Why do we bother
Why do we bother? A question asked of me all the time, especially by the love of my life, she has been asking this all the time I have known her. I attempt to answer in many ways but is all came together when I received a letter, ccd to many of us by the writer, that was written to Lloyd Williams after he had penned a muse wherein he pondered why Councils of the days have become distant from their constituents. He came to the conclusion that people don't bother. The letter below answers that muse. The writer expresses the answer so well, it deserves a reprint.
"I enjoyed your letter in the Cobourg Daily Star explaining that the Cobourg Council do not listen to delegations and that they ignore letters in the newspaper and ignore petitions.
What you say is completely true, yet that is not the reason that some of use continue to write to the press and to make the occasional presentation. The reason we do these things is to let the public know what is going on.
Over the past few years the government of the town has gradually turned into a regime that thrives on secrecy. Matters are rarely discussed in public council meetings, and Councillors Mutton and Frost get criticized by their colleagues for asking questions or making statements. It is clear that currently is not only citizens that are not welcome to make presentations, but also new council members have not learned to treat the government of the town as a secret society with arcane rules. Of course when you were a councillor you also tended to ask questions and listen to delegations.
It is possible that the Cobourg has always thrived on secret government , but my reading of past successes leads me to believe that it was not always so. In any event secrecy and exclusiveness is no longer part of the Canadian way of life. Access to information laws and the federal and provincial human rights legislation are aimed at make the country more accessible to all.
It is ironic that the mayor and council should have pushed through all the condominium growth in Cobourg, but are now intent on criticizing newcomers if they try to express opinions relating to the governance of the town. In doing so the council are denying themselves the chance to benefit from some very real talent and experience, even if sometimes this experience was gained outside Northumberland County.
We believe that writing letters to the paper and making presentations is a major way of letting citizens know what is going on. Secrecy thrives less successfully with open communication and an informed electorate.
Anyhow, thanks for the letter. I guess we will continue to bang ourheads against the wall"
"I enjoyed your letter in the Cobourg Daily Star explaining that the Cobourg Council do not listen to delegations and that they ignore letters in the newspaper and ignore petitions.
What you say is completely true, yet that is not the reason that some of use continue to write to the press and to make the occasional presentation. The reason we do these things is to let the public know what is going on.
Over the past few years the government of the town has gradually turned into a regime that thrives on secrecy. Matters are rarely discussed in public council meetings, and Councillors Mutton and Frost get criticized by their colleagues for asking questions or making statements. It is clear that currently is not only citizens that are not welcome to make presentations, but also new council members have not learned to treat the government of the town as a secret society with arcane rules. Of course when you were a councillor you also tended to ask questions and listen to delegations.
It is possible that the Cobourg has always thrived on secret government , but my reading of past successes leads me to believe that it was not always so. In any event secrecy and exclusiveness is no longer part of the Canadian way of life. Access to information laws and the federal and provincial human rights legislation are aimed at make the country more accessible to all.
It is ironic that the mayor and council should have pushed through all the condominium growth in Cobourg, but are now intent on criticizing newcomers if they try to express opinions relating to the governance of the town. In doing so the council are denying themselves the chance to benefit from some very real talent and experience, even if sometimes this experience was gained outside Northumberland County.
We believe that writing letters to the paper and making presentations is a major way of letting citizens know what is going on. Secrecy thrives less successfully with open communication and an informed electorate.
Anyhow, thanks for the letter. I guess we will continue to bang ourheads against the wall"
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