Us rock-ribbed Republicans believe in lots of transparency and accountability.
It’s true. Ask anybody. Everybody says they want accountability and transparency in government, especially political candidates; but those in authority have a lot of incentive to keep their doings free from risk – the risk of being exposed as responsible for some screw-up or other; and the risk of fighting the inertia produced by institutional dead weight in a gravity-free environment. And of course the ability to pass along lucrative contracts to their pals.
And all this bring me to the point of this essay: it’s time for the Orange County Board of Supervisors to take charge of semi-autonomous agencies that have been operating under the public radar. Two of these “hidden governments” spring most immediately to mind: the Children and Families Commission – that seems to have been operating as a cash cow for the local repuglican machine, and the OC Cemetary District, ditto.
It’s about time a blog in Orange County is talking about this. Too bad the “liberal” blogs are feeding from the same cess pools as Jerbals family business!
It’s not just the OC First 5 Commission – this is a systemic disease made possible by ignorant voters who did not realize they were being suckered by the glamor of an idea.
Here’s another First 5 – this one has Grand Jury problems that have spilled up to the Board of Supervisors:
http://www.halfwaytoconcord.com/grand-jury-first-five-commission/