Beck Discovers Story of One Town‘s ’Declaration of Independence’
- Posted on November 4, 2011 at 1:47am by
Tiffany Gabbay
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Glenn Beck clearly works hard to make sure that each segment of his GBTV show ranks high in measures of quality and content. But you can tell when he classifies a topic as a “must watch” segment. There are two such clips in this post.
Consider this a story of a destiny reclaimed. One town, best by squabbles and scandals, rises up to chart a new and very American course.
Until November 2010, Vernon Township, New Jersey did not have a Mayor. Instead, the town functioned under the Faulkner Act – a “council-manager” – form of government. Under this system council members perform the town’s necessary administrative functions, with one council member serving either as an appointed (by the council members) or elected “mayor.” Effectively this individual is a figurehead and does not possess actual veto power. In addition, the council usually hires a “manager” to serve as the town’s chief executive. Typically, the result is a recipe for confusion, corruption and government inefficiency.
Interestingly enough, in Vernon’s case the majority of its residents happened to be conservative, effectively eliminating Independents and Democrats from having any say in their local government. As it were, Vernon, NJ essentially operated as a single party township.
The tipping point for residents came when the sleepy town’s government scandals, in-fighting and inefficiency became regular occurrences, often featured in local and national newspapers. It was then, in the fall of 2010, that the people of Vernon had had enough, and decided to toss out their entire local government, replacing it with a Mayor-Council form of government, where the Mayor is directly elected by the voters. The townsfolk, among other factors, cited the Declaration of Independence as their inspiration for changing their little town for the better.
The following excerpt was taken from “Change Vernon’s Government” Facebook page from 2010:
In August 2010, 3,721 citizens of Vernon Township said that they have had enough, and they want to put a question on referendum to change their form of government. Vote “YES” on the November 2, 2010 referendum.
Our mission is to change our form of government in Vernon, N.J. to a government that is more accountable directly to the voters. We have had enough mismanagement, wasteful spending, poor planning, and incompetencein our township and want to restore integrity to our township government by having the ability to directly vote for our mayor, something we do not currently have the right to do. We are fed up with the stranglehold and unwholesome control the same group of partisan politicians have had on our town, constantly putting us in the headlines with embarrassment, corruption, mismanagement, and inappropriate interference in our town government and municipal operations. We want to elect qualified non-partisan candidates to our governing body.
Sound familiar?
So did the town ever get to elect their real mayor? Watch the GBTV clips below to see what the people of Vernon did:
Bold emphasis added by The Blaze.
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Comments (96)
semihardrock
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:25amI will be waiting to see if there are any charges filed for being Unconstitutional by the DOJ or its partner, the ACLU.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:09amI am glad for Vernon N.J. They are on to something. We need a revolution some day to return this nation back to 1776 constitutional precepts (government-wise). The government in Washington D.C. is tyrannical. It is a monster. We cannot keep genuflecting to it anymore. The democratic party has become a vehicle for communism and socialism. This party has proved to be corrupted by socialistic ideals and we cannot afford to allow such a party to be involved in our governing bodies anymore. We need an American style democracy again. We need to wipe the slate clean and start over.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 11:02amUh did you happen to notice the reference to conservative Republican’s running the town previously. So it would seem they were the source of the corruption. Save the 180 degree spin stuff for Rush, he is much better at making anything sound completely different than the reality.
Report Post »TexasHunter
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 12:27pmJRook- Lets try that again. Valiant effort but not quite what the story said either.
Interestingly enough, in Vernon’s case the majority of its residents happened to be conservative, effectively eliminating Independents and Democrats from having any say in their local government. As it were, Vernon, NJ essentially operated as a single party township.
That being said I am glad they are going back to the roots that founded our Nation. Something we HAVE to do with this corrupt Gov’t that we have and leader in the Whitehouse.
