Democracy is not a spectator sport. It is participatory. At
best it is a contact sport, but unlike rugby or gridiron, the contact is done
through communication not bone-jarring hits. In my experience, however, our
local government appears lacking in its willingness or ability to communicate.
As a researcher, I seek to draw conclusions based on data
and observations. Expressed in research-geek language, the data from my
personal experience over the lat three years suggests that there is roughly a
40% probability that council staff will respond to a phone call, email or
hand-written note, and about a 25% probability that an elected official will do
so. Please note this data is based on a small sample size, and should be
considered indicative only.
Some council staff have been excellent in their
communications with me, and one Councilor has scored 100% (1 out of 1 email).
As I have written many times in my regular column, I have a high regard for
Building Control, but I do not necessarily consider them WDC employees for two
reasons: 1) we pay them extra to do their jobs (ie, It does not come from
rates.); 2) my understanding is that they answer to central government, not
local government. As such, I did not include them in my informal research
above. Chur, boys.
One thing research-geeks do is discuss their findings. A
discussion is an attempt to identify relationships in one’s findings to those
of others through a literature review. In the interest of full disclosure, I
did not complete a thorough or even partial literature review on this topic.
But I have mentioned the tendency toward non-communication with some friends,
who have suggested that a great strategy for those in positions of power is
simply to ignore those who appear to lack power.
Using my case as an example, the response may go something
like this: “Who is this nobody? An unemployed, pesky Yank trying to complicate
my day by offering positive suggestions and constructive feedback. Bugger that.
If I ignore him he’ll just go away.” Fair enough.
That strategy probably works most of the time because many
people are busy and don’t have the time, inclination, or patience to follow-up
on what may seem like a lost cause. Fair enough. We are all busy, and life does
get in the way. Unfortunately, this reality is exploited by the
‘powers-that-be’ across the planet, often to favour powerful interests rather
than the people. Nothing kills democracy
like non-participation.
This is why an independent press is critical to vibrant
democracy. A free press gives voice to the voiceless and power to the
powerless. Any tiny influence I may ever have on our fair city – like turning
off outdoor lighting during sunny days – has come through the Whanganui
Chronicle. That said, I am not a supporter
of the Chronicle for the Chronicle’s sake, but for the sake of democracy.
Please note that I’m fully willing to hold the Chronicle to
account, although my wife was the one who has done so most recently. Also note
that I have never been paid for my contributions to the paper. Approximately 90
pieces of writing and close to 400 photographs representing over to 300 hours
of work have earned me one flat white from previous editor, Ross Pringle,
although current editor, Mark Dawson, has promised me another coffee before the
end of the year.
This is what democracy looks like, and anyone can do it.
From my perspective, the Chronicle
remains an extremely relevant entity in our community, and I encourage everyone
on every side of every issue to write carefully constructed, well-supported
arguments to support their point of view. If your case is strong enough, those
in positions of power will no longer ignore you. (Although after all of my constructive feedback to Council, I suspect they’ll
do their best to ignore me until I join them at the Council Table.)
One final example: After three years of inaction on the
lights outside the Central Library, it only took three days for WDC to get in
an electrician on the job after my opinion piece ran last week. The moral of
this story appears to be: If you want something done in this town, do it
through the press. Get writing you lot!
Peace, Estwing
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