District of Coldstream's INEPT-OCRACY

 An Anonymous submission to this blog.
Certainly worthy of print.
 

The ‘new’ District of Coldstream Subdivision and Development Bylaw 1535 (2008) is still in development. It is likely from what I hear, that it will not be put forward to any committee including council until well into the spring. I’m not sure why exactly but it’s a challenge in more ways than one.

It doesn’t have to be difficult though. The rules and regulations are all laid out in the Local Government Act and the old bylaw – the one before 1535 was just fine. It conformed to all the expectations of government and the public. What happened?  Well it could be that we have been inundated with ineptocracy. Yes, you heard that right. Ineptocracy. It’s a new word. It’s not in the old Webster’s Dictionary but you can find it on line.

Here’s the definition:

Ineptocracy (in-ep-toc’-ra-cy) – a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.

How harsh is that?! Before it looks like I’m pointing fingers and name calling, there is something here. Our elected officials are not necessarily the people who are exceptionally good at business. In fact, as Dave Hrabchuk saw in the last local election, his abilities as a businessman were seen as a detriment by many voters. I recall reading about Dave as a “profit-driven developer” suggesting that Dave had ulterior, or at the least suspect motives for wanting to be Mayor of Coldstream. The truth is that Dave, as a profit-driven developer Mayor, would not be permitted by the legislation to actually have a vote on anything he might gain from. Like councilor Peter McLean, who excuses himself from discussion or voting on an issue currently before council because he might benefit from the decision. Peter’s example is how local governments are supposed to work. Anyone who might benefit financially or otherwise, is seen as biased whether they are or not. And, perception is everything.

"Dave Hrabchuck (last election's District of Coldstream mayoralty candidate), was chastised for being a 'profit-driven developer'."

So do we vote for people who have no business experience? Do we vote for people who have no real knowledge about complex issues involving the environment, government, fiscal responsibility, or policy? People take years and years to become successful in understanding some of these complex issues.

It seems we do just that!

Why the name-calling when informed people should be seen as a resource? Prime Minister Harper does this. If someone complains about the current government direction, they get called a name – labeled a whale-watcher! an environmentalist! a profit-driven developer! or simply just rich people, mean people. That makes it okay apparently.  So the word ineptocracy has something to tell us about the direction we are going. If you begin to call people names when they have a legitimate concern, then you stymie their complaint.

That’s what the ‘new’ direction in Coldstream is effectively doing – stymie-ing property rights, depressing real estate, discouraging people from contributing to the community, and pushing people out.

It doesn’t bode well and it won’t matter how beautiful the view is.

"I suppose that makes me 'kibbles-driven'," muses Kia.

Coming soon to a Google Maps satellite searchword result:  "ineptocracy".

Presto!   Pushpin atop Coldstream!