Report Post »oldschoolgreen
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 3:59pmJROOK
Report Post »Bro, you miss the point in your effort to condem the gop or conservativism. The strength of our system requires that we have at least two parties, preferably more or even better, none. The founders did not want any party affiliations. They did not want campaigns to be run. James Madison was greatly troubled by the fact that he had to run one. They wanted free men, yes men only, who had no ties or affiliations to party bosses or whomever to make clear eyed decisions. Thats all these folks have gone back to, lets watch them over the next few years. Maybe we can learn something.
bruce_baker
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 5:50pmWhile I agree with most of your comment, and am, if anything, more of a rabid anti-socialist than you are, I must take exception with one statement: “We need an American style democracy again.”
Wrong. We need to get back to the Constitution and become once again a constitutional republic, as guaranteed in that Constitution! That’s the trouble. We’ve let our constitutional republic, which included States Rights, be transformed into this wretched national democracy, where Congress passes whatever laws it wants, and the executive does whatever it wants, without regard for our Constitution and the limits it places on our elected representatives. That would solve 75% of our problems. We don’t do it because it would result in dismantling 75% of the existing Federal government, because we have whole departments that are unconstitutional: Dept. of Education, Dept. of Energy, Dept. of Labor, Dept. of the Interior is a partial list. Too many people have a vested interest in keeping the status quo, even though doing so would continue the ruin of the country.
Report Post »Robert999
Posted on November 5, 2011 at 12:11amI can’t believe there was corruption among conservatives. Sometimes Republicans are corrupt (not as much as Democrats), but true conservatives are never corrupt.
Report Post »sapper
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:00am@ MR Molotov Cocktail,
Hey stupid, where the hell do you think the Federal dollars come from? The rich and middle class you jackass. Apparently you never learned in your public school education that federal dollars are TAKEN from citizens in the form of taxes. Only the rich and middle class pay taxes in this country you damned fool. What you and your liberal dumbass buddies want is to get everything without doing anything to earn it. I pay thousands of dollars in taxes every year. I‘m not rich and I despise the idea of supporting morons like you who don’t pay any taxes. The American idea is equality at the beginning. We all have an equal amount of opportunity…..what you choose to do with it determines whether your a useful idiot like yourself or a middle class taxpayer or a rich guy. YOUR choices determine YOUR destiny. Bill Gates should not have his money taken because some whiney little do nothing thinks it’s not fair for him to have all that money. Screw you! Go get a damned job and stop bitching about other peoples success. It’s a crock and an excuse for your own failure.
Report Post »agameofthrones
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 12:16pmAmen and a big bow to common sense. I too am sick of these whiners who think that because they exist they are entitled to the rewards of another man’s labor. They are not. The government gives them things in order to stay in power. It must end!
Report Post »MidWestMom
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:43amThe key to honest, productive government at any level is citizen awareness and participation.
No matter what form of local government you have, attend the meetings at city & county level. Agendas are available prior to meetings. Know the issues, research them. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or express your opinion. Do so with courtesy & knowledge. Wild ranting only makes you look foolish.
On the state & federal level – know your representatives. Keep current about what they are debating and legislating. Let them know your position & what you expect from them.
In this country we have a great gift – the right to actively participate in our government. But with that gift comes great responsibility. Sadly a large percentage of Americans have failed to meet that responsibility.
From dog catcher to President – know the candidates. Take advantage of opportunities to meet them. Ask them questions & don’t blindly accept vague canned answers. Contact them. Research them. Make an informed choice and at every level VOTE. Then watch them & hold them accountable.
Apathy, complacency & inattention by the citizens invite corruption & dishonesty to walk in and get comfortable.
Remember, our government works for US. We are the employers. We have the power to hire & fire.
When folks complain about the government, the first question I ask them is “Did you vote?” If they say no, I tell them they are part of the problem.
Report Post »bruce_baker
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 5:54pmYou’re right. Too bad that most people only vote when they hear something scary (usually a lie) from a government official, and then they vote to keep the status quo, which keeps getting worse and worse every year.
