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Why conservation is a bad idea
Going green is the thing to do these days and there are a Varity of reasons for doing so. There is a cost that no one is addressing and as policies are made there are the forgotten things. The cost of most of the services on a municipally are, in point of fact, driven by…
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Employment, Industry and Governance
In your community your first concern should be about employment because with out employment the local economy will suffer. A community made up of a population in which all persons are impoverished is generally not a good idea. While a community made of up a cross section of all income brackets is generally a good…
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Blue Ribbon Committees – Mistakes To Avoid
Every now and again elected office holders have no clue about what to do about something. They want to fix a problem, but don’t know how, or supply a solution to a problem that will get them reelected. You know that they haven’t even the remotest idea about whatever issue needs solved because they form…
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Studies – Money Down A Rat Hole
A week before I left my elected position on the Town Council at Friday Harbor in Washington State. I placed all of the studies we had commissioned in the previous eight years, and I do not know how many there were, into two large paper grocery bags. All together I possessed the equivalent of fouhundred…
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Public Transit – What It Needs To Be
What “Public Transit” needs to be is what, in broad general terms it is not. “Public Transit” needs to meet the following criteria: Connivance Affordability Safety Speed Let me explain the rational behind each one. Connivance – if people have to walk twelve blocks to catch a bus, subway, cab or train then they will…
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Bad Science
When making public policy it is always a wise thing to pay attention to bad science. Bad science is science in which the out come of a test is predetermined, and then the science is made to reflect the predetermination. I had a teacher in Junior High, a log time a go, who reminded us…
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We Interrupt This Program – Campaign Rhetoric
I decided to interrupt the normal flow of ideas here to mention Campaign Rhetoric. Campaign Rhetoric, as we all know, is what persons running for office say as they give speeches at various places. Sometimes what they say gives the popular press a field day and sometimes what they say actually works in their favor. …
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Popular Fads – A Distance To Keep
In the past twenty years or so Environmentalism has become a rather hot topic. Pressure is brought to bear on those whom are elected to public office to be “green”. Odd effects are or can be produced in the area of public policy and by extension public practice. Small towns and large cities are coerced…
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Part III – When is a Government Not A Government
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…
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Part II – When is a Government Not A Government
Other things that can be a government but really are not one are “Government Corporations”. In Oregon this means TRI-MET or the “TRI County Metropolitan Transportation Corporation”. Created by the Oregon legislature to provide public transportation in Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties.The Oregon state legislature, property tax, user paid fares and bonds provide the…

