Tag: Money
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
Down The Sewer Pipe - Politically Speaking 