Monday
Mar162009
« Beaudreau garbage panel - a committee of "yes men?" »
Monday, March 16, 2009 at 8:16PM
Earlier this month, Commissioner Mike Beaudreau's garbage committee held it's final hearing. The panel hopes to present its findings to the Gwinnett County Commission this week. Unfortunately, despite loud voices against major tenets of socialized garbage, reports are suggesting that the committee will, for all intents and purposes, sign off on the heinous ordinance that so many Gwinnett residents have made clear that they do not support.
Socialized Garbage Tenet 1 - Mandatory pickup - The committee is reportedly in agreement on mandatory pickup at residences. They may throw a bone to residents in the form of an opt-out clause for those with access to other disposal options (e.g., a small business owner who has a dumpster at the business). I do not have a major problem with this if there is a legitimate dumping problem. I still feel, however, that the county could better use resources wasted on its "Quality of Life" task force to track down those who are dumping illegally. According to committee member Mack Perry, "...the illegal dumping isn't coming from people who have trash service." If the county knows this, they can go after those who are guilty and not punish all residents with a government mandate.
Socialized Garbage Tenet 2 - No Choice in Garbage Hauler - Residents were very clear that they wanted choice in selecting their garbage hauler. This is one of the most egregious aspects of the ordinance. However, despite there being little doubt about the feeling of the citizens, the committee, according to the Gwinnett Views blog, is considering an assignment of providers to regions, thus resulting in "one hauler, one neighborhood." What part of choice does the committee not understand? We do not want Mike Beaudreau and the rest of the commission to select our garbage hauler! Reducing neighborhood truck traffic is a red herring used to justify substitution of a government decision for your free choice. Rather than listen to the residents and respect their strong support of economic freedom of choice, the committee may be set to sign off on a second aspect of socialized garbage.
Socialized Garbage Tenet 3 - Garbage bill included on property tax bill - Another unpopular component of socialized garbage was the inclusion of garbage collection charges on property tax bills. Here again, the committee may be leaning toward recommending just such a payment mechanism. Gwinnett Views opines:
I am sure that officials will try to justify this requirement by arguing that it simplifies their bill collection responsibilities. Sorry, but I am not here to serve the government, the government is here to serve the citizens. Trading our freedom of choice to save government the burden of dealing with those who do not pay is not an acceptable trade.
Three pillars of socialized garbage, three thumbs up from the Mike Beaudreau committee. Very interesting given resident opposition and Mack Perry's comment on his blog:
Really? Not a committee of "Yes Men and Women?" Could have fooled me.
I could live with mandatory pickup and even billing on my tax statement. What I cannot quietly accept is the commission telling me who I have to use for garbage service. Had socialized gone through in January, I would have been assigned to Waste Pro and I saw enough from that company during recent months to know that I would almost certainly not do business with them voluntarily. Mike Beaudreau and his fellow commissioners should not be able to tell me I must use them. Much of Gwinnett apparently agrees with me, but the Beaudreau committee apparently did not pay attention to this.
One bit of good news is that the county may be about to agree to an extension of the current garbage system (also known as a competitive market) through the end of the year. While we cannot be sure that a recrafted solid waste ordinance won't look substantially the same as socialized garbage, at least we can go nine more months without the Gwinnett County Commission sticking its nose in our affairs. Another advantage may be the reticence of commissioners Bert Nasuti and Kevin Kenerly to back the unpopular aspects of socialized garbage on the eve of potential reelection bids in 2010.
Socialized Garbage Tenet 1 - Mandatory pickup - The committee is reportedly in agreement on mandatory pickup at residences. They may throw a bone to residents in the form of an opt-out clause for those with access to other disposal options (e.g., a small business owner who has a dumpster at the business). I do not have a major problem with this if there is a legitimate dumping problem. I still feel, however, that the county could better use resources wasted on its "Quality of Life" task force to track down those who are dumping illegally. According to committee member Mack Perry, "...the illegal dumping isn't coming from people who have trash service." If the county knows this, they can go after those who are guilty and not punish all residents with a government mandate.
Socialized Garbage Tenet 2 - No Choice in Garbage Hauler - Residents were very clear that they wanted choice in selecting their garbage hauler. This is one of the most egregious aspects of the ordinance. However, despite there being little doubt about the feeling of the citizens, the committee, according to the Gwinnett Views blog, is considering an assignment of providers to regions, thus resulting in "one hauler, one neighborhood." What part of choice does the committee not understand? We do not want Mike Beaudreau and the rest of the commission to select our garbage hauler! Reducing neighborhood truck traffic is a red herring used to justify substitution of a government decision for your free choice. Rather than listen to the residents and respect their strong support of economic freedom of choice, the committee may be set to sign off on a second aspect of socialized garbage.
