Thursday, December 2, 2010

From Wikipedia re "The Spoils System"

In the politics of the United States, a spoil system (also known as a patronage system) is a practice where a political party, after winning an election, gives government jobs to its voters as a reward for working toward victory, and as an incentive to keep working for the party—as opposed to a system of awarding offices on the basis of some measure of merit independent of political activity.

Click here to read more.

What we have lost in Lake Worth is any measure of objectivity.  One would hope that at the advisory board level, appointed members would be able to objectively evaluate matters that come before them and their recommendations to the ultimate authority, the City Commission, would be free of bias and not be a result of a lack of independent thinking.  What is happening here is that people are being told how to vote, what issues to raise, who to be against by the very people that are elected by the residents.  New ideas and ways of doing things are discouraged - creativity abhors a vacuum.  There is little fresh air in the system so things stagnate.  Look about you.  Myths perpetuate themselves and are spewed at all doorsteps during election seasons.

One place where objectivity and professional experience is important too is at the city staff level.  Unfortunately, anyone that questions the direction of the City Commission or administration (City Manager) on a matter based on "best practices", fiduciary responsibility, professional opinion or established process seems to be shown the door - or they leave on their own accord.  In their place, we get "yes" people who do what they are told in order to survive in the system.  Objectivity ceases to exist and the right questions are never asked. At least we don't have city staff contributing to campaigns - that we know of.  Until we allow objectivity and reason back into the process, things at 7 N. Dixie Hwy. will continue to be like: