Vote lekker

Dear Voter

Voting day puts me in mind of these two quotations:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”  American Declaration of Independence, with a gender update by me!

 “We therefore, through our freely elected representatives, adopt this Constitution as the supreme law of the Republic so as to ­ lay the foundations for a democratic and open society in which government is based on the will of the people and every citizen is equally protected by law”  South African Constitution.

A vote is a precious thing to have; it is the only thing that stands between all of us and tyranny. Many have died to ensure that we will have the opportunity to vote on Wednesday; not millions, but hundreds of millions. And many hundreds of millions more have lived lives of incomprehensible pain, suffering and hardship for the freedom we enjoy today. Humanity’s long walk to freedom started thousands of years ago. There will be arguments about just when, but I date it to the Golden Age of Athens. That was the time, under Pericles, when it was realized that the right to be free and to choose our governors was inalienable, a right not conferred, but to be taken in terms of natural law.

We suffered many setbacks on our walk to freedom. But great milestones on our way were the issue of the Magna Carta in Britain in 1215, the Declaration of Independence by America in 1776, and the fall of the Bastille and the end of the absolute powers of monarchy in France in 1789, and then for us in South Africa, it was a long walk that ended with Madiba’s release from prison, and the opportunity for all to vote in our first democratic election in 1994.

Standing between us and civil war at the end of that long walk was that same Madiba, a man who had the wisdom and the compassion to find forgiveness in his heart for his persecutors. We owe him such a debt of gratitude. Now I don’t know what Madiba thinks, but I have a feeling that he doesn’t expect our thanks. All he expects from us is that we cherish the democracy that has been so hard won by people all over the Earth in general, and in South Africa in particular. So I appeal to you. Cherish the legacy we now have to be free by voting. When you wake up on Wednesday, and when you go to the polls to vote, do it with joy! Do it with appreciation! Do it with a smile on your face, and step lightly on the ground, for it will be a great day to be alive. Greet your neighbour, and extend a hand of friendship even to those who do not share your political persuasion.

With all our manifold problems and burdens, there are times when it is simply good to be alive. Wednesday will be such a day.Vote in peace and joy

Colin Bower.

Personal Manifesto

Persoonlike Manifes

(Please scroll down for the English version)

Daar is mede-Prince Alberters wat my ken, maar daar is verseker ook talle wat my nie ken nie. Ek roem nie daarop om myself te bemark nie, maar ek verstaan dat ek die volgende persoonlike inligting moet deurgee voordat  verkiesingsdag aanbreek:

·         My taamlik stowwerige formele kwalifikasie is ‘n BA (Hons). Ek het ook verskeie kort universiteitskursusse voltooi, insluitend een van twee weke aan   Stanford Universiteit in California.

·         Onredelike base was lewenslank my voorland. Eindelose ritse begrotings, verslae en planne het ek aan hulle voorgelê. Maar ek kla nie: Dit is die lot van elk werker wat ‘n salaris wil verdien.

·         Ek het gevorder tot senior uitvoerende poste in groot maatskappye.

·         Strategie en die opstel en ontleding van kontrakte is my kos.

·         Hoewel geskool in die Geesteswetenskappe, verstaan ek boekhouding, vreemd genoeg,  baie goed en geniet dit veral ook om met bestuursverslae om to gaan.

·         Ek glo in ‘n “kleurblinde”  gemeenskap, en is ‘n teenstander van regstellende aksie.

·         Dit is my oortuiging dat jy nie ‘n oplossing gaan vind voordat jy die probleem korrek geformuleer het nie.

·         Al is my lessenaar deurmekaar – my denke is logies.

·         Mense beskuldig my van eiesinnigheid, maar dit is nooit my bedoeling om eiesinnig te wees nie.

·         Prince Albert is ‘n unike dorpie, hopelik my tuite tot my sterfdag, die plek waar familie en vriende my graag kom besoek,en ek verruil dit vir geen ander adres in die wêreld nie.

·         In elke moontlike opsig sal ek graag daartoe wil bydra dat elke liewe inwoner en belastingbetaler van ons dorp deel in die vreugde en geluk wat ek en my vrou Sandy ervaar om hier te kan bly.

·         As jy steeds dink jy ken my nie goed genoeg nie, besoek gerus my webwerf – dit is absoluut gratis!(colinbower.com)

Colin Bower

DA Kandidaat in Wyk 2

Personal Manifesto

Some of my fellow Prince Albertians know me, many no doubt don’t.  I’m not a self-promoter, but I guess you need to get the following information before you vote:

·         My extremely dusty formal qualification is a BA (Hons). I have also attended various university short courses, including a two week residential course at Stanford University in California.

·         I have carried the burden of unreasonable bosses on my shoulders all my working life, providing them with endless budgets, reports and plans. It is the name of the game: everybody drawing a salary must do it.

·         I have held senior executive positions in large companies.

·         I enjoy strategy formulation and contract matters.

·         Strangely enough for a humanities man, I enjoy and think I understand accounting matters, in particular, management reports.

