Maybe some of those clever people who make plans for places might like to leave their big city offices, get in a car and drive out into the suburban communities where most of us live, work and play
Well written. There’s a lot to be said for doing modest things well. Is it just the ambition and ego of local councillors and officers that pushes doing the modest stuff to one side? Or is it just not exciting /interesting enough to attract people into the political arena? I’m not sure that getting involved in local politics is particularly rewarding if you just want to do modest stuff well. Whereas, if you’re a zealot on a mission to save the planet/the poor/ the Palestinians/ or the latest heartfelt, passionate cause then maybe that provides the motivation to get involved. Maybe we’ve just got used to taking the modest stuff for granted, even when is all done so poorly. I hear a lot of fatalistic “it’s the council, what do you expect?” But rarely a sense of people sufficiently motivated to improve things.
In order to make my local councillors feel important they have established a “cabinet” and declared a “climate emergency”, to which everything else has become subservient. Rather than fix potholes they are splurging money on putting 20mph speed signs up and speed humps down on roads with light car use, zero history of accidents and no call from the residents for it. Oh, and they employ lots of people with Diversity in their job title and in any online interaction with the council you have to declare your “gender identity” and ethnic status before you can get round to your actual business.
Hanging baskets and litter bins? That dream died a long time ago.
Well written. There’s a lot to be said for doing modest things well. Is it just the ambition and ego of local councillors and officers that pushes doing the modest stuff to one side? Or is it just not exciting /interesting enough to attract people into the political arena? I’m not sure that getting involved in local politics is particularly rewarding if you just want to do modest stuff well. Whereas, if you’re a zealot on a mission to save the planet/the poor/ the Palestinians/ or the latest heartfelt, passionate cause then maybe that provides the motivation to get involved. Maybe we’ve just got used to taking the modest stuff for granted, even when is all done so poorly. I hear a lot of fatalistic “it’s the council, what do you expect?” But rarely a sense of people sufficiently motivated to improve things.
The first two-thirds of this is brilliant. The rest still good, but oooh, suit you, that first part!
In order to make my local councillors feel important they have established a “cabinet” and declared a “climate emergency”, to which everything else has become subservient. Rather than fix potholes they are splurging money on putting 20mph speed signs up and speed humps down on roads with light car use, zero history of accidents and no call from the residents for it. Oh, and they employ lots of people with Diversity in their job title and in any online interaction with the council you have to declare your “gender identity” and ethnic status before you can get round to your actual business.
Hanging baskets and litter bins? That dream died a long time ago.