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Friday, November 2, 2012
Mayor Decoux: Shuckin' and jivin'
In a recent CTV News interview the Mayor claims he and his council have a 'mandate' to make change. Where exactly does he feel this 'mandate' comes from, and who gave it to them?
It didn't come during the election because everybody running was for change. Maybe he feels it came with the Strategic Action Plan that he paid a handful of 'volunteers' to come up with that he subsequently presented to a roomful of people (~200) last year? If so, that is not a mandate.
A mandate is when you present a detailed plan, such as the Federal Liberal Red Book plan. A mandate is where all the people know what you stand for and what you intend on doing that is subsequently put to a vote by way of an election. No where do I recall this mayor and/or his council being given a mandate? Never mind running roughshod over the residents here while stating to the media and the Minister that he has one. He does not!
Furthermore, today again on the news, I hear him telling viewers and listeners that he has the backing of the 'silent majority'. The audacity of this man! As a former educator can he not do the math? Approximately 2,700 residents voted in the last election. 2,500 signed the petition. 200 people (how many of these actually support him?) is not a 'silent majority'. The man's living in La-La Land and feeding the public garbage.
He then went on to suggest the Minister is siding with him because of a letter sent out to a handful of residents by the Minister in response to emails they had sent to him. A handful of form letters saying one thing does not necessarily equate that that response will necessarily be the same one given to the Crowsnest Ratepayers Association submitting a petition containing 2,500 signatures. At least I would hope not! To suggest differently as he was doing is living in a land of wishful thinking, while at the same time trying to pull the wool over people's eyes.
I tell ya, in the past, I've held off calling this man out on some of the things he's been doing, giving him the benefit of the doubt, but he is starting to get to me with his BS and outright lies, and pie-in-the-sky promises that never seem to materialize.
We need another Public Town Hall Meeting so this man can be called out on the carpet. He can bring his 'silent majority'... I'm sure there'll be enough seats.
The secret of success is sincerity. Once you can fake that you've got it made.
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25 comments:
Minister was on the news tonight. Basically he said he had the petition and his position is the same as the letters.
A state of denial is a psychological condition, it can happen to anyone. It can be especially induced by severe stress. A contributing factor may be a very high self-esteem which is not accompanied with the requisite popular respect. It is not very healthy.
What channel?
Anon.8:07 is most likely referring to Global piece entitled “Letter from Minister Supports Crowsnest Pass council,” from few hours ago. Nothing new here, the minister will not be on the air without a little background info. Silent majority?
Letter from Minister supports Crowsnest Pass council
Breaking Newsflash; Crowsnest Pass Royally S#@wed!!
Lets face it, we are out of time & options. The petition has been submitted but the minister has 30 days to respond.Initial responses indicate " You've obviously mistaken me for somebody who gives a Sh#$!!. Even if he agrees with the petition, the mayor & council will be given 30 - 60 days for response. Given the councils track record for responses ( how long for Thunder in the Valley?), that could drag on for 3-4 months. By now we are well into 2013, Gee Whiz, elections are coming! Can't do much now, have to wait for the result of elections.
Even if at that time, the existing councils mandate is cancelled (read, turf their butts), we will still have a an huge problem. We may want to nullify the contracts (read, fire their sorry butts) of the Overlord Fire Captain Protection Services whatever you want to call him, the by-law Lackies & whomever else is hired by the council but you can rest assured they will whine about contracts & sue. At this point we have no idea what freebies were promised to the developers of the hotel / truck stop but you can bet there will be an ironclad contract with the Pass & it's residents will be on the losing & paying end.
In a previous post, I wrote about the demise of Coleman if the highway was rerouted. A respondent wrote back to say the highway used to run through Bellevue & Blairmore, but they are still there. Sorry, but the business sector in Bellevue is non-existent & Blairmore is in need of critical care. We desperately need to look after our local businesses, not add more outside interests to compete & kill the existing ones. Too many locals have gotten the idea, "Gee it's $5.00 cheaper at Walmart in Pincher, so what if it costs me $15.00 to get there".
Yes, I'm being blunt but wake up & realize if we don't do something to properly help our community survive without hurting existing locals, my prophesy of the Pass becoming a ghost town in 17 - 20 years will become a reality!!
