A Socialist View from Outside the Box

I heard a story once about a dog that would sit on the same step of his owner’s porch for years. Day in day out he would sit on the same step. Over the years the step wore out and nails and splinters started showing through the boards. The dog however would continue to sit on the same step, even though on occasion he would moan and yelp as a splinter dug into him or a nail scratched him.

The pain of sitting there was less painful than the idea of having to Change his ways and perhaps move to a less painful part of the step.

We are a lot like that dog. We know the current government system is wearing out. It needs upgrading to a newer model. But the thought of changing to an unknown or untested governing system is more painful than just going with the flow of the current system.

There is no doubt that change is needed because if we keep going in the same direction we are likely to end up where we are headed. The step is only getting thinner. At same point it is going to break and the dog will be forced to consider something new.

It would be a good idea to give the system a much-needed service now, before it breaks down altogether.

His mind is like concrete, all mixed up and permanently set. That may well be the quote we have to contend with when considering any change in Government.

Life is full of many changes that happen naturally but when faced with reason to make a drastic change that could be considered “life altering” we ask ourselves if its absolutely necessary and 9 times out of 10 we end up doing what we always done.

5 Key reasons for change:

1. The world is changing and Governments are not The system needs to catch up with the wants and needs of the Country.
2. Governments are at a point where they are governing people and not services such as Health and Education.
3. Governments today are focusing more on their own power and less on the services they are governing for the people.
4. There are currently too many levels of government.
5. Governments DO need to exist to provide a systemised deliverance to services such as Health and Education as well as support for businesses. Governments are also required to provide domestic services like waste removal and water supply.

We have to be willing to accept change.

Eric J. Smith

A recent forum conversation planted a seed and sparked an Internal debate within me about Governments, Change and Politics. 

Governments in most parts of the world follow a 3 Tier system. Federal, State and Local Government divisions are generally found around the world. 

In Australia, as in other parts of the world many have highlighted the need for less governance and a more streamlined approach to deliverance of services. 

I am all for the reduction in the size of Government but I can’t help but feel the implementation factor is the biggest problem in reducing the size of Government at ANY level. 

To highlight the services offered at the 3 tiers of government in Australia: 

At a Federal level, the Government supports:  

• Trade, Commerce, Employment, Corporations, Industrial relations & Taxation;
• Postal and Telecommunication services, Banking, Currency, Bankruptcy, Census & Statistics
• Defence Forces, Quarantine, International Treaties, Foreign Affairs, Immigration
• Navigation, Airports, Air Safety, Copyright and Patents;
• Social Security and Pensions

At a State Level the Government Supports:  

• Education
• Public Health and Hospitals
• Railways, Public Transport and Roads
• Police, Fire Brigades, Ambulance Services; Law Courts
• Forestry, Conservation, Water Control, Wildlife Protection and Tourism
• Local Government, Mining and Agriculture

At a Local Level, the Governing Council Supports:  

• Town Planning and Urban Use Planing; Land Subdivision and Building Standards
• Local Roads, Footpaths and Drains and Traffic Control
• Garbage and Sewage Disposal, Health Inspection;
• Childcare Centres, Public Libraries,
• Local Tourism Promotion and Sporting Grounds

When implemented at Individual Levels it could easily be said that Inefficiencies, Duplication of Time and Talent and a Waste of same is obvious. 

As with most things in life when fronted with the possibility of change people will usually choose to stay the same. 

At all government levels things DO get done. Promises ARE broken, People WILL be disappointed others SHOULD feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. Its called Democracy. Change fails to take shape not from lack of want but more so from a case of “Better the Devil you Know” whether we are happy with the situation or not. 

Politicians in Government and Opposition won’t take on the change process realistically because it will hit them hard at the ballot box 

The system does need cleaning up. This is obvious. The question on most people’s lips is not if or when but How? 

Perhaps, rather than individual governments regulating a varied range of interests, perhaps we need a Federal governing body with sub councils implementing and running a smooth Implementation of Services currently delivered. 

For example, At a state Level councils could be established for – Education, Roads and Transport, Health and Hospitals etc, with Implementation arms at a Local Level. 

At least with that structure we could travel anywhere within Australia and expect the same level of deliverance across states. 

It works for McDonalds around the world, Why not For a Country ?