Socialized Garbage Tenet 3 - Garbage bill included on property tax bill - Another unpopular component of socialized garbage was the inclusion of garbage collection charges on property tax bills. Here again, the committee may be leaning toward recommending just such a payment mechanism. Gwinnett Views opines:
The majority of the MBSCT believe the only way to make sure that all of us residents are toeing the line is to put the trash bill on our tax bill.
I am sure that officials will try to justify this requirement by arguing that it simplifies their bill collection responsibilities. Sorry, but I am not here to serve the government, the government is here to serve the citizens. Trading our freedom of choice to save government the burden of dealing with those who do not pay is not an acceptable trade.
Three pillars of socialized garbage, three thumbs up from the Mike Beaudreau committee. Very interesting given resident opposition and Mack Perry's comment on his blog:
As a member of the committee I think I should tell you that this is not just a committee of a bunch of “Yes Men and Women” who are giving lip service to the commissioners.
Really? Not a committee of "Yes Men and Women?" Could have fooled me.
I could live with mandatory pickup and even billing on my tax statement. What I cannot quietly accept is the commission telling me who I have to use for garbage service. Had socialized gone through in January, I would have been assigned to Waste Pro and I saw enough from that company during recent months to know that I would almost certainly not do business with them voluntarily. Mike Beaudreau and his fellow commissioners should not be able to tell me I must use them. Much of Gwinnett apparently agrees with me, but the Beaudreau committee apparently did not pay attention to this.
One bit of good news is that the county may be about to agree to an extension of the current garbage system (also known as a competitive market) through the end of the year. While we cannot be sure that a recrafted solid waste ordinance won't look substantially the same as socialized garbage, at least we can go nine more months without the Gwinnett County Commission sticking its nose in our affairs. Another advantage may be the reticence of commissioners Bert Nasuti and Kevin Kenerly to back the unpopular aspects of socialized garbage on the eve of potential reelection bids in 2010.
Reader Comments (3)
I am ashamed that this issue has even got this much traction in Gwinnett. I also thought that Gwinnett was a beckon of freedom and liberty in the metro area.
We are the home of John Linder who had no earmarks in the omnibus bill and leads the Fairtax effort in the House.
The biggest concern I have is which of these RINO commission clowns will be positioning to someday take Linder's seat.
When is the Gwinnett Tea Party?
Daewood, first, thanks for reading the Buzz!
I do not know any of the commissioners personally, so take these comments as only those of a third party observer. I have thought about future political careers for some on the commission. My gut says Bannister retires after this term. Would he try to go back to the state house or to Washington? I somewhat doubt it. As for Shirley Lasseter, Bert Nasuti and Kevin Kenerly, they come across to me as local Gwinnett folks who are connected and involved in county politics and that is their niche. Could this lead to something larger? Perhaps, but I don't see any of them going any higher than State House or Senate. That leaves Beaudreau.
I really think that Beaudreau could be a career politician with an upward path. He is young, has "politician good looks" and is very popular in his district. Frankly, if you get him out of property rights decisions, I would probably agree with him more often than not based on what I have seen and read. So where does he go? Looking back to my assumption that Bannister will hang it up in 2012, I almost expect Beaudreau to make a run for commission chairman. In fact, I would be surprised if he doesn't. As bad as I hate to admit it, I think he could well be the favorite even if Bannister were to seek another term or Lorraine Green were to give it another go. An alternative could be a run for a state House or Senate seat, but the commission chairmanship could well be higher profile for him than a being a freshman in Atlanta. This could be especially valuable if he seeks significantly higher office. Commission chairman could be a strong jumping off point for a Congressional run if that is where he is focused. I believe has done some type of work or internship or something in his past in DC, so he may have some connections that could pull him that way. Whether it be chairman, state legislature, or Washington, I do not expect to see Beaudreau run for his same seat again in 2012. And that is a prospect that makes me smile!
The way we change this county/state/country is from the bottom up. This idea is not mine. I recently heard it or read it (can't recall). But we need to start with the local officials because they are the ones who will move up the hierarchy.
If we can get those with the founding father's principles and values elected and (the hard part) keep them honesty and not corrupted by power (not the money) that will be change.