I may be wrong but . . . . I think I’ve come up with the perfect way of making democracy work efficiently. Rodney Hide will love it.
Every three years we should elect one person to run New Zealand. That person will be accountable for his/her own performance, and every three years we get to exercise thankfully our privilege of keeping them on or replacing them. How liberating! No more wasting time and money on hundreds of politicians and their staff.
Right, that’s covered of the ‘democracy’ part.
That person (let’s say it’s a ‘he’ and he’s called god with a little ‘g’) then has the task of contracting out all ‘public’ services to the very best business people and corporations in the country (and even better, overseas ones). As we all know, business leaders all operate efficiently by keeping down all the built-in costs, and because they’re not answerable to the population, only to god, they can make their decisions without having to pander to obstructive people and communities.
Just imagine how much inefficiency and waste will be eliminated, enabling the people who get to run things to really make a lifestyle for themselves! Their wealth will trickle down to us, and we will all aspire to positions of such influence, sucking up to god to better our chances.
For us grateful public. no more endless meetings and arguments about spending money on building highways versus public transport (or substitute your own pet irritation). No more costly legal marathons arguing over use of water for dairying or hydro dams. Once you get into this idea, you see how limitless the possibilities are. All because god is making the decisions and his appointees are executing his ideas unfettered.
Yes, Rodney would be even more pleased with himself than he already is. His chest will swell with pride and satisfaction.
He’s already started the process, of course. Sort of trialling the god-plus-contracting-out model within the current constraints of inefficient public democracy. He’s pretty much got rid of Ecan (Environment Canterbury) with its shamefully inefficient handling of water allocation – it was considering environmental concerns above the ambitions and needs of big dairy companies.
And he’s managed to get most of the Auckland city infrastructure contracted out to his business friends through the CCO (Council Controlled Organisations) structure now in place.
Had I written this article a few days ago, it would have ended there, with my congratulatory message to dear Rodney. But yesterday an article I read caused me to pause and think. In the Christchurch Press, John Minto wrote a column pouring doubt on this improved, ultra-efficient version of democracy.
He told of the trouble he had getting any accountability out of one already-operating CCO, Metrowater, which runs the retail arm of the city’s water supply. They wouldn’t even listen to his problems over an issue he had with their metering, and when asked by the City Council to front up, they simply refused!!
Hmm, I wondered if Minto was exaggerating or telling a few white lies, but then I thought – if he was untruthing then these corporate types would’ve sued the pants off him already, and that hasn’t happened. So perhaps he was right; perhaps it really was as he wrote. Metrowater may be efficient (well, they are efficient by definition because they’re a private corporation, aren’t they, not a wasteful public body) but they may not necessarily act in my best interests.
Perhaps the answer was provided back in the 1930s. Nazi Germany was pretty efficient, and they did vote old Adolph in, after all. No wasteful bureaucracy there, eh!
I just want to ask you if you will make more posts like this one, well will you ?:)
If and when the mood takes me
I tend to agree with your blog posts, but in this instance I ought to say that I do not share your views.
I made sure to bookmark your website so I can come back later.
Nice post, a little over my head but for sure something to think about
Thank you
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I love this!
I do trust you realised that this is my attempt at satirical writing, poking dun at those who I believe have insufficient regard for the importance of democracy even if it means that sometimes inefficiencies result.
David
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Thanks for your kind words.
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Thanks so much for your encouraging remarks. Best wishes in your own journey.
David
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Thanks for your kind comments.
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Sorry, I have no special knowledge of the WordPress software and I have not (to my knowledge anyhow) used any special plug-ins or widgets that are not available in the design options. Try asking WordPress help desk for advice maybe?
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THere is a subscription block at the top right hand of the page – enter your email and it’s done.