The only one who tells the truth is Ron Paul.
Report Post »nobull14
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:30amyou know progressive democrouches would never want a government that works? for the people and not the freeloaders and pimple heads.
Report Post »mr molotov cocktail
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:42amit is the middleclass and rich who take all the federal dollars more out then in….get over it!
Report Post »USACommoner
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:25amSince it’s the rich and the middle class who SUPPLY all these “federal dollars”, common sense dictates that we should have a say in how it is spent. I vote a big NO on whether to give it to communist agencies operating inside the United States and those freeloaders who claim a “grassroots movement” when they are being paid to be there.
Report Post »kee
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:14am“Typically, the result is a recipe for confusion, corruption and government inefficiency.” Unfortunately, nothing could be farther from the truth. I am happy that the people “got what they wanted.” But from the Blaze story point, their above comment is wrong. As a department head with a smaller city a city manager form of government is the most efficient and fair. the mayor form puts almost total control in one person. Department heads can ‘roll” every 4 years depending who the mayor is. A change every 4 years for presidential post or governor personnel may not be that big of a deal. But for most city workers in the smaller towns and cities; being worried whether you are “in good” with the next mayor can be agonizing. the good old boy government is more prevalent in a mayor form of government.
In the city manager form of government, council people are elected from their districts to serve the people. They each have more of a voice in the peoples government. A true non-partial, professional city manager is hired to run the day to day activities. Why vote the most popular person in town to be your mayor and then still have to turn around and hire a “professional” who knows how to run the city?
Report Post »your sensei
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:12amMeaningless. Like Bobby Jindhal or RickPerry squawking about Federal handouts and then posing with big federal checks. Complete BS. They’ll have their hand out soon enough. First time a big wind comes, they’ll be bleeding like the conservative sheep they are. “Help me! Save me! Why hast the gubmint money machine forsaken me?”
Report Post »legendarytwo
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:23amYOUR SENSI has no sense. Texas pays in far more than they receive. If Texas doesn’t take the money, the government will piss it down a hole like California.
Report Post »logicprobe
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:43amIt seems like the only ones crying for help are the OWS d-bags. The REAL AMERICAN PEOPLE are taking care of themselves and each other. WE WILL stand together while OWS tears each other apart over government scraps and handouts.
Report Post »Heffe44
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 12:34pm@legendarytwo
Your statment is quite wrong. Take a look at this map and these numbers. Texas doesn’t pay in “far more” than it gets. It gets $0.94 back from the federal gov for every dollar it pays in. that is pretty close.
But I would also draw your attention to the top of the list. We have Liberal states that you all say suck off the gov at the top. NJ- .61 CT- .69 CA- .78 NY- .79. These are all “liberal” states getting much less per dollar than the “conservative” mecca Texas.
Now look at the bottom of the list. AL, AK, MS, NM. All conservative “red states” sucking from the teet of the gov. It looks like the blue states are funding those lazy red states. It’s amazing how your narrative is proven wrong so quickly with a little bit of facts.
facts have a well know liberal bias.
http://visualizingeconomics.com/2010/02/17/federal-taxes-paidreceived-for-each-state/
Report Post »marybethelizabeth
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:02amIf you look how Mr. Beck pictures himself in the second clip he is set apart from the little people, as if he is seated on a throne.
Report Post »Focusing on mundane local matters allows the large international organizations, that Mr. Beck constantly identifies as the real enemy, to operate with impunity.
Freedom isn’t maintaining a class system with a privileged elite.
This is all smoke and mirrors.
Al J Zira
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:12amMarybeth-beth: Have you ever bben to Glenn’s show? Don‘t answer I’ll assume you never have bothered to make the trip. While there appears to be a lot of room those sets are actually very small and space is at a premium. While Glenn doesn’t need me to defend him, having been there I can tell you that it’s probably the only layout that makes for a descent debate/interview platform. But nice try!
