THEY LIVE AMONG US!

I often read the blog of Tameside council’s Executive Leader Kieran Quinn, not because I’m a fan, but I like to keep a watchful eye out for the first signs of madness; which someone said, was hairs growing on the palms of your hands. …The second sign is looking for them

However there are many types of mental imbalance; an example of which is here:

In his piece on Tameside’s 40^th Anniversary, Cllr Quinn waxed on about how in the 70’s local government was based on a Victorian template, and because of this, the nine towns of Tameside were at the very fringes of their own counties and felt neglected! – So, nothing has changed there then!

He also told us how ‘places like Ashton and Hyde struggled to get their voice heard among so many communities with which they had little in common’ ….. sounds familiar!

Of course, despite the fact that the borough has plenty to be proud of. He couldn't resist riding his favourite hobby-horse by reminding us how it has weathered some very stormy economic times during which society – and how indeed local government – has experienced a staggering amount of change. …Not noticed much change in the personnel who make-up the main body of the executive council!

So, having told us how proficient they are with our money, he then announces, that over the next few months the council will start the process of leaving its 34-year-old Ashton administrative complex so that the construction of a new, multi-million pound, smaller and energy-efficient building it will share with Tameside College and other partners can begin…. One can only hope they look after this new building better than they have the present one. Let’s be honest, we are surrounded by iconic buildings, some dating from the 15^th to the 18^th century, so, for a multi- million pound building to be condemned after a mere 34 years, should be a major concern to us all.

But the passage that made me fear the worst and one that must put a chill up the backbone of every Tameside resident was, “I don’t know what the next 40 years will bring, but I can assure you that that Tameside Council – and by that I mean all 57 members – will continue to serve you to the best of their abilities.”

My god! That must be the most dreaded sentence of the modern era! “I’m from Tameside council and I’m here to serve you for another 40 years!”

"Give us my our money back..."

…Now I don’t know about you, but the thought of a 115year old Jim Fitzpatrick, still spouting threats like “…Although taking people to court is always our last resort, we will not hesitate to do so if this is the only we can recover the money that has been fraudulently taken from us.”

Or an 100+ year old Ann Holland,
 Still refusing to apologize for

"You don't have to answer for me!"

wishing The late Baroness Thatcher permanent blindness, or the ghastly sight of an aging John (the Sherriff) Taylor riding at the head of his Labour posse, to instill voting suggestions into unsuspecting  townships, whilst still picking up doggy-doo’s in Dukinfield and opening his 43rd ‘successful’ yet financially disastrous Christmas Market, will send the ‘phone lines at The Samaritans into melt-down

"It's a shitty job, but someones got to do it!"

Personally speaking, I think rather than looking for hairs growing on the palms of our councillors hands, I suspect that ‘believing you can do no wrong and that you are perfect and others are very imperfect. Never questioning your judgment or feelings, and many variations thereof, could be considered a more accurate measure of madness!