Personalities, Causes and Mayoral Roles

Is Good Governance Self Serving?

What I have seen is that the local political world is fairly complex.  Normally, I would sit on the sidelines and say that it does not involve me.  Assuming a neutral role, however, may be in special circumstances a disservice to oneself.  Thus, one has to be self serving at least some of the time in situations where it becomes unavoidable.   

Who decides that it is unavoidable?  Good question!  It's a two way street.  We all need to be self serving a little, but let us not mistake serving others with self serving.  

Nevertheless, it takes one to know one and the present mayor of Grand Bend is apt to present an overstated case in favor of a number of things.  Far be it for me to regard many of his comments as inflammatory or even self serving.  How in the world would I know?  Perhaps, he is serving what he regards as the better interest, but I am in a position to understand what is just wrong and point to a better way to go about things and be picky about honesty and openness in governance.  

Being a mayor is awesome in itself, but the current Mayor needs to have more style.  His projection of himself as a fair and honest dealer is in shambles.  He stands naked before us in his blindness to the fact he has no clothes of consultation and cooperation.

Mayoral Representation and Consultation  

In my view, and in serving myself, we hear much from the Mayor that is false, and we hear much less of what is self evident were he to see himself as others see him.  The situation is mostly about personalities.   That is not to say one should raise personalities to the forefront of a debate.  The issues are important, but they should never be accepted as a done deal when they affect so many people and so many other related things, such as fair dealing, honesty, openness, consultation, service to the community, service to the environment.  

There are many ways to approach interpretations of consultation.  That many were not properly consulted on the issue of sewers is now pretty evident to many people.   

Am I self serving if I object to the fact that I was not properly consulted on something that will impact seriously on my sense of what is right for the environment at my doorstep?  Sorry!   If it comes back to personalities, then such an affront to what I consider fair play will not be taken lightly.  And, it should not be taken lightly.  

After all, in some less fortunate communities changes at one's doorstep become matters constitutional for which people fight to the death.  Are they self serving?    

I am particularly conscious of the mayor's rather bold comments concerning the wisdom of a new sewerage system covering Grand Bend.  He exaggerates the benefits without being smart about the negative consequences.  Rarely, do I meet such narrow mindedness, so it is a displeasure to be sure!  

I would not think any one could ever have voted for him.  however, there are many bright people in the community that did and that puzzles me.   Well, they can correct for past errors and change their minds.  There are some good candidates up to the task of being a Mayor and being better at it.   It does not detract from what has been the current Mayor's personal way has become my present  nightmare and yours.  So, we are all agreed.  A change towards more openness and consultation would be a vast improvement on what we presently have and I don't really want to go there.  

Consequences of Having a Bad Mayor

Being a good mayor is not about spending more and more money and having successful projects.  It is about understanding the electorate and bringing people together within the community.  Nothing should move forward without most people buying into it.  Thus, people need to be informed.  That is a vision of democracy.  One in which people collaborate together and cooperate rather than compete.  They collaborate because they are aware that it is correct to do so.  It fits the circumstances to work together on important issues such as sewers and commercialization.

But, that is not the main issue as I understand the Mayor has left quite a messy situation and lots of ill feeling within the community, and yes, it seems, it is time for him to pack up his Mayoral role and from what I have seen it is not too early.  Who will pick up the sad discardable pieces that he leaves behind and deal with them effectively, I wonder who?

Sewers

It is sad that ordinary people who voice their opposition to costs they cannot bear should be disparaged within the community.  That is just plain wrong.  

Let's get rid of the sewerage project until we have much more unanimity of purpose about it within the community.  If we don't we will almost certainly be driving in completely the wrong direction.

I cannot for the life of me see why there is so much rush.  

This is a time to continue the research into what is appropriate and it is not the time to be spending money on consultants without imagination.  

I have never seen a community so divided over rubbish.  

We could save much wasted money by dumping the sewerage project into a black hole somewhere.  Would that I could build a black hole for it, myself. 

Will ye no think kindly on those who would be your friends!  May the sun shine with your thoughts, today, and happiness grow in your heart! May you allow yourself some peace of mind.