Should Council officials be allowed to text whilst in deliberations?

Interesting point raised in this piece I came across…
Link: Silver City Sun-News – Commentary: Texting may not be illegal, but is it ethical?

It may not be illegal for public officials to send and receive text messages during a public meeting, but is it unethical?

The question was posed following the May 21 City Council meeting in which approval was given to the annexation of a huge piece of land for development on the East Mesa. Councilor Ken Miyagishima, who was the only council member to oppose the annexation, was reportedly seen sending and receiving text messages during the meeting.

If this was my council member, I would be rather annoyed. First of all, switch your phone OFF when you’re in deliberations. Second, please give your FULL ATTENTION to the issue at hand. Third, just who are you texting?

I don’t think this sort of thing should be allowed. Can you imagine being sentenced by a Judge…

Mr MacLeod, in the matter of your suit against [insert mobile company here], the jury…

BEEEP BEEEEEEP

Ah, hold on…. Heh. Text from my granddaughter. The pony is walking again. Right. Right, where was I? Yes… the jury finds you…

One imagines that you don’t have to ask a Judge to put his or her phone off. Nor a Member of Parliament in the middle of a committee meeting. Although I do wonder.

Am I the only one who regularly examines his interaction level and switches his phone’s profile status accordingly? For example, if I’m heading into a meeting with a client, I *always* switch my handset to silent. Always.