'How?' you ask...? Part Two

Nobody cedes power willingly.


Life is a competition, and people just want to win. 


Nothing matters as much as getting what you want.


Boys will be boys.

Since forever, for all practical purposes, power has been denied the general populace. It's been held by just about everyone but residents, notions of 'democracy' notwithstanding. Royalty, emperors, dictators, 'the upper class', people with money, business magnates, precinct bosses, the Mafia, gangs...yadda, yadda, yadda. 

And the thing is, nobody who's a 'player' in whatever game they're in, wants to see it change. 

Politicians generally groan when the phrase 'public consultation' is uttered. (And this is further entrenched for me every time I hear a Councillor say "Town halls? Don't need 'em. If any of the residents in my ward have a problem, they can always get me by phone or email." In other words, they'll respond when necessary, but they're not going to go looking for input or feedback.)

Developers and movers-and-shakers generally prefer to steer clear of the public. They want to build what they want to build and would prefer it if they could get everything to their specifications and not have to compromise at all. (Still, thank Heaven for the OMB...)

Politicians generally want to be left alone to do their jobs, to look after the minutiae of governance. And not get involved in kerfuffles that risk re-election. 

Developers- Just want to develop. 

And to be fair, 'many' people –residents, citizens, constituents– don't want to be bothered with much of anything to do with any of this stuff. They vote people into government, they expect the elected officials can take care of what needs to be taken care of...and they want to be able to do whatever it is they want to be able to do. In their La-z-Boys. 

There's nothing new here. 

However,  a) the world is no longer quite as simple as it's been since forever, and b) ours is a tragically flawed system the above operate within...one due for a critical re-boot, in my opinion. 

But 'changing the game' it isn't a matter of passing this law or that rule or that regulation. 

We're talking about some fundamental role-shifts. Not to mention shifts in perceptions, expectations...and most importantly, power-structure. And without the conviction on the part of the public...not necessarily all the public, just a sufficient number to prove cohesion, and therefore, clout...nothing will change. Because the most important notion on this page is at the top: 'Nobody ceded power willingly.'

So I guess the first substantive part of the answer to the question 'How?' is 'With great resolve on our parts.'

Next up: The specifics of 'How?'