·         I believe in a “colour blind” society, and I am opposed to the principle of affirmative action.

·         I have learned that you cannot find a solution until you have correctly formulated the problem.

·         My desk can be untidy, but my mind is logical.

·         I stand accused of being a contrarian, although it is never my intention to be contrarian.

·         Prince Albert is a unique little dorp, my home I hope until I die, the place my family members and friends love to visit, and I wouldn’t swop it for any other address in the world.

·         I would like all of our residents and ratepayers to share in the pleasure and the happiness that Sandy and I derive from living here.

·         If you’re still not happy that you know me well enough, please visit my website at no charge to yourself whatsoever. (colinbower.com)

Colin Bower.

DA Candidate in Ward 2.

Visionaries and stuff

(Please scroll down for the English version and leave a comment if you like)

Geagte Mede-Prince Alberter

Spesiale Stemme

As dit vir jou onmoontlik is om op 18 Mei te gaan stem, kan jy ‘n spesiale stem uitbring deur by die kantoor van die Onafhanklike Verkiesingskommissie daarom aansoek te doen tussen 15 April en 3 Mei. As jy huisgebonde is, sal die OVK jou by jou huis kom besoek gedurende die loop van die dag van 16 Mei sodat jy jou stem kan uit bring. As jy nie huisgebonde is nie, kan jy gaan stem by die Sydwell Williams Sentrum op òf 16 òf 17 Mei. Jy hoef geen rede aan te voer hoekom jy nie op 18 Mei kan gaan stem nie.

Interessantheidshalwe: Daar is 1 542 geregistreerde kiesers in Wyk 2.

Visie

Ek is gevra wat my visie vir Prince Albert is. My reaksie is dalk half aweregs: Visionarisse maak my ‘n bietie bang. Wil inwoners regtig raadslede hê wat met hul visies te koop loop? Of wil hulle bloot raadslede hê wat eerlik, deeglik en hardwerkend is? Ek is nie seker nie – miskien kan jy my sê hoe jy voel via hierdie blog. Nietemin, ek het wel ‘n visie vir Prince Albert. Ek verwoord dit egter amper met ‘n gevoel van verleentheid, want dit is altemaklikom ‘n visietehê – hoe om dit in dade om te sit, is egter wat saak maak. Hier is my visie:

In my geestesoog sien ek ‘n geïntegreerde, voorspoedige en gelukkige Karoodorp, wat ware geleenthede bied aan almal wat wil deel in sy ekonomiese, kulturele en sportlewe. Ek sien ‘n dorp gedrewe deur twee hoofmotiewe: landbou en toerisme, met ‘n gesonde sekondêre ekonomie wat dienste en ondersteuning bied aan hierdie sektore. Ek sien ‘n dorp wat sy mees kosbare skat, water, effektief bestuur deur dit korrek te berg en te verdeel; ek sien ‘n dorp wat oor sy unieke kultuurerfenis waak sonder om vooruitgang te strem. Ek sien ‘n dorpsmunisipaliteit wat onvermoeid daarop ingestel bly om diens te lewer aan al sy belastingbetalers en inwoners.

Finansiële Verslag

Soos die meeste ander belasting betalers, wag ek met groot belangstelling op die opsommende verslag van ons dorp se finansies.

Verkiesingsgroete

Colin Bower

Dear Prince Albertian

Special Voting

If you are unable to vote on the 18^th May for any reason whatsoever, you can apply for a Special Vote. You can apply for a Special Vote at the offices of the IEC between 15 April and 3 May. If you are house-bound, the IEC will visit you at your house some time during the day of 16 May to collect your vote. If you are not house-bound, you may vote at the Sydwell Williams Centre on either 16 or 17 May. You do not need to provide any reason for being unable to cast your vote on 18 May.

For your possible interest: there are 1 542 people registered to vote in Ward Two.

Vision

I have been asked what my vision is for Prince Albert. I respond with a caveat:  visionaries frighten me a little. Do residents want councilors with vision? Or do they simply want councillors who are diligent, honest and competent? I am not sure – maybe you can tell me via the Comment facility of this blog. Nevertheless, yes, I do have a vision for Prince Albert. But I offer it with a sense of mild embarrassment, because it is really very easy to have visions, it’s making them into a reality that matters. Accordingly, my vision:

I envision an integrated, prosperous and happy Karoo town, with real opportunities for all to participate in the economic, the cultural and the sporting life of the town and its environs.  I envision a town driven by its two prime movers, agriculture and tourism, and having a healthy secondary economy of service and support for these two sectors. I envisage a town that effectively manages the storage and distribution of its most precious asset: water, and a town that retains and preserves its cultural heritage. I envision a town municipality which drives itself unremittingly in the service of ratepayers and residents.

Financial Report

Along with most other ratepayers, I await the summary report on the state of our town’s finances with interest.

Yours in freedom

Colin Bower.

