If there were ever a poster-child for intrusive government and politicians who obviously have too much time on their hands, this new Brighton, Michigan city ordinance is it.  Brighton residents now have a new commandment:  Thou Shalt Not Be Annoying.  This includes annoying acts that take place "by word of mouth, sign or motions."

Well then.  At first blush, one could be tempted to think this isn't such a bad idea.  Who wants to be annoyed?  Whether it is the guy at the gas station asking for money for gasoline (always, of course, because he's trying to get to a job interview) or the loud motorcycles outside my window on Sunday nights, to the guy driving slowly in the left lane, there are plenty of people whom I find annoying during the course of the week.  Casting a wider net, I could find even more:  AIG, GM, and Chrysler executives trying to get at my paycheck (and apparently succeeding), the head of the UAW, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, and Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens; gimme more time and I'm sure I can think of even more.  Why shouldn't I have some recourse?

Seriously, though, who decides what's "annoying"?  The purpose of government is to protect our life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, not our attainment thereof.  Perhaps the government decides that my blog is "annoying" (based on a couple of the comments and emails I've received over the past 16 months or so, there are certainly those that do), or my protest against a new tax, or my remarks on a radio talk show.  Perhaps someone is annoyed by a particular association, holiday, newspaper article, or religious service.  Or perhaps I'm scratching my nose while pumping gas and the guy in the next car thinks I'm flipping him off (hey, it happened on Seinfeld, so it's certainly possible).

Instead of wasting time worrying about someone being annoyed, instead of investing the government with broad new powers to censor speech and intrude on individual liberty, the busybodies could be more gainfully employed looking for cost savings by their government, lowering taxes, and creating a more free, open society in their community.  Or, better yet, contributing to community by starting a business or tutoring kids (obviously not in American Government class) or baking cookies for the kids down the street.  As much as I'd like to go through each day not being annoyed, it's not the government's business.