I've had more than a few comments about the dysfunctioral HMOs in USA. Not anywhere near a TDG spirit from what I can see.
I think it's very important that the early TDGs stay away from trying to resolve societal issues. The main reason is that we really don't have the consultative skills to resolve these issues.
The discussions in the early TDGs will be more like "Should we have four members on the executive committee or five?" People can express their opinions, for sure.But it's more important to make a decsion, try it out, then make adjustments.
When people learn that many decisions are not the-end-of-the world, they may be more inclined to go along with something they don't seem to agree with. Maybe there will be a day when neighborhoods have some rules for themselves. But not until we get some skills.
Building the TDG is a great place to get those skills for the issues are truly not that important.
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Your lawn HMO situation has brought back an anecdote. My sister has been living in Terrace BC for 28 years now. I have been going there for many year.
There are two political jurisdictions: The City of Terrace (about 20,000) and Thorhill County (about 10,000). Terrace has always been a fairly clean and orderly city. But out in Thornhill, if someone wanted to overhaul their Kenworth logging truck in their front yard and it became a three-year project, neighborhood objectors had no say. Thornhill was indeed the Wild West in regards to property rights. But as time passed, the residential areas in Thornhill have cleaned themselves up. Not sure of the exact political mechanisms to make this happen, but I see change in Thornhill.
I think TDG governance will realize that such changes take time and require small steps. There needs to be a 15-year plan for these things. Our current political systems cannot think much beyond the next election.
BTW, municipal governence is Canada is done without political parties. Municipal politicians don't have that albatross hanging around their neck when making decisions for their communities.
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Homeless? These people are quite disenfranchised citizens. I don't think they are too concerned about how they are governed. Again, we are probably looking at a 15-year project--if we can look past the next election.
We need to develop a long-term plan for the homeless, execute the plan, fix things that don't seem to be working, try again.
Maybe this plan is something a maturing TDG can create as municipal politicians are so busy with so many other issues. The TDG can focus on this one thing (asside from governing itself). Having crediable people coming together at top tier should create a pretty good plan. Things like this will give the TDG more credibility--for the eventual takeover of authority and responsibility of governance.
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I really enjoy answering good questions about TDG. This little discourse with you has given me a new angle to show how the TDG can work.
I have Book 4 of my series percolating in mind. Maybe I can use a maturing TDG taking on a social project as a subplot.
Thanks for getting me to think in this new way: TDG taking on a small role in governance before it is ready.