Report Post »Matrix22
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:12amMary Beth, I think it’s time to get off the Mary Jane. Of course Beck is “apart” from his audience…he’s the HOST! Have you EVER seen a talk show host that routinely sits within the crowd to do the show? You’re just a pathetic person who will hate Beck no matter what he does or says and will look for any minute detail to scream and cry about. Oh, and if you think he only focuses on “local issues” you are so beyond deranged it’s bordering on clinical insanity. This is simply an example of how a people can PEACEFULLY change their government within the confines of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence.
Report Post »garygromele
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:33amMove along marybethelizabeth, nobody cares about your childish posts. I’m sure you would be more thrilled with Rachel Madcow anyway.
Report Post »DonnaA
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:36am“mundane local matters”?? what planet you living on lady? I think you need oxygen in your bubble. No point explaining it to you, you haven’t a clue whats going on outside narrow little world!!
Report Post »marybethelizabeth
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:39amGiving decision making power to one person, without isolating him from the political process, is a mistake.
Report Post »Mr Beck supports the dictator model of government. He has said we will need an iron handed dictatorship to save us from the coming collapse of society. The actions described above move one community in that direction.
JohnPatrick
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 11:58amMost venues have a dais or huge desk or table which the orator/moderator/panel attend. Perhaps you would prefer Glen run his shows from a spot where no one can see him and he not see them? Maybe from middle of the audience?
Report Post »scoter
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:50amhttp://www.helpfireobama.com Please give $20.12
Report Post »DonnaA
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:38amDone did! I hope thousands of American’s do at least this much for America.
Report Post »nilo
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:50amThis is the key to taking our country back. When any form of government harms the people, it is the people’s right to disband that government and form one that responds to the people. IT IS OUR RIGHT! Washington doesn’t really believe that. As for me, I believe that this the approach that Americans have to follow if we are going to stop our Federal government from destroying this nation. As far as I am concerned, we now have an UNCONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT. It is time to stop it, and re-establish a CONSITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT, as outlined in the Constitution, not in some back corner. PRAY FOR AMERICA.
Report Post »M_O_Beast
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:37amVery Insightful, I do believe that this supposed change is just a crude tactic by the democrats to demoralize our economy and our country. Furthermore New Jersey is a liberal cess pool.
Report Post »Al J Zira
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:15amI‘ll agree with New Jersey being a liberal cess pool so when I read this story I was floored to learn there’s a conservative town in the entire state! I might have to move since I’ve labeled the state: the Socialist State of New Jersey.
Report Post »countryfirst
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:33amWe have term limits already it is called the vote, the problem is an uneducated, unaware, non-caring population. Ant it starts with the school systems and unions.
If term limits are implemented then a corrupt soul will just focus harder for the power and wealth knowing there time is limited.
Report Post »Micmac
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 1:10pmThere is alot to say for term limits. For instance there would be no Dodd-Franks closing down ma and pa banks across the USA. No Pelosi, no Reed… talk about entitlement!!!
NoBama 2012
Report Post »gingerbread
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:31amIt’s time that WE, THE PEOPLE take control over our own destiny, and not leave it to these self appointed “ELITES”, that have destroyed our way of life and the constitution. All these self appointed “ELITES” have done is completely screw up everything. Everyone in this country should take note of this.
Report Post »Marcia
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 7:58amProbably one of the best segments on GBTV that I’ve ever seen. Our town wants to spend ungodly amounts of money on light rail AGAINST the wishes of the public. We may need to do this here.
Report Post »LOTO
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:26amSnowball in the air!
Report Post »Light rail is not about transportation. Its about parking.
Keep an eye on the parking lot land.
Escapee1
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 7:46amHopefully this is just the first of many towns and cities that will take this example and run with it! It’s TIME for WE THE PEOPLE to take back OUR power from the Fed! They have forgotten that the power flows from the people to the local authorities, then to the state and finally to the Fed and that it’s not the other way around…Time for a reminder when we go to the polls in 2012!
