Cerberus

As I mentioned in a reply to a comment on the last post, I would occasionally do a blog piece, if for no other reason to protect the "name".  Google does have a use it or lose it policy, at least as to the "name", although you don't have to use it all that much, and I haven't found where it has actually been lost anywhere. But what the heck, good as excuse as any to dabble every now and then..

Anyway ... with a new year just starting, seems the first of the year, and maybe the beginning of the month going forward might be an appropriate time.

Maybe going forward the piece might take a journal entry format.  Who knows?

Truth be told I have missed the daily exercise a bit.  Not enough to get back to it on a regular basis, but enough where it gnaws at me every now and then.

So what's up?

First thing I would like to note is the last thing I read in The Standard Times piece for "Southcoast Man of the Year". In case you didn't know, it is our soon to be former Governor. the quote is in response to a question regarding advice to his successor.  The most relevant piece of advice I have seen in a long time.

“Listen,” he said, simply. “Get out and listen. They’re not saying the same things in SouthCoast or in the Berkshires that they’re saying on Beacon Hill.” 

You could apply that bit of wisdom not only on the state level, but tweak the areas encompassed a bit, and it would be sound advice all the way to Washington D.C. and as local as your own little fiefdom.

What else?

Transition.

For many of us, it will be a year in transition for our personal lives.  One could say for all of us. Whether the transition is subtle or substantial, each day changes.

For our town, our fair haven of a community, it will most certainly be a year of transition, a bit will be subtle, a whole lot substantial though.

A process commenced last May, set out, authorized and waiting for implementation will eventually burst from the constraints.

All that is missing to get the wheel really turning is the new driver for the bus.

My New Year's wish for this process, that we do not attempt to map out the definitive route for the new journey we are about to embark on without first getting that new driver in place.

Certainly we cannot just sit and idle. Neither should be be hamstringing ourselves nor the new driver with choices made based on the experience of the journey about to end.

Isn't it the dissatisfaction with the present journey that has led to a decision to embark on a new one?

If ever this town was in a period of time where the "lame duck" concept applied, it is now. We will all have varying opinions on certain matters, however now is not the time to be taking any action which would fall under the direct responsibility of the first town administrator.

Yes there may be a matter or two which cannot wait, but trying to establish policy, procedure and plans which suit the existing structure in anticipation of the new structure perhaps may seem attractive, but might be more akin to start building a building before you hire the general contractor.

Is there a need to get things done? Certainly, but the priority should be to hire a head coach in advance of trying to put together a game plan.

While all of this may sound just a tad too critical for the beginning of a new year, it truly isn't meant to be.  No one in town has gone through this transition before. Those who must decide are, I am sure, receiving advice and recommendations which perhaps differ just a bit from what you or I may proffer.

The one thing we should all acknowledge is that some decisions are not as black and white as we may see them.  Indeed we should all be willing to acknowledge that some "solutions" as presented are not all as clear cut and neat as offered.

If everything were easy, and went as planned, or perceived ,or presented, we wouldn't end up in most of the messes we end up in.

Truth be told, and admittedly the truth as perceived by this blogger, it isn't the system that is broken, it is the way people use the system under a misapprehension of exactly what the system is. To this very day, and in at an ever increasing level over many years, that misapprehension has given rise to the cracks and holes in the dam which is perceived to be ready to burst.

A very popular mantra for many arguing for change is we need to take the politics out of "it". Several problems with that concept. So long as elections determine anything, you will never take the politics out of "it" or anything. So long as any one person feels the law should be bent, ignored, or somehow ignored for their just cause, or feels they are entitled to a break, or a freebie, or special consideration because of who or what they are, or what they do, you will never take the politics out of it.

Not even when the person to run the day to day operations is appointed. The key to that is the word appointed in case it isn't obvious, i.e. remember any employee, at any level has a boss. This will certainly minimize it, or more properly said, "should minimize it".

The fact you wish long and hard for utopia however isn't going to get you to Shangri la.

This is not being a pessimist.  I actually consider it being an realistic optimist.

I do not believe we can ever have or find a perfect system.  To do so would require unanimous agreement and acceptance of not only the implementation but the operation. Let's face it, complaints against the present form of government in this country at any level started just about the day after the formation of your type of government. Why would you expect our new little improvement to be any different?

Yet, hope springs eternal nonetheless. It truly does.

No, perfection is not attainable, but imperfections can be minimized.

All a matter for greater minds than mine.

The point being we voted for a new game, and a new rule book. Let's not try to continue to play under the old rules.

Again, anyway ...

What would we all like for the new year?  From the pundit perspective, A whole bunch of contested races come April.  That is not likely however.

From any perspective, a bit of consistency would be nice.  It really would.

Some understanding would be good.  Truly it would be nice to feel confident that when you hear something, it is being said based on a firm grasp of at least the obvious, and would feel even better if it were being said and done based on a firmer footing in the real world.

Speaking of the real world, I think a realty check for all should be wished for.  Things are not as bad in this town as some would like to think. Things however aren't as good as some would like to think also.

Apply that to any spectrum on the scale you use for your measurements.

Our views of local politics tend to be extremely parochial. By definition, the views of course would be on the local issue.

The petty politics inherent in local politics is not isolated in our little burb.  The sometimes self-centered or seemingly self-centered agenda was not invented here, nor is it solely followed here.

In many ways, as a community we are light years beyond other communities in the "open and transparent" area, well behind some others, but in truth probably not as far along the spectrum as we should be.

Being in front of many is not an excuse for being less than we should, I grant you. Yet it could be a whole lot worse.

Circling back a bit, kind of ...

Actually way, way back perhaps.

Charter chatter.  We need one.  We need one badly.

We also need to start thinking well outside the box.

There seem to be some who think that is what they are thinking presently.  From a different perspective however it seems things are being done now, which will box us in for the future.

I get back to the "lame duck" concept.  A whole lot of energy is going into "solving" or future problems and needs.  Not a bad thing in concept, especially if you ignore the concept voted on last May.

Indeed, if the energy being devoted to certain things presently had be so expanded just two years ago, the perception of what was last May might have been significantly different.

To steal from the old poem, "the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry". Surest way for things to go awry is base a game plan on Team A, and then for game day put in an entirely new team. I think so anyway.

Enough rambling for now.  Perhaps we will visit again next month.

Be safe.