Five reasons to act wise
From: Anastasios Baxevanidis
Knowledge is
power that can make you or break you...
Reason makes you power broker.
****************
Reason one
Friendship is our strength
Dear friends:
Epicurus, have
said, << friendship is the most dear element and matter on Earth>>.
This year we are
having Municipal Elections.
October 27th, 2014 is the date
of VOTE. You can change your Town, for
fair days and secure future.
When we are talking about freedom,
free elections, citizens, voting, candidates, debate, community issues, etc, we
are presenting the most important elements, the foundations, and the ideals, of
the democratic system of governance.
Democracy is a continuous
conversation about the welfare of all peoples and its cosmos. When this
conversation is interrupted, and the participation of all peoples is restricted,
then the system is not responsive to the needs of the many.
There are many remedies to
bring about renewal, progress and prosperity for all people in a Democratic
system. So time is of essence, so is participation and co-operation, is the
must for those who wand to "service" the peoples and for the peoples
who want to be "serviced".
The last municipal elections in
Richmond Hill
What these numbers mean? Are
you satisfied with the way the Town is running?
First, these numbers clearly
and unequivocally indicate that our electorate is not engaged, is marginalized and discouraged from fully taking part in the democratic political process and
having a say in the governance of our Town.
The same can be said about the
Provincial and Federal elections.
The reasons for the above
voting statistics are many and complicated. However, I am certain that you will
give many correct answers by farther questioning your wondering reasons of your
every day life.
For me, the most important reason
that undermines electorate engagement at all three levels of our governments, is
the unproductive political conversation. I want to change that and involve all
you in a serious and meaningful political conversation that is focused around
our human needs and betterment of all.
This is why I am running for
your Mayor.
As your Mayor, I want to stop
the outsourcing of the Town’s strategic services; end the downloading from the
Province and Federal governments; bring
about fair taxation; and reduce you
burden while preserving the quality and services our Town is offering.
The old models are no longer
applicable. We need to look at fresh ideas and ways of doing "business",
including making sure that you the voter who pays for all these services has
the ability to meaningfully engaged in our renewed municipal system.
As the poet
said: The hard truth is that, we are all in the same boat and we have to raw
together in friendship fashion if we want to sail on calm waters and our
journey into the future to be theanthropic. Because we are alone but chain
together.
Him, who relinquished his rights to exist,
does not reach the source of happiness.
Blog: http:anastasiosbaxevanidis.blogspot.ca
*****************
Reason two
Let the People Talk.
Dear
Friends,
The
subject of this communication is the donations by Corporations to candidates
politicians.
The
marginalized – more than 70% of the electorate – must feel comfortable to
participate in the democratic process feel free and recognize the need that his
involvement is important and vital in making the Town to reflect on his ideals
and expectations.
I
believe, it is necessary the council to
change the Municipal election by laws on donations to candidates. The new
by-law will exclude donations from corporations. Any surplus money from the previous elections
held by the Town and received from special interest groups and
corporations should be transferred to a
special account allocated for social emergencies.
You
are probably wondering how the candidates will obtain the money required to run
a municipal campaign. They will look to the average voter for support and
donations. By changing the donation limit to $100 and requiring all donations
above $35 to be declared publicly. this will provide opportunities of engaging
the grass roots of the Community. That will keep open and build new channels
for conversation between the citizens-voters and place the emphasis on real
policy standards and democratization of the political processes.
As
Mayor, I will implement this change to the municipal by-laws with YOUR support.
He who does not claim his
rights,
does injustice to himself.
Blog: http:anastasiosbaxevanidis.blogspot.ca
****************
Reason three
Events for Democracy
Dear
friends,
today
I present to you possibilities and feasibilities and feasible plans to improve
and promote our democratic system and at the same time to better our community.
I
propose, the Council to adopt and execute the following model/plan that would
benefit our Town in many areas. Organize in every one of our six wards an event
to celebrate democracy by proving the self-evident, applying the ways and means
that could happened in a true pluralistic society. The event will challenge the
voters to show that, they care about this Town, and it will entertain them in a
very profound way because of the unique experience.
