Edinburgh Sucks! | An Invitation To Think, from an illiterate

City Council

An Invitation To Think, from an illiterate

By The Basa ⋅ June 14, 2005 ⋅

Simon Pia’s Diary today exposes a bit of a laugh that is going to take place in the city on 28th June. Oh, and it is going to cost you money because the Council is going to be picking up the bill.

The ‘Invitation to Think’ is going to ask a series of questions but not provide any answers according to Simon. Put together by the self-proclaimed “internet illiterate” Ewan Aitken and Trevor Davis whose private company takes a fortune out of the council coffers with the contracts it gets.

Below we will give answers to the questions mentioned in the piece:

The man who brought you 'Free Lesbian Chat' Q. “Why do our generally popular policies and performance translate into falling votes?”

A. Because, obviously your policies are not popular. You perceive in your ivory towers that they are popular but you are totally out of touch with your electorate. In the constant emails we receive regarding the council, the citizens of this city, include a lot of the council workers, believe that each and every one of you in the administration are on the take and only in the job for your own personal gain. This may not be a fact, but it is without doubt the perception.

The man who gets council contracts' Q. “Why did we take such a drubbing in the referendum?”

A. This is a perfect example of what you thought of was a popular policy but it was overwhelmingly rejected by the electorate. Even although before and throughout the referendum campaign councillors in favour cheated and stole from the City by sending out emails in favour using council stationary, and computers and using council workers. Councillors, including three-houses Child put up illegal posters and not only wasn’t arrested for illegal flyposting but in fact council workers were dispatched to remove them. Do you really think that people like seeing this? They see councillors as using their position to further themselves.

Is this what we are aiming for?' Q. “How do we communicate in a way that gets past the press?”

A. Don’t you remember when you were in opposition. You used the press as much as you could to get your message over. Are you really saying that you don’t want people to bother with an independent press and you want your message to get through without any questions. This is exactly what happens in banana republics around the world, and it illustrates exactly what you are trying to do in this city. You are trying to become dictators.

Unfortunately, we at EdinburghSucks! won’t be able to attend on the day as we will be very far away, but one question that comes to mind at the beginning of session should be ‘Why is the labour party not paying for this and why are we, as citizens of Edinburgh paying for it?’ If they don’t answer that question to your satisfaction, vote with your feet.