Half or Half

An eight ounce glass with four ounces of liquid is what?

The age old debate of half full or half empty never ends with that question. Lots of "rules" apply to the debate. 

There was a time the pessimist in me would buy into the half empty. I have had a evolution of sorts on that view over time. After years of facts and figures often contradicting arguments, after learning that the best policy was trust but verify, I came to the personal position that what such a glass is, is nothing more than a glass with four ounces of liquid in it; i.e. it is what it is.

Full or empty is nothing more than a matter of perspective. and when you constantly hear the need to pour some of that liquid out to try to argue we are going to fill up the glass, well that's where you lost me.  

Before I digress ...

I see the prospect of the debate ending by going the positive way though.  

First and foremost time will help the shift.  In the  not to distant future, debt exclusion will start coming off incrementally.  Yes, I can foresee the argument to replace it with something else.  Just as I can foresee the argument that we wait to do that.  That we wait and give the tax payer a breather.  The opportunity to enjoy paying less. 

Need and necessity are not automatically synonymous. So remain a bit needy for a few years, and at least offer to the people the opportunity to perceive someone actually cares.

Again, before I digress too much ...

We have a new government starting. Despite my personal criticism as to the less than perfect form, it is what it is.  One of the things it should also be is an improvement to what we have.  I can't see it being any worse.

Once again I will hammer home the accountability issue. Going forward, the perception will be that the pyramid now exists.  Well two pyramids, one greater and one lesser.  the lesser one will soon discover just how less desirable living in the shadow of the greater one will be, but again before I digress ...

We are going to see the ability to sit and a circle and have everyone point their finger at someone else for the who, what and why something is amiss. Truman's statement about where the buck stops will be applicable in Town.

Right, wrong or indifferent, we can expect many changes over the next year or so.  Perhaps most won't be visible to the casual observer, but expect the changes nonetheless.  

The TA law, while not making the TA Commander-in-Chief, does provide the very high perception and a level of actual authority that should result in day to day political interference easing significantly.  It also provides that accountability. 

No more excuses about department heads not listening.  No more excuses about people not doing their jobs. No more excuses about selectmen interference or intervention. All your problem now. Yours to deal with. Their errors, omissions, and acts are your responsibility.

A TA know this, the good ones.  The good ones know that who the handwriting on the wall is for depends on total performance of all under the TA's direction and control. 

After this piece the "what could have been" stuff ceases.  No point in it.  What is good or bad will soon enough show itself. The fact that there should be no real argument about whether what will be implemented  being better than what we have.  

Very few were arguing against a need for change.  The level, the degree, yes indeed.  The creation of a greater and lesser pyramid system by the failure to realistically address the lesser elected board is going to be an issue, but it is what it is, isn't it. Discussion about that doesn't cease by the way. That isn't a problem disappearing anytime soon.

But, again to keep from digressing too much ...

Mr. Rees has been at it a long time.  In the role as a TA.  The back ground and experience in dealing with the administrative functions. If he follows through on his stated approach to this role, I can indeed envision the half or half argument looking toward the full side. I can indeed see a different approach in dealing with departments, employees and matters.  

I can indeed see a new outlook.  

The glass does have the potential to be half full, and to be filled even more.  That is a good thing.  It is a good feeling to actually think it could happen.  

Before you all start thinking I am getting soft and becoming a cockeyed optimist ...

Until next time.