Report Post »PAWatcher
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:32amAmericans being Americans fills my heart with awesome pride.
Report Post »Vernon Town Council Man Eddie Dunn
Posted on November 6, 2011 at 10:14pmESCAPEE1…I couldn’t agree more. It truly starts at the local level. We need to re-establish a fierce independence that makes us self sufficient with vibrant small towns all across this country. Perhaps in time Vernon could serve as a beacon of light to encourage other towns to do the same.
Marcia
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 7:43amABSOLUTELY one of the best GBTV shows I’ve ever watched! I hope GBTV keeps us posted as to whether the local reporter accepts Glenn’s breath taking job offer!
Report Post »renee
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 7:03amVernon’s story just blew me away! I live 30 minutes from Vernon, in Jersey, AND I NEVER KNEW till GBTV told us yesterday! And, I thought I knew it all. I read the local papers on-line everyday, so, I can only surmise this was kept way under cover. I am blown away. Congratulations to the people & town of Vernon!
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 7:13amLets do it on a federal level…..
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 7:45am@Detroit…Agreement there, we have a small town in AZ called Quartzsight that has lately shown to be one of the most corruptly run in the state if accounts are correct; and the people are becoming more than frustrated with their leaders…maybe a second house cleaning will be reported by the Blaze soon enough.
Report Post »red_white_blue2
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 11:45amAbsolutely Phenominal. I already saved the Vernon paper in my favorites online and will be tracking this for possible use in my community
Report Post »Vernon Town Council Man Eddie Dunn
Posted on November 6, 2011 at 10:09pmThanks Renee…it was and still is a tough battle. We are slowly righting our ship after many years of incompetence, corruption and dirty politics. We face monumental odds, but we believe we can make a difference. We have been tremendously encouraged by all the positive feedback. We hope to report back more success in the near future. Stay tuned…
CherryBerry
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 6:04amNever doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has……Margaret Mead
Way to go Vernon.!
Report Post »Vernon Town Council Man Eddie Dunn
Posted on November 6, 2011 at 10:04pmThank you for your kind words and positive comments.
Eddie Dunn
Report Post »Vernon Town Council
desertspeaks
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 4:53amOur government has failed us on a scale never before dreamt of, from the top to the bottom. They lie, cheat and steal, all the while smiling and telling us to trust in them as they stuff their pockets with OUR STOLEN MONEY!
Report Post »WE NEED A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT ALONG WITH THE SUPREME COURT AND SUPPORTING JUDICIARY AND THE FEDERAL RESERVE!
They have usurped our will and literally voided the Constitution of the United States of America. They shed not a tear for the brave men and women who gave their lives creating and defending this once great country. The legacy our current government wishes to leave is one of desolation and despotism. No party affiliation is less to blame than the other, they are both equally guilty!
We can NOT afford the road of SOCIALISM/MARXISM/COMMUNISM! We can no longer be the police officer of the world.. We MUST hit the reset button!
chicago76
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 5:21amAmen brother
Report Post »jordan2
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 5:36amWell said. Term limits would be a start to remove all of the dirty, rotten scoundrels. They are liars and crooks. The bad thing is the vote means very little today. What are we voting for? The age old lesser of two evils according to one’s current perception. One party will hasten our demise and the other will only prolong the inevitable. Nothing really changes. Both parties are disgraceful and have to share the blame for the fix we are in.
Report Post »dlassley
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 6:09am100% agree,amen
Report Post »jordan2
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 6:10amDESERTSPEAKS:
I smell a revolution brewing in our country. Sadly, it may the only we will be able to take back our government. Glad that we still have the second amendment. I am not advocating violence but it will take whatever it takes. Something has to be done and what we have been doing for years simply has not worked nor do I see it changing. The only person in Congress who really understands what we need to do is Ron Paul and, sad to say, we know how that will probably turn out. Maybe they will appoint him to a Cabinet position or better yet, make him Chairman of the FED so he can dismantle it. If he gets ten percent of the vote in the primaries, the chosen candidate might make a deal to get the votes of his followers. If not,. his followers will vote for a third party candidate who supports the Constitution. There is always one of them on the ticket.
