Opinion: Time to rethink how government works
By Ted Long
The 2007-08 El Dorado County Grand Jury in reported case No. 07-025 strongly recommended consolidation of the six West Slope fire districts. They found the districts were out of date with current growth and their ability to provide services. The grand jury concluded that the taxpayers of the county would gain better service and would save more than $944,000 in addition to the county’s contribution of $1.3 million needed to keep the districts afloat.
Nothing happened. Why? The consolidation, while benefiting the county residents, would eliminate six fire chiefs and their use of their red car. The chiefs resisted the effort and like most things requiring real effort, time and apathy let the opportunity slip away.
Ted Long
While the effort of that grand jury focused on service and efficiency, in this current time of serious financial shortfall should we bring to the forefront the whole issue of why we have government, what are our priorities and how can they best be served? We need to save money, cut waste and improve efficiency, but also we need to really look and see that we are truly serving the needs of society. After all, isn’t that why we have government?
In its origin government was intended to provide those limited services that we could not do individually. Right up through Herbert Hoover’s administration the emphasis was on individualism. The declared common interest of that time was limited mostly to defense nationally and locally, world commerce, and on the local scene, fire protection and the beginning of a public educational system. Over the years the role of government has grown, not only in the size of the original services intended, but in additional services, most notably beginning with Social Security and unemployment benefits of the Roosevelt administration.
Our world and our nation are in very different places today. Prior to World War I we had a standing army of about 25,000. Today we are the world’s leading peacekeeper with troops all over the world. Perhaps it’s a good time to relook at the entire system. Have many of our oginal purposes actually disappeared? As we have grown to a more prosperous nation, have our priorities changed? While we allowed people to go hungry in the past, is that tolerable today? I could go on with so many things, that I believe we need to examine our entire system — what is the role of government?
One conversation I hear very little about is the country of Denmark. On one hand it has the highest taxes in the world, yet a recent survey showed that the Danes are the happiest people in the world. How can that be? Well, the basic issues that keep us awake at night have been resolved in that system: health care, education, retirement are no longer issues. Yes, I am sure that they struggle with many things, but like the rest of us, many of those things are not life threatening, they are only issues of preferences.
Let’s make lemonade out of this lemon, let’s set aside out traditional often unquestioned positions and take an honest look at our priorities and where do we want to spend our money on? What laws do we really want to enforce and on what terms? What levels of government do we, can we, should we, eliminate in favor of a healthier, happier society? I’ll bet the first thing we would do is consolidate those outdated fire districts and seriously examine the millions spent to maintain a level of government at the city level. Did you realize, for example, that the City Council, five members, when you take the entire budget cost us over $150,000 a year alone? South Lake Tahoe is protected by the city police, the sheriff, the highway patrol and the FBI, all for 20,000 residents. Could some of this money be used to support a local economy? Egos aside, this is not the Wild West any more.
Ted Long is a former South Lake Tahoe City Council member, planning commissioner and current foreman of the El Dorado County Grand Jury.
Before you take Ted to task, please remember that 17 of 18 grand jurors endorsed Ted for SLT city council after working with him for a solid year. Ted has great capabilities but sometimes he does go a little astray and fights the tide. Do I hear turning circle?
The above commentary was brought to you by a former City Councilmember who pushed for indoor tennis courts in SLT’s recreation department during his one-term on the City Council since his daughter played tennis. Maybe he should direct his focus on consolidating indoor tennis courts in the districts rather than concerning himself with the fire districts, all of whom participated in fighting the Angora Fire in 2007. His reference to “Egos aside” is laughable since more than anyone else who comes to mind this individual has sought to participate in and force his influence on nearly every level of local government he could coerce his way in to. Keep in mind that all a Grand Jury member needs to do is apply to serve on that body and they are NOT elected by any voting constituency. This self-serving egotist’s appointment to the Grand Jury contaminates the credibility of that body, its processes, and its recommendations.
The wheel of government and its inefficiency, waste, redundancy, and poor productivity need reinventing. Citizens and taxpayers gain little benefit from an excessive and duplicative number of highly compensated and pensioned fire chiefs – and other highly paid government bureaucrats – running around bumping into each other. Thank you for thinking outside the box, Ted.
The reason all those “duplicate agencies” respond to each others concerns is they are all understaffed and help each other when our town is full. Ted Long is self-serving. Please check his record and also the history on why SLT incorporated. Do you really think big government is better? We have trouble getting our voice heard now on the County level; what makes anyone think it will be better if the City no longer exists to fight for us?
