C. Northcote Parkinson’s law of triviality states that “The time spent on any item of the agenda will be in inverse proportion to the sum [of money] involved.” The sum may also be interpreted to mean the level of importance.

On Wednesday, The Press’ banner headline read: “Council changes prayer policy. Invocations won’t be led by Christian pastors only.”

The article went on to state that “The Coeur d’Alene City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to open invocations before meetings to any ‘nonprofit, faith-based organization within the city of Coeur d’Alene.’”

Prior to the vote, Councilman Woody McEvers dryly stated that he wasn’t sure what “nonprofit, faith-based” meant.

“But if it feels good, let’s go with it,” he said.

Could the council’s much ado about prayer policy possibly represent an example of Parkinson’s Law of Triviality?

BOB LaRUE

Hauser