I learned in the early days in elected office that when controversy or disagreement erupts it is best to move toward it. Think of grabbing the hot pan just out of the oven with your bare hand, the natural response is to remove it as quickly as possible for fear of getting burned.
In politics, it seems the opposite is true. In my experience when things get heated withdrawing into silence often creates more of a challenge.
It’s not always easy to confront the discomfort head on. However it is much better to go straight at the issue than to let the discontent foment. Often a lack of response is interpreted through an individual’s own perspective and the quiet is, by extension, agreement with the disagreement or vice-versa.
On the political landscape, silence equals a lack of accountability or an unwillingness to be transparent. It is the oxygen for the fire and what was once small quickly grows out of control and it is usually fuelled by speculation.
It’s for that reason that the discomfort of moving toward the heat as quickly as possible is the best policy. As a result, I have made it the culture of my office to respond to each and every email that comes to me as soon as is possible.
Further, when you email my office to advocate or encourage me to act on an issue, it is not likely the last time we connect. Especially if we are working on an issue in our legislative office, such as old-growth logging or salmon. As we get more information, I get my team in the constituency office to email you back.
It’s remarkable the number of times I hear back from people that my office was the only one to respond to their advocacy. People are even more taken aback when we email them to provide an update on the issue they are concerned about.
I’m in a very emotional business. Everything we do has an impact on people, their livelihoods, their safety and security. Silence sends a message that I am all to happy to have the benefits of the position without appropriate concern for the real issues people face as a result of the decisions we make to do, or not do, something.
After all this has been said, it comes down to showing respect for the people we work on behalf of. It’s my goal to meet people in person, listen intently, keep an accurate record, challenge incorrect assumptions and, in the end, do the very best I can to represent them.
That’s at the heart of this blog and my podcast: to have a voice, to give a voice and to share a voice. I will try to never shy away from the difficult work of facing the difficult and when the heat gets turned up, walk towards it.
Image by SplitShire from Pixabay
Thank You Adam,
Your example will result in others that you work with and those who will follow you being mote open and engaged.
Thank you fot moving towards he heat of Engageengagement
An admirable policy, Adam, even if you have to say ” I don’t have a good answer to this one yet and like you, I’m searching. Please stay in touch.” And I admire your energy too, while hoping that you are careful with it.
Hon. MLS Mr. Olsen, welcome to Saturna in 11 days for your scheduled Community Meeting, especially on the subjects of ‘fire’ and last year’s emergencies which were felt throughout the entire riding.
What you will hear or not hear depends on who is moderating and what topics are shut down. If the perpetual ‘blanket over the truth’ is thrown over the meeting by the typical (and therefore highly motivated by their past successes) small crowd of insiders (who attend most meetings) then you’ll hear little except for generalities which lead nowhere. but to ‘more meetings!’.
We have almost 60 committees here for three hundred people, we have five levels of governance (federal, provincial, CRD, Islands Trust, and tax funded committees of ‘insiders’), and we have a crisis in truth and transparency which is not helped by the CRD policy of ‘appointing commissioners’ outside of any democratic process of revealing their qualifications, or having public elections, and answering public questions.
These commissioners spend our tax money. These tax funded committees dominated by musical-chair insiders spend our money. And the problems of governance and accountability are denied by the CRD (which operates under provincial authority) and enables these committees but says governance is a ‘local problem’ which they won’t deal with.
While we are shut out by our own local governments who still collect our taxes, we have a number of people who have given up participating in politics – “What’s the point?” is a commonly heard expression around here.
You will visit an island where business and opportunity, social and political diversity has vanished.
Welcome to Saturna in 11 days. I make these comments because I was stunned by your candor, honesty, commitment to democracy and your public stance which is unwavering. I ask that you bring this spirit to our sad island in the hope of some political remedy and accountability to the truth and transparency.
You are the best! When people write you about a matter that concerned them it is because it really matter to them, It is so respectful, empowering and show your concern that you respond. Thank You for your dedication and good heart
I assume that not enough heat has developed over the word “consent” in the expression “free, prior, and informed consent”. To me the word strongly implies “veto”. If it requires less than that, then the colonialists, with their rapacious appetite for natural resources, have won the ball game over the caretaking philosophy of the original indigenes (7th generation). As it looks now, the more exposed indigenes are to the rapacious approach, the more they have changed their approach to the environment. A good example is the willingness of many in that group to work towards ownership of oil pipelines, a move supported and welcomed by Mr. Trudeau, a man who would love to have indigenous folk rescue him from his horrifying purchase of the Trans Mountain expansion. Indigenous folk are gradually adopting colonialist values.
Heaven protect us unless the word “consent” means anything less than “veto”!
Greetings Adam:
Very much appreciate these comments. Perhaps a lesson to learn is that getting elected should be regarded as being elected so that moving toward the fire begins with truth-telling up front. Clearly you continue to do the work that earns you the trust and respect of constituents by rising above the party positions and focusing on solving problems. I do agree that emotions drive, direct and misdirect the opinions and choices of stakeholders whatever the issue. People want to be heard and provided answers and can even accept unwanted answers if attentiveness and respect are included. Your work is the heart of representation and a great example to all who pursue it. Regards Dana