JoAnn, I agree with the sentiment, but the city can’t even let a bear box contract competently. It goes on and on, they couldn’t even pick a hot dog vendor for the beach. At some point it is so bad that they should just go away: it seems like we are there.
JoAnn, Understaffed?? You believe that line?? If I get pulled for another mundane reason, (plus I’ve seen where Lake Valley responded (as did Douglas) when City fire was already there), I just may get arrested for the fit I’ll throw. They may have time to waste, I don’t!!
No, there’s plenty of excess that can be eliminated. But even if you believe that line that the City is understaffed, then you have to ask yourself, “How can we get more bang for the buck?”
John:
With regard to the City’s inability to disseminate an appropriate bear box or hot dog vendor RFP, that problem was initiated from an inexperienced and inadequately trained hourly employee who is not management but to whom the City’s management did entrust those responsibilities. I agree that the buck stops with the management and Council and that they must assume the ultimate responsibility of the staffs’ actions, but those mistakes were originated by someone who is protected by the City employees’ Association/union and whose job is protected by their union unless that position is eliminated. That’s how government functions, which is what our tax dollars pay for. While there may be many competent, dedicated people working in all levels of government there are also those who are inept but protected by their union, and it is those individuals that I resent my tax dollars supporting and paying benefits for. Untrained, inexperienced persons in positions of responsibility making costly mistakes would never fly in the profit making world and any manager who would allow such things to occur would be terminated from their position. Government needs to do the same.
4-Mer, but the bottom line is an exempt employee signed off on those RFP’s and they were 1) not reviewed or 2) reviewed and approved. This goes on and on, Commons Beach construction, no performance bond for the hole, Blue Go, the bond issue for the skating rink. Then dear old Bill made it illegal to park a trailer on Venice and effectively removed a great boat ramp from locals. At some point enough is enough.
John,
The only way anything will happen is if people get whatever it is that’s eating at them on a ballot and then get out and vote to make their voices heard. Not always the easiest process but its the one we’ve got. With a November election coming up this is the time for people to act, and if they don’t then I guess it isn’t that important to them.
Danes the highest taxed and happiest people on earth? Health care, education, & retirement no longer issues?? I honestly don’t know, but it sure seems much easier to claim than to realize. And just a “bit” of a far out tangent to justify consolidating a few fire stations!
Ted Long is just trying to find some relevance, this is about whether he can still generate anyone talking about him. He’s using the cover of “government is inefficient,” “costs us too much” “taxpayers are mad” as a way to make himself relevant to discussion.
If the Grand Jury was actually interested in the concept of smaller or less governments, where is consolidation or dissolution of cities best for the citizen, then they would have looked no further than the City of Placerville, with city offices and services only a few miles down the street from the County offices. It would make sense to evaluate whether Placerville dissolving first since a resident would have little change or impact to drive a few miles further to handle their business dealings with the County. If it doesn’t make efficiency sense for Cit of Placerville, its far less logical for South Lake Tahoe that is 60 miles away from the County, thousands of feet up a mountain and light years different than the County. We have one elected representative on the County board, and she along with Ted are hardly relevant to our community. Here we have five elected board members who I can pick up the phone or talk to any day of the week and get something done. Placerville city residents have the right to have their own locally managed government and so do we. A grand jury foreman, former city council member who ‘s been told by the residents we don’t elect him because he doesn’t speak for us, can’t get on a board appointment although he still tries, gets himself on a civil grand jury and oddly suggests the city who won’t elect him should go away (doesn’t the overseeing judge question his motives?) all in the name of government efficiencies.
Start with City of Placerville and see how that works, we’ll use it as a model since they are literally within a stone’s throw and would have little change to the residents. Once you dissolve Placerville, then you can use the results to demonstrate the effectiveness to other communities.
4-mer, you are right on the mark!
John, our system may not be perfect, but I still believe it is the best in the world.One of the reasons it is flawed is because of that very system of freedom. We allow our people to think for themselves, and not just respond with a “party line.” Yes, mistakes are made, and yes, we need to improve the efficiency of our government, especially in tight times. We need our officials to watch carefully and spend our money with real responsibility to the citizens.That is why we have elections – to give the citizens the chance to change the people in government to get closer to what they want. They didn’t want Mr. Long telling them what is good for them, and from the looks of it, they still don’t want what he is offering. Please don’t give up yet!