So. How far can I go, before what I say in this blog, "in public" in other words, becomes libelous? I won't be goin' cutesy, nor clever in anything I say here. I'm angry - REALLY want to ... Whoa, there now, Buddy! Seditious talk's as big a No-No (in non-fiction). They're all just politicians, and big-business types that associate with politicians. They're all just doing what comes naturally to both species. And only taking full and perfectly legal advantage of holes or provisions in legislation that generations of other politicos wracked their combined brains over, for the good of the country, and love of the citizens -- their actual employers -- who pay their salaries, and job-related expenses, and pensions.
I am being cutesy. Just the facts, then:
Translink purview (Vancouver area Transit Authority): Using an operating budget in the billions of dollars, run a transit system, plan and implement improvements and/or expansion, and raise more billions for the next operating budget, so they don't run out.
Up until the end of 2007, Translink was administered by a board of directors gleaned from public office: area mayors, city-councilors, the like. Elected … uh yeah – as in Elected to public office in whichever municipality they arose – however, the mandate for these, for the chosen, somehow grew to encompass serving on Translink. Actually, there were no plebiscites: they were appointed, by a body once known as the GVRD (now Metro Vancouver) – Woohoo! Wonder how much of their budget went to coming up with that name change?!
At the end of 2007, Victoria (our next-up rind of the government onion) dissolved the Translink board of appointees gleaned from political office, and replaced them with appointees gleaned from big business. I shall call this board "Board B", just because.
It's only logical to presume that business folk should have a good grasp of spending money wisely -- as in Getting the biggest bang for the buck. A reasonable expectation in regard to Board B. Time will tell. It has only been a bit more than one month in.
Board B already has managed to raise public ire: enough meetings held in camera, because the unwashed citizenry screaming from the floor makes it that much more time-consuming to pass edicts, and pass over the unimportant.
And now, one month in, the directors of Board B are GETTING A RAISE! -- and one to write home about, as folks used to say.
I need to check facts, but the face filling the teevee that's saying he's got no problem with this is a former Vancouver mayor -- a left-winger -- and friend of the people.
[Tick tock … Time passes].
Turns out he’s Chair of some “steering committee”, which has the blessing of our Provincial Government, et cetera. Simply: a provision in legislation essentially compels Board B to accept the raise without complaint.
Here's the kicker: New Year's 2008 saw transit fare increases!
I am being cutesy. Just the facts, then:
Translink purview (Vancouver area Transit Authority): Using an operating budget in the billions of dollars, run a transit system, plan and implement improvements and/or expansion, and raise more billions for the next operating budget, so they don't run out.
Up until the end of 2007, Translink was administered by a board of directors gleaned from public office: area mayors, city-councilors, the like. Elected … uh yeah – as in Elected to public office in whichever municipality they arose – however, the mandate for these, for the chosen, somehow grew to encompass serving on Translink. Actually, there were no plebiscites: they were appointed, by a body once known as the GVRD (now Metro Vancouver) – Woohoo! Wonder how much of their budget went to coming up with that name change?!
At the end of 2007, Victoria (our next-up rind of the government onion) dissolved the Translink board of appointees gleaned from political office, and replaced them with appointees gleaned from big business. I shall call this board "Board B", just because.
It's only logical to presume that business folk should have a good grasp of spending money wisely -- as in Getting the biggest bang for the buck. A reasonable expectation in regard to Board B. Time will tell. It has only been a bit more than one month in.
Board B already has managed to raise public ire: enough meetings held in camera, because the unwashed citizenry screaming from the floor makes it that much more time-consuming to pass edicts, and pass over the unimportant.
And now, one month in, the directors of Board B are GETTING A RAISE! -- and one to write home about, as folks used to say.
I need to check facts, but the face filling the teevee that's saying he's got no problem with this is a former Vancouver mayor -- a left-winger -- and friend of the people.
[Tick tock … Time passes].
Turns out he’s Chair of some “steering committee”, which has the blessing of our Provincial Government, et cetera. Simply: a provision in legislation essentially compels Board B to accept the raise without complaint.
Here's the kicker: New Year's 2008 saw transit fare increases!
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