When the federal government lays people off, it becomes national news. The shutdown has been one of the biggest political news topics of the year. When it happens locally, sometimes there is barely a whisper. True, being fired from a job with no pay, no real power and no respect is probably not a big deal for someone. We see the trend as a little frightening.

Since June, the North Port City Commission has fired a committee a month — resulting in the loss of 36 advisory board jobs. They did give those members who showed up for the “thank you, now leave,” proclamations a nice certificate to commemorate their firing — even offering certificates to board members who hadn’t been on the boards for years. Few members of the fired boards attended.