tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215006984353817373.post3877872859073773432..comments2024-03-23T12:56:50.209+00:00Comments on 99% is ....... The Barnet Eye: Do you fancy a good laugh? or even a good cry?Rog Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139705078907584931noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215006984353817373.post-8399195256218022082009-08-11T18:19:43.534+01:002009-08-11T18:19:43.534+01:00I've been arguing for a directly elected Mayor...I've been arguing for a directly elected Mayor for nearly 4 years now. I can see no other alternative for bridging the democratic deficit in Barnet. The Administration is aloof from the Councillors (who don't see their role as running the Council), the Councillors are aloof from their Parties, the Parties aloof from their voters and members.<br /><br />A directly elected Mayor would ensure that person is elected by the voters in Barnet and they would know who to hold to account and he/she would have to please the voters not just 'pay off' enough Councillors to keep them voting for him/her. <br /><br />It would be far from perfect but it is a solution who's time has come. We need about 10,000 signatures to trigger the referendum. Cameron is a huge fan. I think it is time to start knocking on doors....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215006984353817373.post-18328843144180221452009-08-11T16:23:27.259+01:002009-08-11T16:23:27.259+01:00David,
Maybe Freer didn't draw up the manifes...David,<br /><br />Maybe Freer didn't draw up the manifesto, but thats what we voted for. That's the also the manifesto he stood for as a Tory candidate.Rog Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08139705078907584931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215006984353817373.post-28347061951592140272009-08-11T15:36:30.096+01:002009-08-11T15:36:30.096+01:00Mike Freer could argue that the reason his Adminis...Mike Freer could argue that the reason his Administration has failed to implement these manifesto pledges is because he didn’t draw it up. <br /><br />We have a leader with no democratic mandate implementing policies which were not part of the manifesto (sounds just like Gordon Brown). This contempt for the voters and democracy is truly staggering. <br /><br />It was not until recently that I subscribed to the idea of a directly elected mayor for every council. I had been concerned about introducing another layer of bureaucracy and red tape but it now clear that a directly elected mayor would reduce the democratic deficit we currently suffer in Barnet.Don't Call Me Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13602899129846028170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215006984353817373.post-39841388791182878222009-08-10T23:55:08.463+01:002009-08-10T23:55:08.463+01:00All the major parties need to be worried about pro...All the major parties need to be worried about protest votes at the next election. How many people vote for a particular party because they keenly support its objectives and share its ideology, compared to the number of people vote for a party simply to keep out another candidate?<br /><br />I am a member of the Conservative Party but had I lived in Bethnal Green at the last election, I would have had no hesitation in voting for Oona King, the Labour candidate, who was fighting to retain her seat against the revolting George Galloway. The Conservatives had no chance of winning that seat, and if a few more of them had voted for King, she would have held on. That, surely, would have been a better outcome for Conservative supporters?<br /><br />Many people vote “against” rather than “for”, and I think we will see more protest voting at the next election as the public express their dissatisfaction at the serial troughers – of whom there are many in Barnet.Don't Call Me Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13602899129846028170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215006984353817373.post-18143822626409691602009-08-10T20:35:23.142+01:002009-08-10T20:35:23.142+01:00Dan,
Sadly I think people such as you and I are p...Dan,<br /><br />Sadly I think people such as you and I are part of the problem. We will both vote for our respective parties in the face of all the evidence.<br /><br />The most sensible thing Labour could do in Mill Hill ward is stand aside for the Lib Dems. Will they? Nope.<br /><br />I'd like to see a few independents, but as the election will coincide with the General election, I doubt they'd do well this timeRog Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08139705078907584931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215006984353817373.post-25833548675218414272009-08-10T20:24:04.618+01:002009-08-10T20:24:04.618+01:00Rog, I think there is some fair analysis of how fa...Rog, I think there is some fair analysis of how far Mike Freer has taken the Administration towards Gordon Brown's policies, especially in relation to building flats.<br /><br />I would also support your comments, in particular, in regards to Alison Moore. She is paid the equivalent of a Cabinet Member in Councillor Allowances to hold the Cabinet to account. She patently fails (as to the 'Conservative Group' backbenchers.<br /><br />I don't want to see Labour and the Lib Dems running the Council again, nor would I vote for them but it is in the interests of good governance for there to be effective opposition. Jack Cohen does a far better job that Moore, but that doesn't say too much.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com