As a Sideline to John:
You have wondered in previous recent posts why people have turned on you, accused you of nasty nefarious deeds & generally hate you, it's simple. Just as we expect the army to be there when someone nasty wants to invade us but we despise them afterward, just as we want the police to protect us from evil but hate them afterwards, we expect someone, anyone, to stand up to injustice, but we will turn on them in an instant afterward. I had written earlier about the Pass being a hotbed of discord & enmity, well, John, you're one of the targets.
Remember, it is said: "Only by standing up to the injustices of society while braving the slings & bards of the unwashed masses is good change truly achieved"
Doomsayer 11/3/2012
Doomsayer 12:28 perhaps you should look at growing a set yourself. You seem to have a vision for the community and know what others like John should be doing. I bet you will be behind John all the way (Anonymously of course)
Peter, one of the 'haters'? :-(
Doomsayer, you could move if you are so unhappy. Probably don't add much to our community with your attitude. Imagine predicting something 20 years from now. Most of the time nobody can predict the next day. I feel sad for you.
Doomsayer,
In the Pass one must learn to "Speak the truth, but leave immediately after."... and stay anonymous. :-(
The Pass is full of goof people and a great place to live. No place like it, what is going on right now is not even close to all the hardship this community witnessed and survived. After all Is said and done, we still have to, and will, get along. The current council has good people on it who believe they are doing the right thing. Somehow they have gone off track, but we have put them there. Hopefully the numbers in the petition will give some of them an opportunity to ask some hard questions. On a side note, every community has a doomsdayer or two.
ANON 9:53 I have lived in the Pass all my life. I say whats on my mind, people either respect me for it or will not even talk to me. But at least i stand by what i say. I have put my neck out there on several occasions to warn the public about what i see transpiring and have been right most of the time. I can still walk down the street and people will approach me about particular topics i have written to local papers or opinions i have expressed. They either agree or disagree thats their right. I have never felt unwelcome here so yes you are free to give your opinion in a respectable manner. Some will judge you harshly but the majority will accept you if you have the balls to stand behind your opinion. I dont "hate people" for their opinion but i can see through their intent. It is usually about themselves they dont care one bit about the general public or the affect councils decisions are going to have on us the taxpayers. I have been here long enough to see what some of the supporters of the present council are up to. They are looking after their own intersts and the hell with the fireman and the various boards that have been let go.
Doomsayer,
You, sir, are welcome to dine at my table here anytime for I welcome kindred spirits who are brave at heart, wise in judgement and lovers of truth.
Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions.
However, with respect to your comment about people hating me. I think that might be stretching things a bit. Some people don't like me but still respect me, few if any hate me... that I know of?
JP
I think I will take these in turn;
Peter rosner 9:23; Tut-tut, playground insults? For Shame!
Anon 10:04 AM; Unhappy? Heck No!! Pissed Off? Absolutely!! I maintain that this one of the best spots in the world to live, I just have a problem with what some idiots are trying to do to it. Move? Not likely, even if the taxes & fees do climb sky high.
John 7:57 PM; I may just take you up on that dinner one day.
Hate may have been a strong word but unless you know 100% the person is a friend, assume hate, you won't be disappointed.
However, never under estimate the value of hate. At least you know exactly where you stand, hate will never turn into friendship in an instant. It's the smile on their face, handshaking, backslapping ones you have to look out for because that smile can change in a second & the backslapping hand will have the knife.
Maybe, just maybe, if we can get enough of the garbage aired out, hidden issues brought to the light of day & decades of useless conflict brought to an end, this community can be something to be proud of again.
Doomsayer-- "However,never under estimate the value of hate. At least you know exactly where you stand, hate will never turn into friendship in an instant. It,s the smile on their face,handshaking,backslapping ones you have to look out for because that smile can change in a second & the backslapping will have the knife.---- On this you are 100%--- you may know more about "some " of our "fine" local citizens than i give you credit for.
Doomsayer,
Peter has it right here.
"... because that smile can change in a second & the backslapping hand will have the knife."
Experienced this with one of the Ratepayers exec. and her husband yesterday in the parking lot at Sobey's? Fake friends. What are they good for. Absolutely nothing.
An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast, a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.
