How I feel about Politics.

Based on some questions people have been asking me of late. I need to get this written out.

My beliefs in politicians (and of all people in general) is to be transparent, honest and acknowledge your mistakes. You will never get everyone in your riding or ward to agree with you 100% of the time, but people do value honesty and integrity.

I really get annoyed when politicians make a claim in a sound bite and then don’t follow up with details on it.  The recent municipal elections involving a four year tax freeze is one example.  Many people seem to make vague statements like finding inefficiencies and that no services will be cut. Post election we start hearing that no ‘core’ services will be cut.

When you run a campaign to get someone elected it should not be ‘at any cost’  As a voter and a citizen I’m insulted when a politician tries less then transparent means to get elected. Every other citizen should feel the same way in my humble opinion.

Glen Pearson blogged about The Myth of the Silent Majority and how many use that line to try and discourage engagement. Some people opposing some of these citizen groups have reasons to be concerned because it nullifies some of the tactics of fear and uncertainly that we have seen happening more and more in Canadian politics of all levels. It’s tactics I’ve seen in the last three elections and I’m insulted by it.

I realize that my vision of the city is not going to align 100% with other people but we have to give all citizens the true facts, without trying to mask things. In addition there is nothing wrong with coming out and admitting you were wrong. People can and will forgive if you do something wrong and try to make it right.

Question: Do you agree there needs to be more transparency in politics?

Another nail in the Rippers Coffin

Seeing this story in the Free Press tonight does not surprise me. The London Rippers have lost their merchandise store in downtown due to non payment of rent. I’m sure the team will blame everyone but themselves for this latest chapter in this saga. Local site AltLondon.org broke the story earlier in the evening, with a link to a photo of the store with the legal notice on.

Starting with the wrong branding from the start, then ignoring your community. Then expecting support from the same people you thumbed your nose at when you realize you didn’t check the fine print on the contract about the LCBO license.

As much as I’d love something like this to work, (and we have seen it work with the London Lightning) making your customers angry from the start is not a good strategy for long tem growth. Even the local media is starting to mention that as well.

Drummond Report Part 3

One of the common threads throughout the various recommendations across all government ministries is the desire to find a better way of doing things.  This covers many forms but the report made sure to not recommend across the board cuts or a hiring freeze.  They feel that this only offers short term gains and will not be sustainable for the 7-8 years need to get back to balanced spending. Instead they are recommending making objectives more more evidence based. “The government should collect data and use it to evaluate whether objectives are being met and how efficiently.”

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Drummond Report Part 2

As I mentioned in Part 1 of this series, it is important to look at the report with an open mind.  You don’t have to agree with all of it but at least realize that some out of the box thinking may be worthwhile. I was planning to get to some of the details of the report but reviewing my notes it’s clear more of the mandate and general observations should be covered.

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