RM elections

[oneoff]

If someone gives accurate and true details about specific major municipal infractions; and you can't agree that that situaion should be seen as inexcusable and intolerable; then you have revealed a lot about yourself.

Maybe you need special security forces at your next election; and maybe you deserve to be taken to court (without any reasonable good cause) by some unfriendly local government.

Because trust me its already happened relatively near to you.

[cottonpicken]

Your just going to have to accept the fact that fascism
has taken over all levels of government,politico's and
company use government for personal gain,look what
happened in moose jaw that never made the news.

The only thing that bothers me is that people who are
not morally corrupt keep giving the system legitimacy
by continuing to vote.

The people who vote are as smart as the people who
drank jim jone"s koolaid.

[sumdumguy]

Our generation sure left a screwed up world for
the next generation. Cheap money has enticed
everyone to be a non- saver, over extended.

If the marketplace could set the interest rate
without governments screwing with it, we would
have a stable world.

As for grain bonds, they dont have strength
because no one actually puts up cold cash for
the bond. Governments dont police the contracts
nor the overbought product. Farmers dont really
know if THEIR grain is listed on the report.

[$short]

The biggest complainers are the ones who never
let their name stand for election.

They love to sit back and say council does this
wrong and that wrong. Stand up and make a
difference if you think it is so easy. Its a
democracy we live in here in Canada.

[oneoff]

As this discussion illustrates; there is next to zero willingess to express what a municipal voter finds reprehensible in their elected officials. It makes one wonder if council actions are just a reflection of how the majority wish to behave in the same way.
If the main public event of the year is a $6000 plus budget for an annual golf tournament; then maybe thats where majorities priorities exist. I sincerely hope it is not. But it might very well be important in a voters thinking their public business has very little gravity.

If council members see their position as an opportunity to create work jobs for themselves so that their remuneration can continue its exponential growth; then it is wrong; but obviously tolerated.

In fact to point these infractions out, apparently only brings the messenger into question.

The fact is that there are no workable checks and balances in rural municipal politic (at least in some cases). When outnumbered by family mebers and close friends; it is not a matter of selecting the best candidate; but rather a forgone conclusion of the number ofblood relatives and your circle of social friends.
In provincial and federal politics, there are opposition parties; newspapers who comment through editorials, stories and political comment. There are ombudsmen, auditor generals and staff who oversee politicians; and the public who feels free to chastise their representatives.

In rural politics the numebers are too few, and personal relationships to close and so almost everyone concludes that it is not worth making "enemies" by becoming involved in any way. The enemies mainly come from intolerance, envy and cowardice.

But this works well for those in power. They have no problems getting whatever they need; but there is no way to ensure that anyone else gets the same decision; for their same situation.

For next to the last time; is anyone willing to say that they would support anyone who thinks it essential to have some ratepayer meetings; absolutely publicising and broadcasting open council meetings; leaving administration to hired personelle; spending tax money first on priorities of roads, infrastructure and services that are within council's jurisdiction and making life easier for ratepayers; rather than becoming a difficult impediment.

[ASRG]

oneoff: Only you can answer the questions you ask? Maybe you are just one voice in the wildrenes? No one else cares?............if that is the case...give it up!
A case in point (Alberta): we had a useless drunk as our MLA who didn't give a rip about what anyone thought within the riding. The people cried out again and again for some kind of redress.....a complete waste of time!
A group of concerned citizens got together and reralized this drunk had to go! We organized, we found a candidate, who actually did give a shit, and we worked like dogs to turf the drunk!
Don't give up. You can make a differnce.
The group who turfed the drunk are now working on turfing the bums who supported him at the municipal level!
It is never easy getting rid of this scum!

[stubblejumper]

ASRG please explain how to get rid og Ritz

[oneoff]

There may have been hope for changes up to about one and a half years ago. There were even several capable potential women candidates; who expressed some interest in running. And there might have been a slate who have a totally different view of representation in a democratic society.

But; council members turned the tide in that referendum, with some shrewd promises of a more widespread paving program throughout the RM; and whatever else needed to give support to council's position. The people voted; and the answer to a two part question with only one answer allowed was overwhelming. And that is not in dispute.
Issues such as Posting a yellow placard in the voting station which was designed to explain to voters what a "yes" vote meant and what a "no" vote meant (according to council) should have been an election infraction. And I regret being the one who the lodged the complaint that caused that voting instruction being removed just before or just after the opening of the polls. Even today; if anyone or any council member knew the significance of this infraction I would still be suprised.

It was not a fair fight, not at any stage. That is my opinion. I have detailed some other equally outrageous actions; but few grap the concepts.

And I know for a fact that if any ratepayer we asked today "what is going on in council"; you would get the same response that one received when gathering the signatures required some 2 years ago.
And I promise to never again set foot in that municipal office (as a ratepayer). One risks another immediate call to the police to report "inappropriate behavior". Oh Yeh....The reeve and a high ranking councillor were just out of view behind an open door in the council chambers.

So until there is a lot more outrage, concerning matters that are routinely not divulged to any ratepayer;

I say bring on the COUNTY SYTEM or (similar); there will be no personal cooperation with council until a certain $2901 debt is reimbursed to every supporter to whom it is owed; and as far as I am concerned, council can use their position as they see fit and I will defend my interests using every lawful means. And I wish every dictator and wannabe dictator the total disdain that they deserve. When ratepayers finally rise up; THEY can come looking for some different representatives; but until then it is not up to any small group to look after those who apparently could care less.

[jamesb]

Oneoff, you are right ratepayer involvment is lacking. It seems it is the same people who show up to serve on the rink board, the health foundation, the curling club, minor hockey,library board etc, etc. It would be great if in general more people cared more what was happening but there always is a select few that have interest in comunity involvment. Around here coucillors and reeves get turfed out if they do something that the majority has a problem with. I know of people that ran with no hope of getting in local, provincial, federal. I couldnt say I agree with there politics in most cases but I salut them for the attempt.

[LEP]

Just as I thought, all talk and no action.

[oneoff]

wrong again LEP.... Always could out work and outthink ten clods and slow learners such as yourself.

[oneoff]

Most of the responses are based on the assumption that once becoming a council member you can do anything you want to do; and do it selectively to those you choose.

While this may currently work in practice; those tyrants will eventually be unceremoniously relieved of their duties.
However one does have to acknowledge what is currently futile, but no one has to be silent just because some one else is really annoyed at hearing the truth from a different perspective.

[oneoff]

Most of the responses are based on the assumption that once becoming a council member you can do anything you want to do; and do it selectively to those you choose.

While this may currently work in practice; those tyrants will eventually be unceremoniously relieved of their duties.
However one does have to acknowledge what is currently futile, but no one has to be silent just because some one else is really annoyed at hearing the truth from a different perspective.

[SASKFARMER3]

Out of the 4 rms we farm in three are not bad.
Most you have to do the fixes your self. It's a shit
show that has had its day and needs to be
replaced. In our home rm if I ran I would lose
hands down because everyone is related or
friends with the current reeve and councilor. So
the sooner the prov government drops this rm bs.
The better.

[oneoff]

Its alsotime for SARM and other reputable, honorable RM councils to help clear up some of the defects that are putting rural municipal governments in a bad light.

And some of the dirty dark secrets that have been decribed might as well be called for exactly what they are. For the fence sitters and apologists and supporters who wish the problems would just go away....shame on you.

It is what it is......and if potential candidates have no chance of being supported by their few too close "neighbors"....there is something horribly wrong wrong if the election outcome might be totally different within a pool of ratepayers ten times that size.

And voters would have a much higher caliber of candidates to select from