That said, does anyone here think that that the chosen Republican candidate would make such a deal with Paul?
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 3:36amI would like to do this in our corrupt liitle town… our Mayor and town council has us 750,000 dollars in debt! Thanks Glenn for showing us this remarkable town! Hope to see more updates on it!
Report Post »Falsegods
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 4:16amMay God’s power and grace be with you.
Report Post »This is the evil you are up against:
Peter Hans Kolvenbach, the self-described Black Pope and a third party who shall remain anonymous because he was speaking under an oath of silence. During this conversation Kolvenbach claimed he was Satan’s representative on earth and proposed the creation of a global dictatorship headed by himself. Kolvenbach is officially known as the former Superior General of the Society of Jesus. He is also apparently, the final authority behind the Western financial system whose signature has financed countless wars and other tragedies. The aim of his Satanic or Lucifer-worshipping cult hiding within the Roman Catholic Church, was to create a global dictatorship ruled by a modern day Caesar. They were also planning to massacre over 4 billion humans in order to start their 1000 year Reich or rule. The White Dragon Society is pledged to stop the Satanists and free humanity.
lukerw
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 4:21amIn the area that I am in… the Lemmings are Planning to Spend great sums upon Wind Power… and you cannot reason them out of it… because it has Federal Government “support”!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 4:30am@FALSEGODS
Report Post »The SJ’s have always been Liberal… and what they recognize is that in 800 ad… the First Pope was created by the First Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, who inturn made the Emperor. Hence, the Catholic Pope needs an Emperor so that they can share the Power of Heaven & Earth!
logicprobe
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:50amSet your mind to it, then set your hands to it. It all starts with one person and the idea things can change! Good luck!
Report Post »Gr8St8ofWA
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 3:26amNext week, Lynnwood, WA is looking to change from an elected council and mayor to an elected council and hired city manager. While I understand the pros and cons in general, this show and article certainly give me something to think about. Some questions I haven’t been able to find answers for:
- Would a city manager (professional / hired by the council) be more efficient than a mayor (politician / elected)?
- Would a city manager simply become a scapegoat for an inept council, making it more difficult to tell where the problem lies?
Geography Note: The city of Lynnwood has about 36,000 residents and covers 7.7 sq miles. It lies between Seattle and Everett, with downtown Lynnwood being 16 miles North of downtown Seattle.
If any of The Blaze readers have any insight or example cities, your reply would be greatly appreciated!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 3:39amMy old hometown had and elected Mayor (figure head .. no real “power”) a board and a City Manager …
City Managers tend to be like school superintendents you are always looking for a new one to replace the old who left for greener pastures after getting more to put on his resume. They all seemed to be very good at passing the buck on who screwed up .. and each manager gets more expensive than the last.
I don’t know if that helps .. I really think it depends on the quality of people in the community …if you have good people why go and hire a stranger .. then again if no one measures up .. what choice do you have. Don’t think it is a cut and dried issue.
Report Post »gladawa
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 4:04amI can’t speak for every state, but in California a city is either a general law city, consisting of 5 member councils, elected at large, with “professional” city managers/administrators or a charter city. A charter city set up however the residents like. San Francisco has what we call a “strong mayor” system. All the city‘s executive power lies with it’s elected mayor. There is a city manager, but that individual is accountable to the mayor. The city’s council, actually called it’s Board of Supervisors, this being because SF is both a city and a county, has 11 members that represent districts and has all legislative power. Very similar to a Governor/Legislature relationship. Oakland and Los Angeles have similar strong mayor systems. Then there’s the “weak” mayor system. San Jose is one of these. It has 10 city council members representing districts and a mayor elected at large that sits at the head of the council as a voting member. The city is run by a city manager that works with the mayor, but reports to the whole council. In my opinion, there is more accountability to the voters when executive power is centralized in one person (the mayor) and legislative power (ie ordinances, budgets, etc.) rests with a representative council, that is district elections as opposed to at large elections. Council members should represent neighborhoods and the mayor represents the city at large. As long as voters stay informed, you can’t go wrong with that sort of
Report Post »Cat
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 5:10am…
CatB
Seems to be the purpose of government these days.