JP
Its like you said before John they appreciate you as long as you are a tool for their message. When you allowed others to express their opinion through that one post some of the ratepayers turned on you instantly. Now you know the type of people you are dealing with. Ironically these same individuals accuse this council of the exact behaviour they exhibit themselves. I dont know you you are refering to but they sound like hypocrites to me. I didnt apreciate that particular post either as i felt some good people were being judged pretty harshly but it does give a person food for thought. As we are beginning to see we may be better off with the devil we know.
Peter, I couldn't have summarized this better than what you have. Well done!
"... these same individuals accuse this council of the exact behaviour they exhibit themselves."
Including being secretive and scared, like council, to communicate here voicing their concerns and opinions. Instead they back-stab those who have a far greater record supporting Ratepayers (past and present) in this community than what anyone there presently has, excluding one or two exceptions.
This I believe needs to be addressed, which I will do in my next post... after I get my storm windows up, yard work, etc., etc. done. The wife's got the whip out and with her French temper, its 'do or die!' :-)
JP
John
I remember so well all the comments on Facebook, after the last election. Shouts of joy that the Four Horsemen were gone, all the talk about the new Mayor and his dream team. They were going to lead us out of the darkness, into a much brighter future.
It's so ironic at least for myself when I read some of the comments on Facebook over the last couple of months.
Politics are just like sports people jump on and off the bandwagon has it works for them.
Dean Ward
Dean,
I remember too how gleeful people were in rubbing it in that I had lost. It's a bitter pill to swallow public humiliation. But that is what builds character: Character is what you have left when you've lost everything you can lose.
The public's mood is fickle, the true politician is steadfast. My man Chief Dan George had it right, "we must endeavour to persevere."
I can't close this comment without quoting one of the best speeches ever given (Nixon's resignation speech) with respect to dealing with adversity: "... because only if you have been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain."
JP
You seen to have a pretty selective memory John. I have an audio recording of the election forum. The current Mayor ran on a platform of overhauling Policies (Which they have been doing) as well as striking a task force to develop a strategic plan (Which they also did) They have been walking the talk.Our council presented the Strategic plan @ MDM (I was there and no one paid me to attend, and no I am not on council)
It is available - you can even Google it, as well as on the Municipal Website.
Anon @3:55
My memory serves me well, and as I recall and as I have already stated here, we all ran on change but at no time was this mayor and council given a 'mandate' to ram through come hell or high water their 'Strategic Plan', and to do so in a condensed time-frame of only 2 years, when even their plan called for it to be done over 10 years.
That's the bottom line plain and simple. They never had a mandate, yet the mayor is telling the media and the Minister they do? In the meantime they are running roughshod over the people who now are rebelling against tyranny.
JP
Perhaps you should also look @ 2010 Strategic plan prior to the current council came in. Not surprising - but many of the issues and challenges were also highlighted then. Sticking to the "We voted for change" thought - where we find ourselves now is "Things really have not been working for the last 30 years, we have elected you to fix it, but just don't change anything" Hmmmm.
Anon @4:26
We could also bring up 'Pass to the Future' and a host of other plans that were done over the years that were left to collect dust on a shelve because they were put there by the former mayor who was resistant to change… of any kind.
By the way, what was the common denominator over most of those 30 years you speak of? Just once, I would like to see mayor and council, who keep alluding to these 30 years of mismanagement, to lay the blame for all our present problems on the doorstep where they belong. But then that would mean, as the only one who had the balls to say the emperor had no clothes, that I was right… and they were wrong. We can’t have that now can we, when it has been so convenient all these many years to paint me with a black brush, while raising Dr. John to the level of sainthood. A little bitterness there, you say? You got that right! Just like the Wall Street Banksters, nobody pays the price or goes to jail… just the poor taxpayers left to foot the bill for the excesses of the rich… like the dumb schmucks that they are. The sadness is, it didn't have to be this way. :-(
Anyhow, you keep missing or evading the point which is they have no mandate. They are a tax and spend government out of control, and for some time now it is no longer a matter of not changing anything. It has gone way beyond that. To where they are changing ‘everything’! I suggest to you they have left nothing unchanged. That, my friend, is the problem! They have become fanatical in their pursuit of change. “A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.”
People here want somebody to change the channel on these guys, because they obviously won’t do it themselves. Therefore the petition
JP
Here's a productive idea - that will save everyone time & CNP money. Let's pre-sign the next petition during polling at the next election - to boot council! The ratepayers will certainly appreciate the fiscal prudence of that approach.
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