My sticking points arn't sticky points
(Scroll down for the English version of this letter)

Mede-Prince Alberter

Soos jy seker reeds weet, vind die Prince Albert Munisipale Verkiesing plaas op 18 Mei. As jy besluit om nie te stem nie, verloor jy jou reg om te klavir die volgende vyfjaar. Dus: wat ook al jou politieke voorkeur – gaan stem asseblief! Ja! ja!! Goed, ek weet dis nie nodig dat ek jou hoefte vertel wat jy moet doen nie. Maar weet jy vir wie jy gaan stem – en op welke basis? Stem jy met ander woorde vir die persoon of vir die party? Nogal ‘n goeie vraag, né?

Dalk dink jy dat breë politieke en ekonomiese beleid maar min te make het met die doen en late van ‘n kleindorpse munisipaliteit. En gedeeltelik is jy reg, want al wat jy seker eintlik verwag, is koste-effektiewe dorps bestuur met maksimum diens vir jou belasting geld. Tog is dit belangrik om te weet op watter waardes die DA sy beleid skoei.

Die DA is die party wat ‘n gemeenskap van ope geleenthede voorstaan; wat wil sien dat mense wat waarde heg aan hul vryheid, in vrede kan voortgaan met hul lewens; wat klem lê op versekerde eiendomsreg; wat on-onderhandelbaar is oor vryheid van spraak; wat aandring op die inperking van staatsmag. Die DA is die party vir vrede en voorspoed. Ek vermoed dat, wanneer jy stem, jy moet besluit of hierdie stel waardes tot jou spreek en of jy jou daarmee kan vereenselwig.

En dan is daar die persoon: dis nou ek. Ek is bevrees, jy sal maar jou eie mening moet vorm. Praat met mense wat my ken, bel my, e-pos my, en ek sal myself graag aan jou kom bekendstel daar en wanneer dit jou pas. Ek het ook my eie beskeie webwerf: (colinbower.com).

Ek gaan nie ‘n klomp beloftes maak oor wat ek alles gaan doen indien ek as raadslid verkies word nie. Ek gaan nie ‘n gek van myself maak nie en verklaar: “Bower staan teen korrupsie en vir effektiewe en bekwame bestuur.” Dis tog net logies. Maar dit is my plig om jou onomwonde in te lig oor my absolute beginselpunte. Dit pla my dat ons dorp so opsigtelik verdeel is in Noord/Suid, ryk/arm, wit/gekleurd. Self het ek nie ‘n oplossing ter hand nie. Ek weet net dat ons die probleem sal moet begin aanspreek as ons ons wil beywer vir ‘n blink toekoms. Selfs die kleinste stappie vorentoe sal al baie help. My oortuiging is dat ons net gaan slaag as ons ‘n sterk groeiende ekonomie opbou, een wat nie afhanklik is van die staatskas nie, maar wat groei uit die voordele van ekonomiese vryheid.

Vir nou laat ek dit daar. Maar wees gerus, ek geniet dit om my gedagtes met jou te deel- en jy sal verseker weer van my hoor.

Verkiesingsgroete

Colin Bower.

Fellow Prince Albertian

As you will know by now, the Prince Albert Municipal elections will be held on the 18^th May. You lose all your complaining rights for the next five years if you don’t vote, so – whatever your political affiliation - please vote! OK, OK, sorry, you didn’t need me to tell you what to do, I know. OK, but for whom do you vote, and on what basis? In other words, do you vote for the political party, or do you vote for the person? A good question. You may think that broad political and economic policies have little to do the affairs of a small town municipality. Yes – you are partially right - what you want most of all, I suspect, is cost effective governance that delivers maximum bang for your ratepaying buck. But don’t overlook some of the values that inform DA thinking: the DA is the party of the open opportunity society and of freedom loving people who largely want to be left in peace to get on with their lives, the party of secure property rights, of non-negotiable rights to freedom of speech, of the separation of the powers of government; the party of peace and prosperity. I guess what you decide, when you vote, is whether you feel comfortable and at home affiliating with such a set of values.

Then there is the person: that’s me. I’m afraid you’re on your own there. Ask anyone in your social network who might know who I am, or,drop me an email or a ring, and I will with pleasure visit you at your house or at any other venue at a time of your own choosing. I have a modest little website up (colinbower.com).

I’m not going to make a whole load of promises about what I intend doing if I should be elected as your councilor: it sounds plain silly to say “I stand for corruption free, competent and effective governance”, for who doesn’t?

But I do have an obligation to tell you a few of my sticking points – my non-negotiable principles. I don’t think it’s right to have a town that is divided so visibly and so intransigently along the lines of north and south, of well-off and poor, and of white and of coloured. Don’t ask me how we resolve these problems, because I don’t know. But I do know we will never achieve a future worth having if we don’t start thinking about this problem now, and proposing even the smallest of steps towards our destination. My own view is that no strategy will work in this regard if it isn’t based on a strongly growing economy, and the economy doesn’t grow by order of any government body, it grows out of the conditions of economic freedom.

I’ll leave it at that for the moment.; but don’t worry, I’m quite enjoying this, and you’ll be hearing more from me!

Yours in freedom

Colin Bower.

PS: Click on "comments" just below to participate in a dialogue on this and related matters.