Pass the buck, as long as it’s not yours, don’t take the blame, then move on to greener pastures working for someone who did the same.
Report Post »chicago76
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 5:25amSame happened here as with CATB.
Report Post »clarity2199
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 6:55amMy husband works in a town that’s totally corrupted. But there’s no way what happened in Vernon could happen there. The town I’m referring to has a 60-70% welfare rate, and all the people there have the same frame of mind. Nothing’s their fault, pass the buck, they do nothing because no one does anything. For some towns, I just think they just like being miserable. It’s funny, because my husband’s been looking into the history of this town and they were the same way 200 years ago, when it was founded.
Report Post »Atleast we only have to work there. ;p
M_O_Beast
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:32amLearn to Spell
Report Post »Darla_K
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:23amIf it is anything like
Report Post »Seattle good luck with that…
Gr8St8ofWA
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 2:38pmThanks all for the replies. Apparently there has been some dissension and “communication” issues between the council and mayor and similar to Vernon, a group of concerned citizens stepped up to make a difference. I stumbled on a website setup to promote this change in Lynnwood.
Report Post »http://peopleforabetterlynnwood.com
Shiroi Raion
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 3:03amFANTASTIC episode of GBTV on this yesterday. I was happy to see they voted out the corruption. Hopefully, they don’t become what they hated.
Report Post »Take note OWS: no violence necessary.
leftcoastslut
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:30amwas talking with my son, who lives just outside Portland, he says OWS there is just a bunch of homeless and a few unemployeed. the homeless love the cute tents and there is free food right around the corner.
Report Post »Green is a Lie
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 3:00amNot mob rule. It is civil war first, then political segregation to maintain peace. The last 3 years would have been much less difficult and more peaceful had we politically segreated the country in 2008 when we were invaded. It is the only way we will ever see the traits again that founded our country. Life will never be the same if we do not politically segregate the country. At a minimum, you will know who and, where the opponent is at all times. You have to amputate the leg before the cancer spreads to the entire body.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 4:18amVulcanization… would create an alternate version of North & South… and lead to a Civil War!
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 6:46amNo Vulcans!
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:03amI think you mean Balkanism.
Report Post »Doug in Seattle
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 2:21amGood story. Thanks!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 1:52amBe careful… True Democracy… is Mob Rule!
Report Post »jb.kibs
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 2:18amyes it is…
Report Post »tzion
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 2:30amOn the large scale that is true. On the small scale, such as a small town in which all residents face the exact same issues and challenges, it’s the best way to guarantee government accountability. A large city (i.e. New York) has much more to fear from mob rule than a small town.
Report Post »wbalzley
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 3:00am@Tzion true, the best example of a functioning democracy was Athens. It worked great until the city grew too large and fell to mob rule. It was for this reason that Socrates was put to death and Plato wrote his famous work “The Republic” from which we get many features of our government.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 4:12am@WBALZEY
Report Post »But, remember, the Greek City States… even Utopia… was based upon Slavery… where only the Elite had funds and freedom!
investlite
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 6:21amWhy do people say that? A mob is: a large or disorderly crowd; especially : one bent on riotous or destructive action.
A democracy is majority rule. if the majority want something they get it. So, it would only be mob rule if the majority was a mob. That is why we are a republic, in a republic the law is above all. This guarantees civil liberties, preventing a mob from destroying them.
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