The RAM Plan to 'fix democratic deficit'

"An agenda of corporate colonisation is behind the 'One Auckland' plan of the Employers & Manufacturers Association and other corporate lobbyists," said Robyn Hughes, an Auckland Regional councillor representing RAM - Residents Action Movement.

"Behind their rhetoric of cost savings and community involvement lies a self-serving scheme to commercialise and ultimately privatise the ownership and management of Greater Auckland's community assets."

"Democratically elected councils and community boards would be replaced with an ultra-bureaucratic Super City that opens the way towards putting our region's assets under the thumb of non-elected corporate boards."

"This would speed up the moves we've seen in recent years towards the corporate capture of Greater Auckland's water services, power supplies, public transport, waste management and port operations. Community assets like these are increasingly being run by corporate boards, not directly elected public representatives. This shift of power represents a serious erosion of democracy."

"The results have been fat cat salaries and hugely profitable contracts for corporate Auckland, while the vast majority of people face rising costs for their water, power, buses, trains and other necessities of life. And often the services get worse as they get pricier," said Robyn Hughes.

"Many commentators have pointed out that the last round of forced council amalgamations in Greater Auckland merely led to higher council rates, inflated service charges and much more bureaucracy."

"RAM is standing up strong against the corporate pillage of community assets. We believe local governance needs to be shifted closer to the people, not taken further away by an ultra-bureaucratic Super City," said Robyn Hughes.

RAM stands for: Democratic control of all assets that should belong to the people as a whole. Reversal of corporate capture of buses and trains, water services, port operations and other community assets. Expanded competencies and budgets for community boards so that more power is devolved to grassroots communities. Recall referendums which allow a majority of residents to remove any elected representative violating the popular will. People's Assemblies which allow mass, interactive debate between community delegates and elected representatives.

"The RAM Plan for popular democracy will go a long way towards fixing the democratic deficit flowing from corporate Auckland's current domination of local government," said Robyn Hughes.

"Some of the measures we advocate would require parliamentary law changes, others would require a political will that is presently lacking in Greater Auckland's local government. A RAM victory in next month's local body elections would create an impulse for change at both levels."

The RAM Team is standing for 27 positions on the Auckland Regional Council, Auckland City Council and Community Boards, and the region's three District Health Boards.

ENDS

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