It’s Fine If You Whine  

In my work, I visit government Web sites at times.  I notice that they have two things in common, namely,  

·        a means for somebody to complain and

·        no means for somebody to share an idea.  

Examples of such Web sites:  Los Angeles Police Department, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.  

To me, there is an unhappy conclusion underlying this “You can complain, but do not strain the brain.”  These agencies do not want to partner with us, the public, perhaps because  

·        they believe that we would have nothing useful to offer or

·        we believe that we would have nothing useful to offer or

·        they are not interested in changing the status quo.  

Whichever belief is correct, we have a problem, as they become our inflexible patrons and protectors, while we become the hopeless and helpless.  Such a relationship is not good for democracy, more so when a growing population and scarcer resources point to the need for us, the public, to take more charge of our lives. 

If you answer the multiple-choice questions below and e-mail to lessonanswers@mymontebello.com with “Lesson answers” in the subject field, you will be credited toward a “certificate of recognition in community affairs” to be awarded in 2008 by a local nonprofit organization. 

 1. What is government thinking?

(a) That we, the public, complain too much.

(b) That we, the public, have no useful ideas to offer.

(c) That its job is the preservation of the status quo.  

2. What is the consequence of government’s thinking?

(a) We, the public, do not learn to care for ourselves.

(b) Government becomes an impediment to needed change.

June 12, 2008