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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Obituaries Weather Archive Hot Topics Forum Photo Gallery Past Readers Polls Revels Etcetera Backpage O-Zone Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Online Games Movie Preview October 17, 2006 The problem with Progressives By Mike Green Progress : to develop to a more advanced stage, proceed, improve (Source: The Merriam Webster Dictionary) The problem with "Progressives" seems to be the name itself. As Shakespeare might have said, a Progressive by any other name would still be as stagnant. Such is the case right here in Ashland, where during this volatile election period one seemingly cannot have a discussion about the make-up of the new City Council without hearing the word "progressive" bandied about a time or two. There is no doubt that Ashlanders love the label. The main problem is that the political agenda of rogressives doesn't seem to result in a lot of progress. A quick look at just some of the issues facing the candidates for city council reveals a horrific traffic jam resembling the worst gridlock of any major metropolis, much less a small town comprised of an eclectic mix of wealthy retirees, college students, small business owners, hippies and homeless, with a spattering of middle-class families. Peace: live and let live One of the fundamental core principles that seem to underline virtually every progressive idea is the notion that peacefully living among one another is key. This idea isn't quite reflected in the contentious relationship between the City Council and the Chamber of Commerce; two of the main combative forces in the city that have yet to holster their guns and draw up a treaty that brings a distant downtown plan into focus. The end result of this tumultuous relationship, inability to compromise, establish a comprehensive vision and move forward (as in proceed), is: current businesses have difficulty in sustaining themselves (sustainability: yet another core principle of progressives), successful businesses outside the area steer clear, and experienced planners hired to help unlock the gridlock wind up merely getting paid to create fancy plans that no can agree upon. Planning Commission to the rescue If anyone in the city has a feasible plan for reasonable growth, or ought to have a plan, it is the Planning Commission. After approaching the City Council earlier this year with the wild-eyed crazed idea that the city could use its own planning commission to plan the future development of the city, the planning commission is currently still in limbo, having failed to plan properly for a meeting with a council that isn't ready to hand over the keys to the city to any old commission that thinks it knows something just because the word planning is a part of its name. The main thing, of which progressives are quite cognizant, is that a name isn't necessarily an accurate reflection of the expertise of the group. The planning commission is now without a leader. Perhaps the City Council has a plan to remedy that situation. In keeping with the progressive pacifism used in passive-aggressive relationships between the city council, the chamber, and the planning commission, we now turn to yet another problematic partnership ... the police. To serve and protect — unless you're saddled with a jackbooted label If there ever was an area where clarity is a key component for cohesiveness, it is the City Council's relationship with its police department. But in true progressive form, the logjam of dialogue and direction over the past two years between the council and other leadership elements in the city has infected the police department as well. After a complete meltdown from within and a chain reaction of huge losses, the introduction of a strong focused individual in the leadership post helped to quiet a cacophony of catastrophic explosions that left the former leader standing out in the cold surrounded by a community that to this day remains clueless about the events that led up to the former chief's "early retirement" (code word for "forced out"). It appears that the council was yet again a catalyst in the cleansing of city leaders. City Administrators, Planning Directors, and Police Chiefs don't seem to last very long in an environment of progressive peace and love. Absent as well is the voice of a strong mayor leading the way, or at least paving a road or two and beckoning for us all to head in that direction. Perhaps the mayor is keeping his head down as the shots are being fired, or rather the leaders. Taking it all in From the outside looking in, this is all mere conjecture. But while the progressives project a posture of peace and provide plenty of platitudes, even the blind can see the carnage flying out the doors of City Hall. We know there's a war going on in there. We also know that the facade of focusing on issues makes the council look more like the actors on stage at OSF. Despite the realistic drama, in the end the actors go home and return the next day to perform the same entertaining plays all over again for an appreciative audience. The City Council has done exactly that (although I'm not