15th March 2012, 07:53 AM
Thanks Uo1 for bringing this to our attention......
A couple of observations. The 'leverage' issue annoys me a little. In effect it plays into the hands of the Pickleites by admitting that there is an unofficial development tax in place.....another way of looking at it could be that by abolishing archaeological advisory services, the burden of this unofficial tax could be saved, perhaps therefore tempting hard headed business types into investing in areas where they aren't burdened by a drain on their profitability. Rather than support archaeology this just provides its enemies with cheap ammunition for cheap shots. I am already looking forward to the day when I read the headline 'Archaeologists admit they are imposing stealth tax on job creators'.....
Secondly, I'm not sure that suggesting politicians only ever respond when they feel their vote is threatened is the best tactical approach to winning hearts and minds. I was told once by a politician that the biggest single issue raised by the public to local government officers was how much dog-shit there was on the streets. If the 'politicians only do it for the votes' analogy was applied we wouldn't have social services, bin collections, education etc as every resource of local government would be dedicated to chasing and wiping the arses of stray dogs. Clearly not the case.
My thoughts are that this document was produced by someone who may once have gone on a two-hour seminar called 'Engage the Public' or comething similar and has little practical experience of running campaigns or engaging the public. And if it allows Uo1 to appear at the cutting-edge of literary criticism, it has to be dangerously if not fatally flawed....
A couple of observations. The 'leverage' issue annoys me a little. In effect it plays into the hands of the Pickleites by admitting that there is an unofficial development tax in place.....another way of looking at it could be that by abolishing archaeological advisory services, the burden of this unofficial tax could be saved, perhaps therefore tempting hard headed business types into investing in areas where they aren't burdened by a drain on their profitability. Rather than support archaeology this just provides its enemies with cheap ammunition for cheap shots. I am already looking forward to the day when I read the headline 'Archaeologists admit they are imposing stealth tax on job creators'.....
Secondly, I'm not sure that suggesting politicians only ever respond when they feel their vote is threatened is the best tactical approach to winning hearts and minds. I was told once by a politician that the biggest single issue raised by the public to local government officers was how much dog-shit there was on the streets. If the 'politicians only do it for the votes' analogy was applied we wouldn't have social services, bin collections, education etc as every resource of local government would be dedicated to chasing and wiping the arses of stray dogs. Clearly not the case.
My thoughts are that this document was produced by someone who may once have gone on a two-hour seminar called 'Engage the Public' or comething similar and has little practical experience of running campaigns or engaging the public. And if it allows Uo1 to appear at the cutting-edge of literary criticism, it has to be dangerously if not fatally flawed....
With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...