This
event will take place in community center or in a High school, so that would be convenient for the organizers and the people of each
ward. The onus organizing the event will fall, primarily on the candidates of
the ward, the people of the ward and of cause on the Town. As far as the
monetary disbursement is concern, should not exceed the nature of the estimated
cost of the operations for the elections.
The efficiency
of the project will depend on the degree of the team work and willingness of
all participants to improve the democratic process and protect the environment
by ways of information and presentations
Each
ward, will assemble from its voters a council (committee) that will make the list
of issues and needs they pool from the voters. Then a team will form by
the committee who will face the candidates
(Mayoral, councilors, trustees) and present the issues and needs, in simple and precise
question form. The time frame is very important for the success of this
conversation mechanism that aims to enrich with democratic essence the
community. The Town must succeed.
This
is the service the Town must put ahead
of all the other services, and must be a continues experience of a fraternity
of sharing, promoting community values of duties and rights. This will begin
from the council's functionality, practicing accountability, transparency, accuracy, truthfulness, idiosyncrasy
at its best (good character).
The
assumption is that, technology benefits community the most. Yet, the phenomenon is very asymmetric in the
open social space. I believe, the Town must establish the principle of open
communication with the peoples
(a polis that is afraid from its citizens,
is an
undefended polis),
and a good start is, to open its books, to
give continues opportunities
participating in the conversation of the Town's businesses, to be open
to suggestions and facilitate public participation in a dynamic democratic
productive fashion ( a form of jury ... ).
Let
us be the best possible community, let us protest against stagnation, let us be
a leading Town, an idol, and encourage other communities with our prototyping
in reactivating and renewing Democratic fundamentals.
Give me where to stand, your
hope and trust your own,
and together we can build a better Town.
Blog:http:anastasiosbaxevanidis.blogspot.ca
**************
Reason four
Land use asphyxiation.
Dear friends:
Let the Land Help us.
Our Native
Land
Land
use asphyxiation is the by-product
(externality) of land mismanagement, where land use planning follows
unorthodox economic protocols. In addition, common sense growth pattern applications, in long run strategies are fundamental to land use policies (In
contrast to the case of opportunism).
Just
imagine the given "ortho-parallelogram" of the Town of Richmond Hill
The
land has been vandalized, on the altar of political convenience and the unwise
management of the land capital owners. Both parties act unprofessionally,
lucking leadership skills, are irrelevant to the future of the children, and
their understanding of future social relations are weak and not promising.
The
Town's vitality generates a monotonous Para-phony and the an destructed
homogeneity of the land improvements as
an provisional- less cacography. It is not because of the wasted
promised wealth, but because of the destruction of the environmental base and
the elimination of possibilities , this parcel of land to give what it could to
the future generations. There was no consideration what so ever to save the
land, the water, the air, and equally, to save the children from desperate lives,
for which lives we are responsible, and we should be accountable for policies
neglecting the due process, because of special interests, short sided,
ignorant, and being irresponsible.
What must be done NOW!!!
Let
us see the reality from the prism of negativity to realize the painful
destructive growth, and growth by all means, irrational, and discriminatory, in sense of social needs, economic needs and political needs.
There
is not and never was an essential official plan for the whole Town, and even the dominant myth of the
"official down Town plan" was so weak in fundamentals and so
strong assumptions made the whole
proposition unstable, not reliable and very exclusionist for any decision
making. This is typical political convenience, submissiveness and fire works
attitude. As far as the theatre's
theatrical that is a different pain to soothe, for all. The "propose new
White Elephant Town Hall" I suspect is a jock, or watch the salesman.
Let
us clear, secure, and cherish what ever left from the CATs and loaders. Every
natural, geographic endowment must be environmental heritage of the Town of Richmond Hill Richmond
Hill
The
total area of the Town is , give and take, eighty square kilometers, and it is criss-cross, by a system of Regional and Town
roads to facilitate the movement of people, goods and services in an
efficient method and safe way. The question, of cause, is how to achieve and
how to measure these qualities. In an other STEP we are going to talk about
that question.
The
Town of Richmond Hill
A promise is a denial.
A proposition is a dilemma.
Blog:http:anastasiosbaxevanidis.blogspot.ca
*****************
Reason five
Public Transit,
and the argument of Commuting Safely and Efficiently.
