Resident: There's No Dissenting Opinions in Local Government
Taxpayer disappointed that no detractors spoke up at annual reorganization meeting.
This week marked the beginning of the township elected and appointed agenda with the mayor giving his state of the township address and the council nominating and seconding the open positions.
While the mayor gave his address I sat at home watching channel 77 and I was struck by the fact that despite his positive report on the state of the township he really gave no hard facts or data that a critical thinker who may be listening might take in to consideration.
For instance, the mayor spoke of the state of the township's fiscal integrity, but he gave no figures with which you or me could rely upon to come to our own conclusions as to how things were doing and maybe more importantly how we might vote on fiscal matters should they ever make the ballot here?
Nor did the mayor speak to the state of the township post-Sandy, a time when many of us saw downed power lines and extended periods of electrical outages that many blame the power companies for when more closer to home, I think that the township is most to affix responsibility to in the exceedingly lax enforcement of encroachment remediation by trees on the shared resource of power lines.
As the camera turned to the council agenda, with the same personalities elected or appointed time and again over the years and decade, predictably appointing the same sort of insiders to the second tier of the township's board and commissions, thus assuring that there would be no change in the status quo here, and I have to believe that's exactly just the way some want things.
And that's when it hit me, in the construct of the dog and pony show, the spectacle did not afford the minority opinion. There was/is no place for anyone who might dare to offer up a different view of the state of the township.
Some one who just might question the mayor and council's view through the rose-tinted crystal spectacles, and crack the lens, that they see things through?
Some one who might advocate for term limits here, or non-partisan elections, or even put up for the people to vote for the assignment of commissions and boards, a balanced budget, or an honest discussion regarding the perception about the political cronyism, patronage, and tyranny of the majority that assures that that's the way things have always been done hereabouts, will be the way things are done here now, and will be done on in to the future.
And as the courtly mutual admirational society politely smiled at one another accepting and affirming each other’s nominations and seconds, the lack of an opposing point of view was deafening.
Stewart Resmer
Wayne
Flood Plain
7:01 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Great objective commentary on the politics of the town. Unfortunately, and sadly, it is too true.
Justice
9:47 am on Friday, January 11, 2013
The apathy is worse than the status quo. Wayne residents will get the government they deserve.
Robert Pignatello
1:55 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
Keep your eye on what happens next after the resignation of the school board member. I think I just saw a sign on Nellis drive that read "more political deals ahead".
Jack Q
1:55 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
While I cannot argue that the town is lop-sided toward the GOP, it strikes me that Stewart calls for term limits, balanced budget and open discussion. Yet for the federal government, he is absolutely ok that the Democrats have not passed a budget in 4 years. He did not complain that the Dems had Congress and Presidency for two years. He only calls for term limits for Republicans. As someone was said, we do have term limits, they are called elections.
Scondo
6:48 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
We do have term limits throughout the country, they are called elections.
Non Partisan elections are kind of like handing out a trophy to all the 5 year kids at the pee wee soccer tournament, everyone is a winner regardless of how they play the game. As we all know it softens the blow, but not all really know how to play.
stewart resmer
8:10 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
http://tenurecorrupts.com/arguments.htm
List of Arguments in Favor :
1. Overwhelmingly, voters prefer term limits. (It's their native commonsense!)
2. Term limits downgrades seniority, favors meritocracy.
3. Increases competition, encourages new challengers.
4. Builds a ‘citizen’ Congress, drives out career politicians.
5. Breaks ties to special interests.
6. Improves tendency to vote on principle.
7. Introduces fresh thinking, new ideas, eliminates 'old bulls'.
8. Reduces power of staff, bureaucracy, lobbies.
9. It will create a natural reduction in wasteful federal spending.
10. Encourages lower taxes, smaller government, greater voter participation in elections.
11. There are more reasons in favor of term limits than reasons against.
12. Gets reelection rates back to near 50%, versus the current 99%. (Founders called it "rotation in office")
OVR Taxed
10:57 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
Term Limits, I agree. Look at the corruption in the Democratic led US Senate and you will see all you need to believe in the establishment of term limits.
OVR Taxed
10:57 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
Stewart, if I didn't know better I would think you took this from a Tea Party rally!!!! Be careful, your conservative is showing...
stewart resmer
7:31 am on Saturday, January 12, 2013
Election Type of the 30 Most Populous Cities
Rank City Name State Election Type
1 New York NY Partisan
2 Los Angeles CA Non-Partisan
3 Chicago IL Partisan
4 Houston TX Partisan
5 Phoenix AZ Non-Partisan
6 Philadelphia PA Partisan
7 San Antonio TX Non-Partisan
8 Dallas TX Non-Partisan
9 San Diego CA Non-Partisan
10 San Jose CA Non-Partisan
11 Detroit MI Non-Partisan
12 San Francisco CA Partisan
13 Jacksonville FL Non-Partisan
14 Indianapolis IN Partisan
15 Austin TX Non-Partisan
16 Columbus OH Non-Partisan
17 Fort Worth TX Non-Partisan
18 Charlotte NC Partisan
19 Memphis TN Non-Partisan
20 Baltimore MD Partisan
21 Boston MA Non-Partisan
22 El Paso TX Non-Partisan
23 Milwaukee WI Non-Partisan
24 Denver CO Non-Partisan
25 Seattle WA Non-Partisan
26 Nashville TN Non-Partisan
27 Washington DC Partisan
28 Las Vegas NV Non-Partisan
29 Portland OR Non-Partisan
30 Louisville KY Partisan
stewart resmer
4:24 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
Towns rethinking the planting of trees following storm's fury
http://www.northjersey.com/news/186659731_Towns_rethinking_the_planting_of_trees_following_storm_s_fury_A_changing_landscape.html?page=all
John Davies
2:10 pm on Tuesday, April 2, 2013
" I think that the township is most to affix responsibility to in the exceedingly lax enforcement of encroachment remediation by trees on the shared resource of power lines."
Who could dispute such a clearly stated argument?