Trolling for a Spin Doctor

As though the current slate of both bureaucrats and politicians isn't adept at spinning.

Today's editorial in the Morning Star by Rolke shares the lament of RDNO director Mike Macnabb that the RDNO website -- in its infinite vastness -- made it difficult for him to find the details of a public open house at the BX-Swan Lake firehall.

"It wasn't advertised anywhere.  I couldn't find it.  There was no link to say this is important to your community," the newspaper reports Macnabb as saying.
Probably stamped his feet a bit too, evidencing frustration, as he is wont to do.

"Taxpayers put us here and are paying for what goes on here, and it's incumbent that it goes back out to them."  Huh?

What he's really admitting to is that he doesn't trust his ability to reign in how he himself petulantly brow-beats his peers--the ones who disagree with his job of bureaucratic spin--at Greater Vernon Advisory Committee meetings.

Not such a stretch when you think about it.

Macnabb was appointed a year or two ago by bureaucrats to head their water committee.  To that end he is bureaucrats' mouthpiece on the Master Water Plan, whose $70 million funding referendum was rejected by voters last November.  It's his job to convince his peers that the plan must proceed nevertheless, despite two--and occasionally three--elected officials placing stumbling blocks before him at GVAC.

Now they're meeting--tomorrow--to discuss "funding options".
But whatever is decided there, it's how they can schmooze with residents that'll determine success or failure.  More correctly, how to walk the unified walk of bureaucracy.
And talk their talk...so that everyone speaks as though of one mind.

"We do some pretty good work here but it's not recognized because nobody knows about it," he says.

Rolke's story continues:  "...it should be pointed out that a communications officer doesn't simply fire off press releases.  They also provide critical advice on how to avoid controversy, ensure the message going out to the public is clear and they target strategies that reflect the objectives of the organization."
The editorial goes so far as to add "...or placing advertisements in this newspaper...that approach is acceptable as newspapers remain a relevant provider of information and analysis."

Analysis?
The Morning Star?
More akin to unquestioned obedience.

Rolke's editorial concludes with "Increasingly, there is a(sic) general public apathy about all levels of government, and some of that may be a result of questionable political decisions."

Gee.
Ya think?

With the growing acceptance by the public of the grassroots group Citizens for Changes to the Master Water Plan, it seems RDNO staff and GVAC directors are worried they're unable to avoid controversy without a communications officer.   

 
"Musing for Macnabb's frustrations," says Kia, "is just as ineffective as when Macnabb himself spouts the stuff."


So much for analysis, because the acrid taste in the public mouth is a direct result of questionable decisions on the Master Water Plan.

And no in-depth, objective reporting.