Three of the worst ideas which make a corrupted county impossible to challenge.

[The Backlash Cometh]

(1)) Newspapers which create districts based on counties, allowing the county office to decide whether they want to publish articles submitted to the newspaper. (It's easier to control information this way, especially if you have a local running the county office.)

(2) State laws which only allow you to sue municipalities inside their own county. (If you live in a good ole boy county, you know that your chances of getting an objective judge is nil to none.)

(3) Congressional Courtesy. Dumbest idea ever. If you bring an issue before your congressperson and they don't have the courtesy to reply, then you should be allowed to find another politician if it's an issue which is up her or his alley.

Did I leave anything out?

[Kalyke]

1. I don't understand what you mean by the first one.

The county can't decide what does or does not go in the newspaper - and, generally, state law REQUIRES the county to publicize foreclosures and meetings in the paper-of-record, which is generally the paper with the highest circulation.

Can you explain further?

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. They may have changed the policy, but,

ten years ago the Orlando Sentinel had a habit of sending any submission they got that was not a matter relevant to Orange County, back to the County where the issue originated. They had feeder offices in those other counties. So stories got stifled by good ole boy editors who controlled those outside counties.