Bill's Bulletin Board
By Bill Rea

In my job, I get to see a lot of people at work at their jobs. And one of the results of these observations is I seldom get envious.

Oh sure, I sometimes get jealous when I realize that some people (that should probably be most people) get larger pay cheques than I. And I just know that some of these folks don't put in anywhere near the number of hours that I do. But, as I have often reflected, if this were a perfect world, there would be no need for newspapers and I would be unemployed.

I have often stated I don't envy elected officials, bcause of the abuse I sometimes see them subjected to (some more than others, and some are more or less deserving than others).

I put bureaucrats and civil servants (and possibly consultants) in the same category, namely in that group of people who I frequently don't envy. Many of them make a good chunk of change for services rendered, and most of the public servants with whom I have to deal I think earn their pay.

One of the reasons I don't envy these folks is they have to frequently answer to people.

Now don't get the wrong idea. I think people are swell, at least most of them. I heartily approve of the human race, as demonstrated by the fact that I have yet to make any serious attempt to resign my membership.

Just about every job I've ever had has obliged me to work with the public, frequently total strangers. That can be very challenging and stimulating, but it can be trying.

I spent three years waiting tables, an experience which allowed me to meet and see people at their best and worst. Since most people were normal individuals with some familiarity with good manners, they were pretty easy to deal with, and seldom made any lasting impressions. It was those at the other end of the spectrum, alas, that one remembers. I'm thinking of an occasion when I was beckoned from one end of the room by a drunken customer who slurred to me when I arrived, "I don't wanna talk to you 'cause you're ignorant people."

And there were also the guys who were rude to me because they were trying to impress the women they were with, the well-dressed gentlemen who if they didn't like the food would tell me where to stick it (yes there), the women who made passes at me, the men who made passes at me. If nothing else, the job supplied me with plenty of anecdotes, as well as a realization that not everyone is a real nice guy like me.

One of the best parts about my current occupation is I have a little bit more freedom of action when people are rude to me. True, there are certain professional obligations to take it with a smile and say nothing, but there are exceptions too. While I have never hung up the phone on anyone, I am able to sometimes throw in a pithy remark to people who have gone the extra distance to get under my skin.

I know that people who are in the service of the public, like politicians and bureaucrats, don't have quite the same luxury. While they are rightly supposed to be protected from personal abuse, I have over the years observed that there are many ignoramuses out there who are very good at being abusive and getting away with it.

And even if they aren't abusive, there are members of the taxpaying public who believe they're entitled to their opinions and can ignore everything else.

I saw another example of that last week when I attended the public meeting in Newmarket to discuss the proposed residual waste facility that York and Durham Regions have in the works.

Now I am not insensitive to the concerns that were expressed by many at the meeting, and some of the points were very good. No matter how great the technology is, it's hard to believe anyone would be thrilled at the prospect of living near a facility for handling garbage. But in the long run, it might not be so bad. Exploring possibilities was one of the reasons behind last week's meeting.

Besides, we human beings create a lot of garbage, and it has to be dealt with somehow.

Alas, there were several people at the meeting who were not ready to listen to what was being said to them. That wasn't too surprising. In fact, it tends to be typical of such meetings. And while I feel for the people with concerns, I also have some sympathy for those who are paid to take the razzing. While there was little in the way of what I would classify as personal abuse being lobbed from the floor (I have seen much worse attacks in my day), I could sense the frustration we have all felt when trying to get a message across to an audience that was not prepared to listen.

There were several comments about the process being followed, and it is a fact that a lot of people had little trouble finding flaws in it. But I don't think anyone has yet found the perfect process for anything, and when it comes to issues of planning, or where and how to place facilities for dealing with garbage, it's pretty easy to take shots, especially if one has a personal stake in the issue.

I've seen people raise issues about process lots of times. The matter came up at Township council a while ago, with questions being raised about how far subdivision applications should be allowed to progress before the public is given a chance to comment. If they were to hold a public information session too early in the process, there would not be enough information to present, and that would result in charges that certain people aren't doing their jobs, etc. If they wait until there are more details available, and until some necessary studies have been completed, there will be people who charge that too much is being done under the table, meaning there's something sneaky afoot, and that what is being proposed is already a done deal. And on top of it, there would be charges that certain people are not doing their jobs.

In short, there's no winning solution.

It's been wisely said for centuries that it's impossible to please everyone. I've known that for years, and have come to accept it as part of my work situation. Elected officials either know it, or get a quick education when they take office, and they either learn to accept that it goes with the territory, or they take themselves out of the game after a while. Bureaucrats have to know that too, and they would come to accept it pretty fast.

The problem is there are members of the public who probably realize that not everyone can be pleased, and they are prepared to accept it, just as long as it's someone else who gets the short end.

I'm not complaining, you understand. Watching people like that is one of the most fun parts of my job.