Have you ever had a problem on your hands that had no solution? I did. In fact, I do. Let me share what I came up with.
There are certain puppet masters, a chameleon politician, a few opportunists, some unaware participants, innocent bystanders and indifferent or tranquilized citizenry. The puppet masters gave birth to a sick idea of bringing an expensive “service” of questionable value to the taxpayers. Opportunists jumped on, the chameleon politician obliged, scheming started and rolled on — until we exposed the fraudsters. They backed off. Now, some years later, they came back with the same freshly painted carrot.
Why does this problem have no solution? Because after last time, one would say that taxpayers will be on alert, up in arms, kicking the fraudsters in the shins. Guess what? There is virtual silence except the bold, shameless, arrogant chameleon and opportunists trumpeting this “new” so-called service once again as if the world has never heard of it before. I warned the chameleon politician almost a year ago that those opportunists are emperors without clothes, investors without money, and that putting them into the driver’s seat is a bad idea. That’s where I stopped for good and let spin doctors do what they want to do, letting the tranquilized complacent populace get what they “ask” for. After all is said and done, they will fall flat on their faces and I might regain my fighting spirit once more. Of course, it will be for other causes than the above-mentioned, because by then it will be too late to change anything.
The positive side of the outcome is that fraudsters will expose themselves and they will have nothing to say on the day when all secretive scheming will come to light. If I were a gambler, I would bet all my chips on this one.
The irony regarding the chameleon politician is that when I shared with him my program before the last municipal election (the only time I have run for office of any kind), he discovered before I did that I run on moral issues and advised me to get in first and then to do what I want to do. Needless to say, I declined. If this once-trusted, favourite politician of mine rediscovers his moral compass, an ounce of integrity, spine or soul, he can still do some good. He might regain my trust and support. It pains me to see how he turned out with puppet masters and opportunists playing him like a violin. On second thought, wasn’t he playing first fiddle all along? Only he can answer that. I even presented him with a workable plan that would turn three thorny problems into one workable — and I mean workable — solution. He said he would phone our MP the same night. Folks, that was one-and-a-half years ago and I am still waiting.
As for our bad Samaritans, sooner or later their folly and insidious ways will be apparent to all. They might play the role of Judas Iscariot and collect their 30 silver pieces, but in the end they will join a long line of evildoers of all stripes, getting their well-deserved “reward”.
The bittersweet irony is that when other smarties of their kind wanted to bring another fancy idea into their backyard, our beloved opportunists were jumping to the high heavens. Well, what goes around comes around, doesn’t it?
Dear Advance readers, do you have a problem without a solution on your hand? There might be a solution just like mine waiting for you.
Vladimir Certik believes that thinking outside the box and engaging fellow citizens may bring simple solutions to complex problems. The West Creston resident can be reached at 250-402-0055.