Duped once more!!

You just gotta love this - a 'consultation' advisory committee, that has just had its terms of reference published without 'consultation'!!!! That's right - the powers that be, have handed down their dictum - thou shalt not 'consult' with people; thou shalt do nothing except repeat the ongoing mantra consisting of motherhood statements with no substance; thou shalt think with your own minds only when we allow you to; though shalt meekly follow us into oblivion and the public speak of a 'low cost' clowncil!!! Thou must expunge all thought of 'democracy' and the principles of good governance; thou must vote in these terms of reference, since we know best!!! Thou must not consider essential questions such as 'community participation', 'evaluation', accountability and how this could have been enshrined in such terms of reference. Nor must you allow yourselves to ever contemplate the possibility that stakeholders from all sectors of the community will ever sit on such a committee - god forbid, this would signal the fall and fall of newton and his henchmen!

The commandments remain set in stone. They consist of:

1. we run the roost and you do our bidding
2. the public are nothing but an ignorant , troublemaking mob and must be silenced
3. never ask questions about strategic planning, policy directions, budgets - they remain our domain
4. we know best in everything
5. avoid so and so - they are 'troublemakers'
6. never put anything into writing, just smile, nod your head, and repeat the fact that you are working for the good of all the community
7. accept your lowly positions on arts and crafts committees - that's all we are willing to entrust you with
8. sign anything we put in front of you and pretend that it is your view
9. never speak ill us - it's like taking the lord's name in vain
10. don't concern yourself with how other councils manage things better - this will only confuse you!