-
Part I -When is a Government Not A Government
In the late 1960’s the Oregon state legislature passed some laws that created something called Councils of Government. This was an effort to get several counties and cities or towns to develop intergovernmental relationships that allocated resources and population. Easing the pain of population growth while keeping a livable clement was said to be the…
-
When A Tax Is Added Without Consent – That Which Is Not Denied Is Permitted
There will be times when a fee or a method of raising money needed for a project or a fund will not be possible, because of the limits on what vehicle can be used to generate the needed funds. It is a bit hard to plead poverty when thirty two million dollars are distributed from…
-
Governance And The Demands From Other Governments
It is at about this time that we mention a bit more about the demands of other governments as it relates to governance. Governance as we all know is how elected officials and the bureaucracy do what it is that they do either to the pleasure or determent of the people that they govern. Counties…
-
The Funding Locals Have Not – Money Spent In Advance
When one becomes elected to a local government the first lesion in reality is that money is on short supply. Where that money goes is not totally controlled by them either. State and Federal governments have mandates on all governments and funding, or money, is not always included. Although both State and federal governments are…
-
Where O Where – Does The Money Come From?
In our fast paced world there seems to be some ignorance as it relates to government and money. The Congress of the United States of America alone is allowed to actually coin money in the US. All other governments must “steal” money and this is known as taxation.Taxes are known by two general names those…
-
Politics, Governance – Words Really Do Matter
Words convey thoughts, ideas, possible polices or practices and great, if not extreme, care should be exercised by governing officials in the proper use of words. All to often care is the last thing taken for a walk and odd, yet predictable, things can and do happen, Comments made in private may prejudice others against…
-
Politics, Governance, Arrogance – Why Elected Officials Often Look Brain Dead
When decisions are made at the governmental level there is a sort of arrogance by some elected officials to the point that consulting the electorate is considered evil. After all, they reason, they were elected to make decisions and consulting the people isn’t needed. This sounds well and good and would be true but that same…
-
Politics – A Short Explanation
Politics is the manner in which elected officials make decisions and includes compromise part of the process. What politics is not is a method to bludgeon others into submission in order to force others into your way of thinking. These days politics has a dirty connotation because of the tendency of those in power to…
-
Governance – A Short Explanation
Governance is the almost art of governing, in this case the population of a country. In our case we are talking about the community, city, county, township, state, or federal government. As we all learned in civics class in high school there are several broad types of governance. Dictatorships – one person or party in…
-
News Media As Part Of The Political And Governance Process
In this discussion of politics as applied to governance it must be keep in the back of ones mind that the news media is part of the process. Some times they out right lie other times they just misquotes and or misrepresents the office holders and candidates views. It is a mistake to think that…
Down The Sewer Pipe - Politically Speaking 