as appreciative as I am of OSF, and the cost of council performances are outrageous!). Act I, Scene 2004 Consider one of the issues touched on at the A Street Marketplace last weekend on Oct. 14: creating a committee to oversee the police department. In January 2004 , then-councilors John Morrison and Kate Jackson were part of a council considering this: establishing a public safety advisory committee to provide input on police and fire issues . It's interesting how time is the only thing in Ashland that progresses. But, I know what you're thinking. Even a blind squirrel can luck upon a nut once in a while. Okay, so here's another focus of the council from January 2004 : To look at land use to create kid-friendly housing; develop more strategies for slowing growth, while locking in the current ratio of affordable housing for all socioeconomic levels . Hmmm ... how's that kid-friendly, affordable housing issue doing? Didn't a potential Planning Director recently decline the position and claim the cost of living in Ashland was unaffordable for families? Even OSF changes its plays from year to year. But the actors in City Hall continue peddling the same old lines. Give peace a chance — and another chance — and another Well, what's important is that we continue to maintain trust in those with experience on the council, according to the election season mantra. After all, they are experienced and quite familiar with the process of progress, or lack thereof. And since its getting closer to the end of the year, we should be turning our minds more toward the season of giving — like perhaps giving AFN another $500,000 like we did last year. Then after the New Year, we can augment that gift by another million, like we did at the beginning of this year. And if that isn't enough of a giveaway, maybe we could dream up another street project (remember the bumpouts?) where the contractor bids more than 40 percent over what the city engineers say the project would cost, and we could give it to them while the city absorbs some of the overrun. Of course, it's always nice to share. So naturally the citizens would have to help pay for the generosity of our council. It makes us feel warm and fuzzy all over. Now, what we really need is one massive group hug or Lithia Park Spiral and all of our problems will disappear. Well, except for the homeless. If the homeless departed, Ashland would lose its identity, it seems. And what would a progressive be without the ability to champion causes on behalf of the homeless while bemoaning the stagnant nature of our progressive government? Back to the problem I do find it quite interesting that the financing of the homeless advocacy groups within this wealthy community hasn't yet risen to the level of adequate funding to progress the movement toward its ultimate goals. Instead, the issue has become a constant question pushed upon the city government to resolve. Thus, I am befuddled. In a place where many progressives push peace and independent free living, the same people push government to use its power to forcibly extract funds from the populace to bring about the very ideals progressives have failed at obtaining support for outside of the government. It is indeed a conundrum. Therefore, if the City Council is filled with progressives in November, how goes our city? My guess is that there will be lots of talk and grandiose ideas, with as much progress made over the next two years as in the previous two. So hold onto the issues being discussed in this election season. You will be tested in 2008 on how much you remember. ____ Mike Green is the author of " The WHOLE Truth about the U.S. War on Terror: answers to every question you never knew to ask " http://theTruthAboutTerror.com Current Comments: Mike-I may not have agreed with you on much since picking up your column some time back,but I have to compliment you on this piece. Very nice,you scored some direct hits here.Don't under estimate the Mayor's involvement in the sackings.He was one of the key players in the back room deal cut with unloyal officers Walsh and Selby to oust Bianca,and to bring back the officer fired for hazing new recruits.Officers bailing from the department were some of the best ones,tired of the bad officers. Steve L. Iverson - Ashland, Jefferson - October 18th, 10:13 AM Maybe 'no progress' is the best thing for the citizens of Ashland. I believe that the people of USA are better off when Congress is out of session. Could be true here, too. Donna D. - Ashland OR - October 19th, 11:40 AM Great article: Maybe, someday in my lifetime, the truth will be able to be told with regards to Bianca, John Maclaughlin and Geno, and end all this posturing and speculation. It is too bad no one wants to take responsibility for their own actions when their shortsided actions cause forseen consequences that they would not address. This is what happens when a small group with limited views dominates the council vision - Ashland Or - October 20th, 4:36 PM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising Inkjet Printers Student Loans Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Advertisement: Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.