Misunderstanding or not wanting to to understand

Hi Mark,

The citizens of Detroit have a right to expect reliable protection from the fire department as well as the police department. The fire department is paid for by tax dollars. People in Detroit pay for this service and they should get the protection that they pay for. I'm interested in knowing, if you would call the fire department if your house was burning down? Why would you? The fact is you would call the fire department because you pay for their services. Now let me guess, you'll ask why we have to pay for the fire department services? Because a fire department is necessary to control fire hazards!!! Many people can be effected by fires, if your house caught fire, it could spread to your neighbors house and throughout your neighborhood. Taxpayers pay for these services and they should get reliable protection.

I find it interesting that you feel that the people of Detroit don't have a right to vote. Should your election ballot be thrown out just because someone doesn't like who you vote for? The people of Detroit have a fine Mayor in Dennis Archer, you go to Detroit, Have you ever encountered a problem while in the City? Archer isn't the blame for Abandoned buildings in the city. The fact is, before you can demolish a building or house there our numerous steps that must be taken, such as contacting owners, tax delinquency requirements, court hearings. It isn't an easy task. Archer has plans to demolish 1500 houses this year in the city of Detroit, so he definitely isn't the problem.

You also say that a white man can't be Mayor of Detroit, The question isn't whether a White Man can be Mayor, The Question is Can a White Man run for Mayor of Detroit? The answer is YES!!! White people can run for Detroit's Highest office. You can run for Mayor of Detroit, You seem to have all the answers to fix Detroit. Maybe you should throw your hat into the race.

Just remember that as Mayor you'll be working for the citizens of Detroit. Which means that they have the right to expect reliable and competent work from your administration.

Chris

Hi there Chris

Some points to ponder...

I said

"One is tempted to ask, What are the criteria used by Detroit voters, when selecting their leadership?

Well lets think about it...

Suppose a person seeking the office of the Mayor, was not "Black"?"

And I said:

"The brutal fact is that the main Litmus test a candidate must pass before being considered on the Detroit ballot, has not a thing to do with the candidate's abilities!"

And then Chris responded:

"You also say that a white man can't be Mayor of Detroit, The question isn't whether a White Man can be Mayor, The Question is Can a White Man run for Mayor of Detroit? The answer is YES!!! White people can run for Detroit's Highest office. You can run for Mayor of Detroit, You seem to have all the answers to fix Detroit. Maybe you should throw your hat into the race. "

And now I reply!

Nice spin but you failed to seriously read what I had written. Of course a non-black can run for Mayor, but the real politics of the situation is that a non-black running for Mayor is a non-starter. Why? I think it has to do with a (confused imho) sense of pride, and a mixture of "tribal" interests. (Read article "Not Happening" from the NYT - you might have to click on it twice for the link to work - I know it's crazy)

I don't understand why you would disagree with my point that I was making.

The people vote for politicians to run the government and if the quality of service does not vary with who is elected, than there is no point in electing politicians with the promise of better service. If there is no point in voting then it follows that there is no point in having the system of Self-Government we enjoy! In other words the double edged sword of self-government has to be "You get what you vote for!" You elect jerks, you get jerks!

Mark

Hi Mark,

I thought that the Retoit story you wrote made no sense at all.

We are not talking about blowing out fires.

The fact is people are taxed for services and the services should be reliable. If the services are not reliable, people
should go to their representatives and get the problem solved.

That is what Detroit residents have done.

They voiced their concerns to the Press and
their city officials.

Why is this a problem?

Don't Detroit residents have the right to voice their opinions?

Your having trouble accepting the fact that there are services that we our taxed for.

I'm interested in knowing what services you think you should pay taxes for, such as police. fire department, transportation, judicial, military etc... ?

Hi

The story about Retroit, is about VOTERS.

That is why the story said:

"The voters of Retroit overwhelming voted for Joe Blow, and his blowers."

VOTERS have a part to play in our system of self-government.

This really is not hard to understand. Politicians make promises or proposals. Be it improving Fire Service, Social Security, Defense or a skating rink in the park.

VOTERS have a RESPONSIBILITY to SORT OUT the
PROPOSERS!

This is really a very simple concept, wouldn't you agree?

The bit about blowing out fires is just an humorous example, it could be any thing.

The point of the story, is that the VOTERS exercised THEIR RIGHT to VOTE, and the RESULT of their JUDGMENT was a DISASTER.

That is why the story said:

"...the community center was engulfed in flames before most of the folks of Retroit could exit."

Not to cryptic, I would think...

I think it is pretty pathetic that People want the Right to Vote, but want to blame others if they make the wrong decision!

If a politician has a plan to improve things, there is a risk that the plan might not work, the Voters decide the Policy. If the VOTERS CAN NOT set a direction for the government to travel, there is NO POINT in VOTING.

You keep saying people DESERVE efficient government services, because they pay taxes. "The citizens of Detroit have a right to expect reliable protection from the fire department as well as the police department. "

Think about this:

VOTERS have a RIGHT, to make decisions.

There is no RIGHT or Guarantee that VOTERS will SELECT the PROPER POLICY. This is the DOWN SIDE of
SELF-GOVERNMENT!

In Closing the story of Retroit I say:

"On the other side of the world, in a small town, government workers remove a sign, proclaiming Retroit as a "Sister City". They are grateful their King watches out for them, and would never replace their Fire Trucks."

This really is not hard to figure out either. People in some other country, (thus "On the other side of the world...") don't have the RIGHT TO VOTE, this is represented by the phrase " ... their King watches out for them ..."
in other words they are the King's subjects. People ruled by a King are not self-governed, as they are ruled by a King! People ruled by a King are taxed, and the King may offer his Subjects protection. This is simply the King protecting his assets. The King may even commission a modern Police and Fire Service. This may suit some people fine, and they will never be asked, what the policies of the Police or Fire may be. But the Guarantee of service comes with a price, Freedom.

I have no problem with Detroiters noticing that their services are crumbling. The point I am making is that Detroiters need to look in the mirror when complaining. They elected the Mayor and City Council. The fact that they pay taxes is immaterial. People in Communist Dictatorships pay
taxes. The VOTER'S REPRESENTATIVES set the BUDGETS and the SERVICE LEVELS.

*** THIS IS SELF-GOVERNMENT IN ACTION!!! ***

OF COURSE DETROITERS have a RIGHT TO THEIR OPINIONS!!!

The dismal services in Detroit, reflect their OPINIONS!!!