Accountability Worth the Price

In the recent healthy controversy in Long Beach on the restructure of city government, one argument is brought up with frequency. That argument is that voters will not approve changes that make city government more expensive.

I feel that this widespread attitude is both cynical and inaccurate. The people of Long Beach, hopefully, still believe in the American ideal of making government on the local, state and national level open, accountable and caring to and for the people; and are willing to pay the bill for this if they perceive that restructuring will do more than reshuffle the arrogant and self-serving bureaucracy that now makes up the present city government. Democracy is not necessarily the cheapest or most expedient form of government, but it is, nevertheless, the best form of government.

I believe that if the people of Long Beach are asked to vote for an accountable, caring government that represents a vibrant, positive rebirth of faith in democratic American principles that they would consider voting for the changes necessary to make government in Long Beach a model for the rest of the nation.

I would also like to point out that in Nordic/Scandinavian countries, a city of Long Beach’s size and population would have a broad-based city council of 50 to 80 members and a voluntary voter turnout of 70% to 90% consistently.

PRESCOTT FOSTER

Long Beach