Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

I have been reading these postings and find them to be non productive. If the rest of the children would focus on ''mom and dad'' we could come together and get something accomplished. If you don't like the way the household is being run, don't bicker with each other, approach the leaders together and united. If you don't like the rules, ask for the rationale, there might be a logical reason that it is the way it is. If you don't like the rationale, ask for change. If you are going to make comments, accusations, or state facts, document them. Name names, site sources. Opinions are good stimulants, but exude emotion. If you are going to state opinions, site your reasons. This will give others fair grounds to agree or disagree. Your point may be valid, but your reasons will enlighten. Isn't the whole point for this message board for enlightenment?
I Propose the following:
Create a discussion based on an issue, then discuss the issue, set a goal, and follow through.
Each discussion can have threads that branch off into other discussions.
The tone of this message board is representative of the tone of the area in general. In order to effect change in the area, we must first effect change in here.
thanks for listening
Violet

By Violet

Welcome aboard

Violet,

Welcome aboard. You bring a refreshing voice to the boards and your proposal has merit. Without knowing the intricacies of web maintenance, I wondered if it was possible to archive the current board and start anew. Opinions are emotional but remember, we have a reputation to live up to: Bickerington!

I'll join you in your request for more directed discussions. May I suggest the following to get things started?

Campaign contribution reform - It's been tackled successfully in some of our neighboring cities. Sure I might sound like I'm jumping on a national bandwagon (soap box??) but the issue exists here. Developers make contributions to one or more people in the city government and that money is routed to where it will suit the plans of the Mayor and Vice-Mayor (I loved that one). The recipients of the contributions then vote on issues in accordance with the wishes of those contributors. Is this called ''buying votes''?

Emergency Legislation reform - It's been tackled successfully in some of our neighboring cities. If you force the city government to operate out in the daylight and not behind closed doors all the time, most of that city government will probably leave with their tails tucked between their legs or at least be voted out when their dirty little secrets are exposed.

Citizen involvement in community planning - It's been tackled successfully in some of our neighboring cities. The planning boards mentioned by Mr. Brinson that he sat on need some sort of resurrection. If the city government doesn't have the time or inclination to ask the taxpayers and the schools what they want or need, then decide for ourselves. The decisions/recommendations of such boards or panels cannot become shelfware. The city government doesn't have time for community meetings, forums, or input. They'll acquiesce to public pressure to create a panel that, when the results don't agree with what they had planned already, they pat you on the hand and say, ''There's a good little boy. Now go outside and play.''

I'll stop here to see if more directed discussion boards can be created. Keep in mind, we are not reinventing anything here. Documentation exists that proves that these types of reforms have been successfully accomplished elsewhere.


By Soap Box Hero