Elected board needs renewal, not removal

Gov. John Engler of Michigan recently made a proposal that the legislature abolish the existing Detroit school board and allow Mayor Dennis Archer to appoint a new one.

This move could set a potentially dangerous precedent for the future of representative democracy.

Anytime a government decides that it is acceptable for those in power, to remove elected officials and replace them with ones of its choosing, the collective rights of the people are threatened.

For any official in power to do so sends the message, "We have given you the right to choose your own representatives. However, you are not capable of choosing good ones, so this right is hereby removed."

The fact that Detroit is a predominantly black city poses more specific problems as well. Such a measure risks enraging the black community, who could potentially see this as a race issue: a white major taking away officials chosen by a black electorate.

Another way must be found to turn the system around besides the removal of elected representatives.