Another facile piece from the usual one-dimensional tin-man IPA propaganda hacks.

Note how he accuses the players in this drama of having "subjective" ideological agendas.

Of course he and the IPA are completely ideologically and "subjectively" free arent they?

They presume to be, at least in their completely hide-bound one-dimensional tin-man certainty, completely free of any kind of ideological or "subjective" bias. Committed to some kind of eternally given, always value free, culturally neutral, and therefore transcendent "objectivity".

Never mind that in Truth & Reality they are some of the most ideologically and subjectively biased ding-bats that the world has ever seen.

And that their so called "objectivity" contains all sorts of one-dimensional subjective ideas about what is true, real and possible, and hence simultaneously dismisses all other possible points of view as power seeking delusions---subjective, ideologically biased, primitive, romantic, idealistic, and blah blah bah.

Only they see reality "real" and "true".

They are just as blinkered as the "social realist" propaganda hacks of Nazi Germany and the various communist states.

Let capitalist social-"realism" rule OK. Capitalism of course, at least in their "unbiased" eyes (rather blindness), being the most "advanced" form of culture ever seen on this planet.

Never mind that in Truth & Reality it, capitalism, has inevitably reduced ALL of human culture to rubble.

The truth of the matter that ALL systems of local government are open to corruption and always have been.

The golden rule always applies.

Those have have the gold make the rules, and ignore, break, bend, subvert, and change the rules, to suit themselves. And even change the government if necessary, via Shock Doctrine tactics if necessary.
All of course in the name of "freedom"---that is the freedom of capital, to claim its "god"-given "right" to profit, regardless of the human suffering created in the process.

I wonder how many of us are impressed with local government?
The fact is I think few, I actually wrote down that line about people who stand for election.
Far too few actually stand for other than personal power and influence, or money.
I have never known a local government I trusted and I have lived in many.
I await the destruction of my last and current one, and the down fall of its officers ,some of them or there is no justice.
This nation would be far better without local government.
Unless we have more concerns for the failures they attract than the rate payers and victims.
My party loyalty will not blind me come elections but swapping one failure for another will be of little help.

Couldn't agree more Ho Hum, except that this piece is execrable even by IPA standards.

There is a concerted campaign being waged by the development industry to strip away planning controls and development controls. Interesting to note that one of the lobby groups advocating this is Urban Taskforce http://www.urbantaskforce.com.au/ This group is headed by Aaron Gadiel, a former staffer for both Eddie Obeid and Joe Tripodi and a look on their website reveals it is hosting developer events for Frank Sartor and Michael Costa. The unholy alliance of the gutter end of the NSW Labor Right and the development industry should strike joy in the hearts of anyone who likes making money from building tat high-rise. If on the other hand you don't want this stuff built next door to you then you might have a bit of worry about.

What would happen to planning in NSW if local government were entirely sidelined? Read Elizabeth Farrelly here http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/02/1091432106358.html to get a bit of an idea.

Seems to me that giving all planning powers to the State Government just kicks the corruption opportunities further up the food chain. Every single important figure in the Wollongong affair had links to the ALP Right. Anyone else see a pattern emerging here?

An excellent article which defines the problem very well. Yes, Local Government severely restricts the rights of landholders, but lends itself to huge corruption by being able to selectively bend those rules without any public accountability. The restrictions and corruption are now so bad that even the developers are suffering, and representative groups like Urban Taskforce are presenting argument for change. Perhaps JohnJ might look at what the submission contains instead of focusing on who was responsible for it.

Defining the problem is the first step toward a solution.

Local Government is the closest Government to the people. For this reason it is the most complex and unfortunately misunderstood.

I do not believe ALL LAND or PROPERTY DEVELOPERS are ill-hearted and nor do I believe every Councillor with a successful business in their private life is looking to be in Council to enhance their own interest but admit, many DO!

I believe for a large some; "Local government politics tends to attract those excited by the machinations and manipulations of political life but disinterested in public policy."

This is a problem in EDUCATION and UNDERSTANDING the potential WIN|WIN value underwritten in good PUBLIC POLICIES.

Local residents as well as their local governments have poor respect of public policies saying as MOST DO "yea - yea - yea"!

From Business, Mayors and Councillors I hear (too often) ... “yes… yes…yes…but what can we do about it (and worse)... it is not our problem it is the problem of state or national government…(or even worse still)…of charity groups!”

Let us be more mindful of the “broken promises”, those Vote 1 candidates who suddenly go mute once elected by their god willing humbled constituents.

This agitates me immensely! What irritates me most is the way the modern capitalistic world continues to treat distribution and consumption as separate entities… as if money has no connection to a greater good hence the growth of disconnective-ness(s); a divided-ignored-miscalulated-obscured hidden ‘duel economy’. Growing indices of homelessness, joblessness, abuse and violence, people entrapped in a cycle of hopelessness…. as if WE really don’t care.

Second, I believe government itself has poor regard for public policy at ground levels. It is affronting. Given what public servants see at the inter-face of the streets, in the wards, in the legal systems, in aged care…. you would think that these workers would at least try to pounce on PROBLEM SOLVING solutions that might help embrace a “whole" community, so it has a better opportunity to STAND UP FOR ITSELF?

More has to be done to support the civic workers and to support the valued citizenship we confess to celebrate.

http://www.miacat.com/

Corruption is not the sole domain of local Govts.It is just easier to sack them.It is a pity we cannot sack the Iemma Govt with the same consumate ease.