On cue, the Common Sense Coalition does what . . . drum roll please . . . issues a press release. Now, this wouldn’t be so funny, if it wasn’t so predictable.
The essence of their press release is as follows:
- We want the following self-serving things done to serve our personal interests (i.e. give the police, sheriff and fire unions whatever they want cuz we need to claim their members to make us look legit) but we don’t have any actual proposals and aren’t going to do the work to get them done . . . but we do have a press release
- We don’t like the mayor, so we’ve issued a press release
And then, the goofy contradictory position of
- We’re non-partisan, but recruiting and endorsing candidates for spring elections, and here is our press release
As I’ve noted before, the Common Sense Coalition continues to claim it is a broad inclusive coalition, but it is purposely excluding a certain group of people (Progressive Dane and “the left”) and isn’t coming clean about it. Just ask Lisa Subeck who “applied” to be a member months ago and still, months later, hasn’t been accepted . . . or rejected.
More specifically, and to the point, let’s take a look at their 2006 agenda outlined in their press release.
Bringing Best Value Contracting to Madison
The Common Sense Coalition (CSC) is leading a working group made up of
representatives of management, labor, and elected officials to create a
win/win Best Value Contracting policy for our city. By the end of 2006,
CSC wants to see Best Value Contracting a reality in Madison.
Interesting, have you seen any public notices about these meetings of the “working group”? If you wanted to discuss this issue, would you know how to participate? What elected officials are they working with? Is this the way we should create policies, in closed door back room discussions of a select few that claim to promoting greater public participation? If they really want to have everyone attend, why don’t they note the time and place of the meeting on their own website and invite people to participate? Or better yet, we have a vast community process, they could get one of their elected officials they are working with to form a committee and work on it in the community where people could participate.
Increased Leadership from the Mayors Office
Controversial issues like the proposed “Sick Leave” ordinance are too
important to the future of our city for the Mayor to take a passive position
on. Madison needs leadership from our elected executive on contentious
issues.
Um . . . I’m not usually one to jump to the defense of the Mayor . . . but . . . do you think they realize that the Mayor is not King of Madison? The Mayor didn’t take a “passive position” on paid sick leave, did he? He pretty clearly said this isn’t the right time, but he’s the executive branch of government and this is a legislative proposal. What do they expect him to do? The council members have the right to introduce a proposal and have it referred to committees and the Mayor, with all due respect, can’t really do anything about it. What do you think they think he could do and how would he do it? And is that the way you want your government to be run, if the Mayor says we can’t talk about controversial things that is the end of the conversation? Nice open government and way to encourage public participation.
A Greater Focus on Local Economic Development and Job Creation
Local government is the best economic development tool we have. Madison needs to better utilize that tool by forming incentives for the creation of family wage paying jobs, especially those in the middle income bracket.
This one cracks me up. These are the same folks (Realtors, Smart Growth Madison, Inc, individual developers) that will tell us that the market should just take care of the affordable housing issues that we have and the government shouldn’t interfere in how they run their businesses, but they have no shame in coming to locagovernmentnt for hand-outs?
And finally, the contradiction of:
“The Common Sense Coalition has a vision of putting politics aside and instead focusing on creating good public policy. Our goal is finding workable solutions to the issues that impact our community.” Said Ray Allen, spokesman and Chair of the Board, “This is one of many reasons why I am proud to lead our coalition and to help bring some positive changes to our local government.”
and then
GetMore Citizens Involved in Local Government and Elections
CSC will promote greater public participation in spring local elections and local government. Greater voter turnout is essential to having a representative elected body.
So which of the candidates in the 10 out of 27 contested county board races are they supporting? And is that how they “put politics aside”? Puh-lease. I hope the dismal array of candidates this spring isn’t any indication of their best efforts to get people to run for office. Do you think that it occurs to them that the constant bashing of local government officials doesn’t really inspire people to run? I guess, technically, their press release talks about “voter turnout”, but their website indicates something else:
Interested in Running for a Non-Partisan Local Office?
The Common Sense Coalition is looking to support and endorse quality candidates that share our values and our vision for this community.
If you are thinking about running for a non-partisan elected office and would like to bring practical and consensus building policy to local government, please contact us:
info@commonsensemadison.com
So, while I’m at it, and as a complete total aside . . . ever think about the words “common sense”.
This is the definition I found on dictionary.com
common sense n. Sound judgment not based on specialized knowledge; native good judgment.
I just gotta ask, how good can that judgment be, if not based on knowledge? Is there something better about a judgment made if it is done without knowledge?
And, also, while I’m at it, and admittedly, being a little snarky this morning before the caffeine kicks in, who paid the money to get this group started? I never heard. Come on (good ol’) boys, fess up!
