Letter by JN in 04-13-08 Vanguard Weekly News

 

Elie Wiesel comments that you can't change government, and that fact draws the zest and steam out of people to even try to make change. It may well be that our means are fairly limited and our possibilities restricted when it comes to applying pressure on our government. But is this a reason to do nothing? Despair is not an answer. Neither is resignation. Resignation only leads to indifference, which is not merely a sin but a punishment.] While I may agree, in part, with her, I am optimistic enough to believe that beneficial change can happen when a level of disgust and disappointment is reached with the electorate. It can reach a point where the government bureaucracy and its politicians have no recourse but to change their policies. It usually occurs, however, when they are publicly embarrassed enough and the overwhelming evidence conflicts with their story line and they have no other choice. Such an example is extracted from Vanguardians own publication. It is telling a story of a citizen, albeit a former police chief, who has single handedly, forced the city to change its policy on preventable activities that were causing long and very long delays in getting first responders to the scene of critical emergencies. This retired public safety officer did the work that should have been done by Glendale fire management. But when the retired chief presented overwhelming and irrefutable evidence for the need to change the policy, the fire department actually did, even though it was a popular activity among the on-duty firefighters: jogging in the beautiful surroundings of remote parks, some outside of their very own fire districts. This caused hundreds of avoidable response delays and has been going on for many years. City management and the fire department, including the union, were embarrassed and deservedly so. It seems like it is the only way that changes can be made to improve the quality of life of us residents and taxpayers. Elsie friend, JN