The Mayoral Debate last night held on September 21, 2010

The Mayoral Debate went well last night.

I must thank Bob Williams, Benton Leong and the other volunteers who worked so hard, unsung and diligently, behind the scenes. I was pleased to see Neil Aitchison as the moderator. I also met a number of people who were very kind and complimentary.

The debate was generally civil and in keeping with our demeanour as Canadians.

I was not happy, however, when one participant tore into the current mayor.

Debate is fine but discourtesy is not my style.

I rebutted another candidate because that person suggested “studying” the problem of garbage and finding the “root cause.” While I have taught university for 20 years, please don’t call me an academic.

It is a misnomer because throughout my years of teaching, I kept up and continue to so- an active consulting career in which I assist many firms in real life, real times issues. To hear “root cause” conjured images of a textbook, in which suggestions are made to study the problem further by appointing a committee to study the topic of garbage.

Enough already!

There is a garbage problem in a certain area, then do something about it! What’s there to study?

If I’m walking down my street and see a candy wrapper on the sidewalk, I stop, pick it up and then throw it into the nearest garbage container. I don’t say to myself, “Hmmm- let me study the root cause of why someone dropped this candy wrapper here.”

Here’s to more action and less studying of root causes.