So; how did we get here...?

Apathy.

Distrust.

Betrayal.

Impatience.

Cynicism.

Though nowhere near representing the full gamut, these words sum up the general, longstanding relationship that exists between residents and Councillors, Councillors and residents.

Oh, not all residents possess the feelings in this list that their fellow-citizens do. And not all Councillors feel what I'm suggesting that some of their Council-mates do.

But I don't think it's being too harsh or critical to suggest that there's not a healthy, respectful, engaging relationship in place.

(N.B. a) I'm talking about the city in general. Yes, there are undoubtedly pockets and patches of conviviality. But I'll lay this out as proof of the general tenor: we're averaging about a 40% turnout rate at election time. Does that reflect a healthy relationship with either the process or the system? And b) I it's not a leap of faith to accept that all Councillors want what's best for their ward. That they genuinely care about performing their duties to the best of their abilities, and that they have their constituents' best interests at heart. I'm not trying to paint anyone as The Villain here. But I think it's an unassailable truth that there is an underlying 'Us vs Them' culture at play.)

My belief is that we got here by residents over time enacting a 'hands-off' attitude towards local governance, while Councillors sighed in relief, wanting to put their heads down and get their work done more than they wanted to develop solid, mutually-beneficial relationships with their constituents.

Simply put, one group couldn't be bothered, while the other...couldn't be bothered to get them to be bothered.

The bottom-line is that this construct doesn't work.

Not in a world that's changed so much, where information is available before yesterday, where people have access to it in myriad ways.

The days of governance being executed behind closed doors, where the machinations of decision-making are hidden from those who are most affected by these decisions...are gone.

We're faced with our own 'revolution' in Hamilton.

We have the opportunity, the ability to change the very tone of our local governance.

And it doesn't require legislation from anyone.

It doesn't require a plebiscite or a referendum, it doesn't require legislation, it doesn't require funding.

It just requires us to reduce the influence of that first word in this editorial...and make things happen for ourselves. When we do, we're sure to be addressing the other descriptives, and in the process, change the landscape for ourselves, our government, our city.