Comments on: No County for Young Men – or Women http://waleshome.org/2009/07/no-country-for-young-men-or-women/ Independent analysis from and about Wales Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:11:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Michael Cridland http://waleshome.org/2009/07/no-country-for-young-men-or-women/comment-page-1/#comment-168 Michael Cridland Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:19:20 +0000 http://waleshome.org/?p=973#comment-168 I agree with the need for more professionals to run (as we like to say in the US) for public office. Though I would think that Cardiff Council as quite representative in the jobs that their members are in. And dont knock retirees they used to work too and their experience should count. Whether professionals make a difference in running local government is another matter. For example most of the Dodge City Commission (all 5 of them) are professional or business people. However they have been knocked for their mistakes they have made (for example siting a water treatment on land owned by a county commissioner!). I believe 2 things make being an elected representative important. The first is commitment, giving up your time to your people. Its a vocation like the priesthood or medicine you have to sacrifice a certain amount of your time and personal life. It goes for any type of elected office. I read of one community councilor who did not attend meetings over a 6 month period giving a sick child as an excuse, sorry buddy there are working people all over this country that have the same problem but still have to work. All it tells your people is that they don't matter. The second point is engaging with those who put you there in the first place, and not just by surgery, twitter or facebook. The real democratic revolution that is taking place in the US was not Obama's election campaign. It's the town hall meetings going on up and down the country, where the people are engaging face to face with their elected representatives. That is true engagement. Populism you cry, or demagoguery. No its what democracy is all about doing the people's will. I think people will take politics seriously when they see their representatives out amongst them (Yes they will even know who they are) its sad when you hear people say that the only time they them is at election time. You need to get the people from their tellys and the kids from their cell phones. Bribe them with food,bingo or circuses. I agree with the need for more professionals to run (as we like to say in the US) for public office. Though I would think that Cardiff Council as quite representative in the jobs that their members are in.
And dont knock retirees they used to work too and their experience should count.
Whether professionals make a difference in running local government is another matter. For example most of the Dodge City Commission (all 5 of them) are professional or business people. However they have been knocked for their mistakes they have made (for example siting a water treatment on land owned by a county commissioner!).
I believe 2 things make being an elected representative important. The first is commitment, giving up your time to your people. Its a vocation like the priesthood or medicine you have to sacrifice a certain amount of your time and personal life. It goes for any type of elected office. I read of one community councilor who did not attend meetings over a 6 month period giving a sick child as an excuse, sorry buddy there are working people all over this country that have the same problem but still have to work. All it tells your people is that they don’t matter.
The second point is engaging with those who put you there in the first place, and not just by surgery, twitter or facebook. The real democratic revolution that is taking place in the US was not Obama’s election campaign. It’s the town hall meetings going on up and down the country, where the people are engaging face to face with their elected representatives. That is true engagement. Populism you cry, or demagoguery. No its what democracy is all about doing the people’s will. I think people will take politics seriously when they see their representatives out amongst them (Yes they will even know who they are) its sad when you hear people say that the only time they them is at election time. You need to get the people from their tellys and the kids from their cell phones. Bribe them with food,bingo or circuses.

]]> By: Dyfrig Jones http://waleshome.org/2009/07/no-country-for-young-men-or-women/comment-page-1/#comment-107 Dyfrig Jones Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:15:31 +0000 http://waleshome.org/?p=973#comment-107 I'm the youngest elected member of Gwynedd Council (Plaid Cymru), and share many of your frustrations with my fellow members. There are many Gwynedd Councillors whom I respect greatly, and who engage positively with their responsibilities. But there are a great many who are crippled by parochialism and narrow mindedness. Their attitude tends to be "If it doesn't affect my ward, I don't care. If it does affect my ward, I'm against it". There's no doubt in my mind that if local government is to work properly, it needs to shake off this attitude, and I cannot see how this can happen without it becoming more representative of the population at large. I’m the youngest elected member of Gwynedd Council (Plaid Cymru), and share many of your frustrations with my fellow members. There are many Gwynedd Councillors whom I respect greatly, and who engage positively with their responsibilities. But there are a great many who are crippled by parochialism and narrow mindedness. Their attitude tends to be “If it doesn’t affect my ward, I don’t care. If it does affect my ward, I’m against it”. There’s no doubt in my mind that if local government is to work properly, it needs to shake off this attitude, and I cannot see how this can happen without it becoming more representative of the population at large.

]]> By: Ryan http://waleshome.org/2009/07/no-country-for-young-men-or-women/comment-page-1/#comment-106 Ryan Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:33:24 +0000 http://waleshome.org/?p=973#comment-106 More people need to be discussing these issues. It's obvious that most Unitary Authorities are out of touch with their citizens, and there are also too many 'older' institutionalised Councillors around the country. Too many retirees dominate County Halls and for anyone with a full time job they either have to miss too many meetings or just not bother running in the first place. Maybe the Assembly Government should intervene and force Councils to hold meeting at times more suitable for those who have to work. More people need to be discussing these issues. It’s obvious that most Unitary Authorities are out of touch with their citizens, and there are also too many ‘older’ institutionalised Councillors around the country.

Too many retirees dominate County Halls and for anyone with a full time job they either have to miss too many meetings or just not bother running in the first place. Maybe the Assembly Government should intervene and force Councils to hold meeting at times more suitable for those who have to work.

]]> By: CLive King http://waleshome.org/2009/07/no-country-for-young-men-or-women/comment-page-1/#comment-104 CLive King Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:55:27 +0000 http://waleshome.org/?p=973#comment-104 My experience of the local Community Council(very rural mid west Wales) is that they are great community members and people to have a cup of tea with. We share many ideals and probably want to see a similar shape of community and future. Where we differer is in how to make that happen. Their view is typically (though not exclusively) to hold back change. My and my peers view tends towards embracing change like Broadband (one example of many) which can help achieve the same goals of keeping the community viable. Strategic thinking is hard and does take an wider experience of the world than most councilors have. Gift shop owners and the similar will tend to have a narrow experience of the wider world, though I am sure there are counter examples, I have yet to encounter them in the councilors I have meet. The current make up and conduct of elected bodies (from the community council up) puts off capable people from seeking election which is the real crime. My experience of the local Community Council(very rural mid west Wales) is that they are great community members and people to have a cup of tea with. We share many ideals and probably want to see a similar shape of community and future. Where we differer is in how to make that happen. Their view is typically (though not exclusively) to hold back change. My and my peers view tends towards embracing change like Broadband (one example of many) which can help achieve the same goals of keeping the community viable. Strategic thinking is hard and does take an wider experience of the world than most councilors have. Gift shop owners and the similar will tend to have a narrow experience of the wider world, though I am sure there are counter examples, I have yet to encounter them in the councilors I have meet.

The current make up and conduct of elected bodies (from the community council up) puts off capable people from seeking election which is the real crime.

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