayor for being impolite, young man.”

“I will not apologize to that piece of…ow! Whack me again and I, hey, let go of my ear!” Wally was led by the ear out of the council chambers.

Councilman Silva leapt from his chair. “Our citizens, ow! Hey why did you hit me with that ruler?”

“Young man, you will speak only when given permission. Now sit down and remain quiet until such time.”

“I am a councilman and, ow, OK. OK.” He sat down sheepishly.

The Police Chief started to rise to the councilman’s defense, only to stop and relax back into his seat with a wooden ruler pointed at his nose.

“Sit, young man. The councilman doesn’t need your help to learn how to act properly.”

The meeting continued in this manner the remainder of the evening. Both citizens and council members became more civil, not raising their voices, speaking politely, staying on subject and getting to the point quickly. The corners of the room became crowded with citizens standing with their noses in them.

As the meeting ended, the Mayor smiled and thanked the City Attorney. “Sir, I commend you for bringing civility and decorum to these proceedings.”

The City Attorney replied, “Don’t thank me, Thank the Sisters from Our Lady of Perpetual Motion for assisting us as acting sergeants at arms tonight. Mother Superior thought it an excellent opportunity to bring order back to Gooberville.”