Tag: politics
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Thinking Legislation Through – Why You Want Government to Act Slowly
This year we have a presidential candidate that has become disenchanted with the political process. He promises change and change is thought to be a good thing. True there are times when the political process grinds slower than one would like. The issue is do we the people really want, or even need, our legislative…
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The Difference Between An Ordnance And A Resolution
The one great misunderstanding that newly elected, and some older elected, officials have is the difference that exists between and ordnance and a resolution. One is must do while the other is a can do, or not do, as the case may be. One contains no hooks or fines and the other is replete with…
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Staff – Help, Or Hinder
One question the newly elected official needs to ask is; what the hired help are there for? Every form of government has paid staff, the people who do all the work. Contrary to popular opinion Elected persons actually don’t do much in the way of work, as such. There is much that can be learned…
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Laws, How Do You Need?
One of the first lesions that an elected office holder learns is, there are more laws on the books than are enforced. Every year the Congress of the Untied Sates of America passes thousands of laws. Add to this the hundreds of laws passed by the fifty States, the half of a hundred laws passed…
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Native Plants Verses Implants
There is a lot of talk these days on conserving water. Let the lawn turn brown, no oxygen producing grass. Plant drought resistant plants, in the wettest spring in one hundred years, and use native plants. Using native plants would mean that, in the Northwest, using: Dogwood Sugar Pine Douglass fir Vine maple Broadleaf maple…
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Water Should Cost Less In The Summer
Every year, about this time, cities and towns all across America send out flyers about conserving water. As an elected official you will take part in conservation discussions and perhaps even enact some laws. Fee structures will be set in place and woe to them that use too much. There is a much boarder picture…
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A Word About Comparing Cities
A reader made some comments about comparing Portland Oregon with Redmond Oregon. Portland sits in a hole while Redmond sits on a flat plain. Redmond receives more sun more times of he year. As this relates to solar power there are some valid points. The reason I use Friday Harbor Washington as an example is…
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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…
Down The Sewer Pipe - Politically Speaking 