Down The Sewer Pipe – Politically Speaking

  In Summery these governments that aren’t really governments divert money from your jurisdiction that could be put to better use elsewhere.  If not used to fix streets, roads, and water or sewer improvements then to improve the ability of people to care for them selves.They are run by elected officials that hire their own staff to take care of the day-to-day issues.  Opponents are correct when they call these sorts of things “another layer of government” because that is in fact just what the yare.  In Portland Oregon there are four agencies that govern the cutting down of trees.  Stare, County, Metro and the city of Portland.  They all have different rules, which, not surprisingly, conflict with each other. 

The resources consumed by these sorts of governments that aren’t could be better spent elsewhere or not collected at all.  In the case of the latter a more robust economy would be the result.

In theory these sorts of governments have a responsibility to the people via open elections.  Just try to contact them to offer an opinion or to let them know that their policies are not working.  They are no place to be found and on the odd chance that you actually do contact them they will discount what you tell them, This is why it took the city’s of Gresham and Beaverton to pressure TRI-MET into more policing and checking of fares.  TRI-MET refused to do so based on consumer or passenger complaints alone.

Sherman