tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659718855216625223.post732208256861809317..comments2023-05-30T09:35:06.913-06:00Comments on Dog Blog: Council Wrapup: Extending Councillor Terms and Some Early Budget ItemsStephen Whitworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594299466827236053noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659718855216625223.post-4040386887285930822010-01-20T08:52:26.276-06:002010-01-20T08:52:26.276-06:00Way to be a wet blanket, Steve. Of course we'r...Way to be a wet blanket, Steve. Of course we're arguing semantics. All the best arguments are over semantics.Paul Dechenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13448841984966359917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659718855216625223.post-89643555247509612862010-01-20T07:37:54.762-06:002010-01-20T07:37:54.762-06:00I think you guys are arguing semantics. Basic word...I think you guys are arguing semantics. Basic words like "efficiency" have become packed with propoganda and it screws up basic conversation.<br /><br />I think Anonymous' point is that it's offensive and destructive to chirp about how inefficient governments are. I think Paul's point is that a narrow definition of "efficient"--making a profit--is a stupid way to look at government.<br /><br />Basically, I think you both probably agree.<br /><br />But good conversation.<br /><br />(Also, Paul: I do not believe that public tendering processes are ultimately inefficient just because they do not automatically go for the lowest bid. [And neither do you!] There are undoubtedly measurable benefits from competency and safety.)SWhitworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15274344152866427048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659718855216625223.post-1851079030060200742010-01-19T15:10:58.967-06:002010-01-19T15:10:58.967-06:00I object to this characterization of people as &qu...I object to this characterization of people as "customers" or as "consumers" of government services. Me? I'm a citizen. It's not a cool word these days, I know, but I like it. It implies a sharing of responsibility between people and the governments they elect. Governments have to do their job of protecting people and keeping the infrastructure functioning. Citizens have to facilitate that by electing competent people and, you know, paying their taxes. (I like taxes, by the way. Again: Not a cool thing to say. But I do.) There's more to it, but that's a start.<br /><br />As for governments and this chimera of "efficiency": Governments can't be efficient in any conventional way because they have to do things like conform to tendering processes that ensure that tax money isn't used in corrupt ways. That's costly and inefficient. It'd be easier and cheaper for politicians to just hire out work to pals and family -- like corporations do -- but they can't do that. That's an obstacle to efficiency that we impose on government to make it operate more fairly.<br /><br />Similarly, governments have to conduct most of their business out in open forums and they have to incorporate public input into their decision-making. That doesn't contribute to a government's bottom line but it makes them inclusive and, again, fair. Corporations don't have to do any of that unless they're compelled to (by governments).<br /><br />Meanwhile, to top it all off, the kind of work that we expect governments to manage is inherently difficult to conduct on a, say, for-profit basis. That's especially true of municipal projects. Take roads, for example. There was a time at the dawn of the auto age when the idea of having car companies pay for and maintain roads was considered. (Same as how the train companies had to maintain and build their network of tracks.) Corporations shucked that job off onto local governments. Why? Because they knew how bloody impossible it would be to build a continent-wide road network in a cost-efficient manner.<br /><br />So, no, I don't expect government to function in an efficient manner. In fact, I'm grateful that it doesn't. Do I appreciate a prompt response to my phonecalls to government? Yes. And so far, I have to report that the city of Regina has done, on balance, a pretty good job of responding to my queries and concerns. And I can give you a long list of corporations who have failed utterly to respond to my concerns.<br /><br />Moreover, as I said before, the ideas that corporations are more efficient and better at running things than governments are a fantasies. And, the idea that efficiency is a desirable goal unto itself is, I'd assert, a crock. I'd rather governments and corporations be fair, responsible, sustainable and careful than efficient any day. This tyranny of efficiency that's been inflicted on us since the 80s and 90s will doom our civilization.Paul Dechenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13448841984966359917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659718855216625223.post-64257526536022247532010-01-19T14:12:51.563-06:002010-01-19T14:12:51.563-06:00I only take one issue with what you wrote, okay, i...I only take one issue with what you wrote, okay, it's not the only issue I have but that's another story. <br /><br />My question for you Paul, is why should we expect municipal government or government in general to be inefficient? I think we give politicians and bureaucrats an out if we accept the inefficiences that characterize government. Expecially at the city level, why shouldn't we be treated like customersw and expect a timely return of a phone call or answer to my problem?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659718855216625223.post-9882822686488201502010-01-19T12:13:15.541-06:002010-01-19T12:13:15.541-06:00As for the transit hub, I agree, done well this co...As for the transit hub, I agree, done well this could be great for the library and great for Regina transit. I hope the library will embrace its position as somewhere for people to warmup while waiting for the bus. Cornwall Centre hasn't and I think that's part of why 11th where the buses stop is such a sketchy location. But if everyone involved in this hub relocation says "We want to make transit a marvelous experience for everyone involved" then we could get that. If the stakeholders are dragged kicking and screaming to this, though, it'll be a disaster.Paul Dechenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13448841984966359917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659718855216625223.post-23409608953573002152010-01-19T12:08:33.488-06:002010-01-19T12:08:33.488-06:00Yeah, I'm of two minds on the 4-year terms. Bu...Yeah, I'm of two minds on the 4-year terms. But I don't know if having them less frequently will improve voter turnout. Let's face it, for 65 per cent of Reginans, municipal elections aren't happening at all.Paul Dechenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13448841984966359917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659718855216625223.post-26519307051679603722010-01-19T10:34:34.925-06:002010-01-19T10:34:34.925-06:00One little problem if they switch to 4 year terms....One little problem if they switch to 4 year terms. You will be out of step with the school boards elections, unless you want all your trustees to be four years as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659718855216625223.post-42975096387060543152010-01-19T10:14:04.163-06:002010-01-19T10:14:04.163-06:00Four year terms might get people more interested i...Four year terms might get people more interested in elections, actually - having them a little less frequently will hopefully make them feel like bigger events. I know it's only one year of difference, but really, with the civic election happening every three years, it feels like you blink and there's another civic election. Also, elections cost money - maybe having them less frequently will loosen the purse strings a little bit.<br />On relocating the 12th ave transit hub to city hall / library - I think it'll be good. Especially if the library figures out a way to configure itself in such a way that it gives people an indoor place to wait for the bus / kill time at the library reading books while waiting for the bus to come .... you know those little monitors they have in the transit centre on 11th ave so you can see the busses coming? It would be cool if you could have those in the library (in appropriate, non-detractive places, that is) and bus schedules posted indoors there or something. You get a coffee shop in there too and I think you have magic - the library would be a really exciting place.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com