Comments on: 'We don't need your stinking checks and balances' http://blog.localdemocracy.org.uk/2009/01/13/we-dont-need-your-stinking-checks-and-balances/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed Promoting innovation and a conversational local politics Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:55:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: The commentariat and their version of democracy « Local Democracy http://blog.localdemocracy.org.uk/2009/01/13/we-dont-need-your-stinking-checks-and-balances/comment-page-1/#comment-61 The commentariat and their version of democracy « Local Democracy Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:25:21 +0000 http://blog.localdemocracy.org.uk/?p=354#comment-61 [...] Cameron’s proposals for directly elected officials and numerous referendums. Reprising the De Tocqueville quote that was used here, he concluded that it was not in the DNA of national politicians to promote decentralised [...] [...] Cameron’s proposals for directly elected officials and numerous referendums. Reprising the De Tocqueville quote that was used here, he concluded that it was not in the DNA of national politicians to promote decentralised [...]

]]> By: Social media, civic engagement, and the need for political leadership « Local Democracy http://blog.localdemocracy.org.uk/2009/01/13/we-dont-need-your-stinking-checks-and-balances/comment-page-1/#comment-60 Social media, civic engagement, and the need for political leadership « Local Democracy Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:28:28 +0000 http://blog.localdemocracy.org.uk/?p=354#comment-60 [...] - and the weakening of local government - can be found in a political variation on this theme - as De Tocqueville pointed out a long long time ago. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Has local government [...] [...] – and the weakening of local government – can be found in a political variation on this theme – as De Tocqueville pointed out a long long time ago. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Has local government [...]

]]> By: Warren Hatter http://blog.localdemocracy.org.uk/2009/01/13/we-dont-need-your-stinking-checks-and-balances/comment-page-1/#comment-59 Warren Hatter Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:28:30 +0000 http://blog.localdemocracy.org.uk/?p=354#comment-59 Good stuff. On your final question, I recall that the higest profile (and possibly main) argument employed by those opposing the introduction of elected mayors in England at the start of the decade/century/millennium was that it was a recipe for corruption, brown envelopes, contracts being awarded to the mayor's mates, etc. Several years on, no sign of this among the dozen local govt elected mayors. But the opponents don't seem to have mellowed ... Good stuff. On your final question, I recall that the higest profile (and possibly main) argument employed by those opposing the introduction of elected mayors in England at the start of the decade/century/millennium was that it was a recipe for corruption, brown envelopes, contracts being awarded to the mayor’s mates, etc.

Several years on, no sign of this among the dozen local govt elected mayors. But the opponents don’t seem to have mellowed …

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