It always fascinates me how easily public servants transcend into public tyrants.

It fascinates me and not always in a good way as to how upset and even distraught sometimes public servants become when it is pointed out to them that their authority is not boundless, and that there are limits.  How many times such a disgruntled public servant would yell at me "don't tell me what to do"!!! And, beg your pardon, why not?  Don't you have boundaries?  Aren't you accountable to me as part of your sovereign, your master?

If elected or appointed public officials are our servants, and we are their masters, they must act only within authority given to them by the masters, by us?  Right?

What if they run amok and claim more than we have given them?  Can we restrict them? Politely point out their errant ways?  Punish them?  And escape with our lives, children, health, reputation, liberty, livelihoods and property?

What if they did not exactly run amok, but it just feels that something stinks?  For some reason?

What can be done then?  Can the master investigate the servant?  Are there effective ways to discipline that servant?  I mean, truly effective ways, not ways "presumed effective" by other public servants.

I will try to explore these sticky issues in this blog.