Brian Anderson The Western Front www.sunlive.co.nz

Many novelists have given us images of a government out of control. We have Big Brother, the pigs in Animal Farm or even a steam roller that has to be dodged in Wolfe's Limbo 90. There is usually a hero to lead the way to salvation like the One Who Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and his fight to beat the Combine.
Robert Ludlum focused more on the public responses. He looked beyond the usual image of a compliant and apathetic public and believes people are actually trained to be resentful and dismissive of government machinations. This then leaves the authorities free to get on with any dubious practices with little risk of being challenged. In good times, an out of control government is tolerated even though it is seen as wasteful and inefficient, but when money is tight – resentment mounts, accusations start flying, conspiracy theories abound and the public starts calling for change.

Are we in trouble now?

Of course the economy is standing still, but I have talked with rural land owners, orchardists, pensioners, contractors, investors, businessmen who are having serious problems and many of them are blaming council. Council has been deferring many projects, but very little has actually been pruned. If anything, the expensive projects are multiplying with very little input from the public. The community involvement we believe should be part of our democracy seems to have almost disappeared and been replaced by SmartGrowth and unnamed stakeholders in the decision making. We have to track them now.

The three rates submissions to the budget in the annual plan were overtaken by 800 cyclist and 140 dog control submissions. Meanwhile, with no cash and debt being capitalised, council has started spending multi millions on new projects:

• The new WBOPDC libraries are out of date already. Tauranga City Council library has just started its eBook service, which is expected to dominate most recreation library use within a couple of years. Western Bay Council meanwhile is investing our targeted rates in library buildings intending to use them as commercial developments for future council profit. Publication or discussion of costings is not allowed because of commercial sensitivity. A library for Katikati? Yeah right!
• Council has turned its back on its agreement with regional council for the development of Harbour facilities for the people. Instead, it appears to be involved in another commercially sensitive secret project to develop a marina at Kauri Point. This week, council has claimed they now have approval from Tuapiro Maori when we know that Tuapiro, along with all of the other residents of the Northern Harbour, continue to reject the Kauri Point option. Many believe this is another secret commercial partnership with a development on Matakana. A conspiracy theory perhaps, but it is the only explanation that fits council's attitude.

It's our turn now.

Ludlum's answer is simple. ‘Mendacity? Abuse of Power? Corruption? Police State? Well, certainly not with lasting effect as long as citizens can voice such speculations and shout their accusations, however extreme. We can be heard; that's our strength.'
One thing more is needed. The Indian chief narrator of the Cuckoo's Nest story never spoke in the story, but watched. The message of his story was never clear until the last two pages when he opened his mouth for the first time, beat the Combine and changed his nation. We are on the last two pages now. We have a participatory democracy, but we have to participate also.