On 21 Apr 2021 17:26:15 GMT, Tim Streater
wrote:

snip


Most councilors therefore will be promising things they will never be
able to deliver, even if they get elected.

Then part of your job,

I don't want 'a job' thanks, they (councilors / politicians / MP's)
want that job and are elected by 'the people'.

as a voter,

Are you suggesting *everone* takes this on as 'a job' before they vote
or just that I should'? Do you think 'everyone else' already does?

if you care enough,

I care sufficiently to know there is little to no chance of me ever
getting to sufficient fact to be able to make a considered decision.

Maybe that's not expected and if it isn't, I'll pass thanks.

is to learn how to tell
whether a candidate is feeding you a line or not.

And within reason, how (ITRW) would I do that? How would I know if the
funds were really available to be able to support what they promise or
that monies would have to come from something others think equally /
more important?

Is the candidate already a
councillor who has a good/bad record of helping people and/or getting useful
stuff through or changes at, the Council?

In this case I don't think so but how much effort would I have to put
in to find out? Is everone else doing this before they vote OOI?

Is the candidate someone who is not
yet a councillor but has form in your location for assisting people?

Pass. I sat down this morning g and read the pamphlets from both the
main candidates / parties and couldn't say that I believed either
outside of them all being 'sensible' things to do. Both say they are
going to crack down on crime or build more houses but can either
actually do that and where (and do we want any more houses around here
without an obvious equal improvement in the infrastructure)?

They both say what they know people want to hear (of course).

And so
on.

Yeah, good words but I'm not sure how many other people do what you
suggest ... rather than just being ignorant 'pub' specialists on it
all?

I got a parking ticket (in a 20 min free parking area that had been
changed to requiring a ticket even for the first free 20 mins after
maybe 20 years being without a ticket being required). The signage was
poor, the machine obscured and I was there for no longer than 10 mins.

I appealed to the Council parking manager and it was declined. I
contacted our local councilor, he looked into it and I got an email
from the Council saying that 'in this case' they would drop the PCN.

So, should I vote for that councilor for that reason?

As it turned out, many many other people were caught out by this
stealthy change of the parking terms and *everone* you paid their fine
had them refunded ... then new / clearer signs were erected. [1]

So to what extent did these changes come about due to actions by this
councillor?

As in the change in parking rules? The chances are none. The getting
*me* off the PCN? Possibly 'lots'. Getting all the others refunded ...
the chances are they (the Council) had enough people counter their
PCN's to get the whole thing re-evaluated, possibly around someone
taking (or threatening to) take them to court.

And that's the point ... as we have just seen with this recent
football BS ... I really don't think those in power have all the
power, no matter what they try to do and it's not any political
opposition that keeps them in check but 'us' (often with help of the
media) in general.

Let's face it, they (whoever we are talking about who has power over
others who have a say in them being there or not) aren't going to do
(or carry on doing) anything that ****es enough of the ordinary people
off as it will be political suicide for them, even if it's actually
the right thing to do. And given they are generally in power because
they want to be, they won't risk that.

Boris has 'always wanted' to be the PM whilst most people wouldn't
want the job if you gave it to them (well, those that have a clue what
the role / responsibility means etc). Did stop BoJo of course.

Cheers, T i m