Dear
friends:
Commuting
is one of the most important socio-economic activity, any time any where the
people engage with, in order to provide, to secure the life-line for survival
or to find, to earn the necessities to "survive".
In
prehistoric times, people were "hunters and gatherers" and had to
search for many hours to secure the goods for their needs. Today, the needs and
wants for the "modern society", creates exorbitant requirements of
valuable life time and resources to reach the sources of goods and services
they need to satisfy the framework of "the modern life style", using
various commuting modals of transportation from home to work place and back
home (modern hunter and gatherer of essentials and non-essentials).
In
the "old days" all difficulties and constrains of
"commuting" were resulted of natural causes. Today, the political and
economic structure differentiates the social (community) needs, and economic
(business) priorities. The essence of economic equilibrium is cultivated by the
"invisible hand with the stick".
In
terms of the commuting issue, of how it is possible to move people from home to
work place and back home, most efficiently, minimizing costs (monetary, social, environmental, etc), the issue hangs
on the pendulum between partisan policies and social needs.
The
unorthodox practice of land use, creates an apocalyptic pipe-line for the
commuters, and other road users. The monolithic growth model that considers
only the supply side, helps the gigantisms of monotonic waste land and so the
asphyxiation. The land is blanketed by the bedroom communities, and although
they are squared by four lanes roads, the distance to travel and the plethora
of all kind of vehicles, at least during the rush hours it is rather natural to
have that dishearten flow of traffic. This pressurized flow of traffic consumes
priceless social time, wastes huge quantities of capital, and destroys natural
ecosystems with immeasurable future values. In summation, the dynamism of
the problems is due to a unproductive
managerial and political structure.
The
York Region is in the "red", about two billion dollars. The Towns
have their own story to tell you.
Getting
back to the transit and commuting, a few years ago, the Towns, those that, had
a hatching structure of public transit, agreed to amalgamate their systems with
that of the York Region's, and farther consolidated outsourcing the transit services to a private
company. By nature, there are industries in the economic system, and services
in all Government levels that hold the strategic status. These status are
subject to technological advances, and to democratic advances, improvements,
consolidated on the hands of the peoples. Accountability and transparency are
the beginnings of possible under probation acceptable Governments. The
strategic status are guaranteed by the constitution and the freedoms and rights
Act. Any deviation from the principles and the prerequisites constitutes
compromise of the Government's integrity, and there for eligibility. Yes! that
is the way things should be, other wise ?X?$&$#$.... One would expect that
the purpose of the outsourcing was to benefit the public monetarily and
ethically by supporting the environment.
The
present operation of this Transit system, cannot convince many, of being
serious of implementing policies that could increase the ridership and pull
vehicles off the road. To achieve outcomes like that, all concerned parties
must disregard short run political and financial benefits.
Transit
investment is a long run proposition, like any other public infrastructure, and
it should be build prioritizing the welfare and the essential needs of the
public.
Nothing
justifies the present fare structure of the Transit System given the
competitive environment of the commuting "market". The total
marketing strategy is looking the other way of the real issues and goals the
transit system should have.
Both
lines, the Yonge street and the HW#7, fail the long run public investment and
utilisation criteria, in terms of public service, safety, and environmental
benefits. It is arrogant, abusive, and compromising, to say the least, wasting
public money designated for long run investments but with short run benefits to
special interests groups.
I would encourage the
planners, and the decision fabricators to stop building palaces for themselves,
and throwing the public under the incompetence bus system....
With great respect and expectations
Have a hopeful
day
Anastasios
Baxevanidis (BA, MA) Economist
E-mail: anastasiosbaxevanidis@gmail.com
E-mail: aithrios@gmail.com
Blog:http:anastasiosbaxevanidis.blogspot.ca
The agony of failure does not justify lies.
The
Romans, to "pacify the crowds" entertained them with triumphs,
gladiators shows and snacks (bread...). For the Caesar and the senators that
was "modus Vivendi"...
Remember our taxes are not fair!!!
We live in a dangerous zone!!!
They said nothing!!
They did nothing!!!
Our future is our responsibility!!!
October 27th, 2014.
Vote
for
Anastasios
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