VOICE OF BYRON readers’ reactions to recent articles lead us to demand a New Way for our politicians to answer questions.
When a pollie – local, state or federal – wants to dodge a question, the Old Way is to dump a pile of spin (we call them spinswers) and misdirect the questioner, instead of provide the truth (answers).
Spraying spinswers instead of providing answers has long been a core role of politicians world wide.
This is no longer acceptable.
At least on a Byron Shire level, Voice of Byron calls for this “Old Way” to become accepted as the new “No Way.”
We’ve seen a prime example this week – where Green politicians have run against true green environmental beliefs.
But it’s not limited to this issue, or any single issue.
Providing spinswers instead of answers happens across the board, at all levels of government, all around the world.
It’s as if all of our elected politicians have no respect for our intelligence. It sometimes even reeks of pure arrogance.
But right now we’re only talking Byron Shire… let’s start small and focus on issues that affect Shire residents directly.
It’s time for the Old Way, the giving of spinswers instead of answers, to become the new No Way at Byron Shire Council in the future.
Tailoring the Information to Suit
Another corruption of the local government process is when staff are encouraged to provide answers that suit a particular, perhaps more powerful, councillor’s position on any given issue.
This has for decades been commonplace at Council.
Staff reports slanted to justify or strengthen an individual councillor’s position not only prevent the best solution for a Shire issue.
These reports are also often vulnerable to attack from residents who have comprehensive independent knowledge of the issue in question.
And this can result in Council staff being made to look like googy-eggs.
This then leads to more spinswers instead of answers, with an individual councilor’s viewpoint running roughshod over other positions which might provide a better solution to the issue at hand.
Dealing with all issues properly – providing answers instead of spinswers – will prevent Byron Shire Council from becoming so dysfunctional that an Administrator is required to clean up the mess, as has happened in the past.