Moving

I've moved my blog.

I'd appreciate it if you will follow me at my new "home"

http://www.JeffreyWCox.com/CoxForArizona

Thanks so much,

- Jeffrey

Water

I'm REALLY glad to see The Arizona Republic (well, AZCentral; I don't know if this actually was in the paper yesterday), talk about water:

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/08/02/20090802bucket-groundwater.html

As you can see on the right-hand side of my blog, "Water and Power" are on my mind; I just haven't had a chance to talk about them yet - but I think they are critical areas this state HAS to look at, sooner than later. This article affirms that, however, also affirms that new leadership is needed in this area.

If This Was a Business...

I'm not sure whether to say....

a) This sure seems really childish to me.

** OR **

b) If this was a business, and you were the CEO, wouldn't you start thinking about replacing people?

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/07/28/20090728quickbudget28-ON.html

(I tagged this a "Leadership," however, please take this as an example of "lack of.")

People Against Progress

It's frustrating to me how America, more and more, is becoming anti-corporation, or in this case anti-organization, anti-synergy and anti-government:

Click here to read this short article in the Arizona Republic

I guess people expect employees to simply trudge to work everyday, just collect their paycheck, and not be motivated to do their job better.

I certainly believe in using technology for training and occasional meetings, but if you are looking to really motivate a team and create synergy, you have to do it face to face - you can't simply kill the human element.

And Yet More On Lacking Leadership...

Back to photo radar........


As published in the East Valley Tribune.......


"A state House panel voted Thursday to shut down the state's new photo radar system, foregoing the money it would bring in - and opening the door to having taxpayers pay the contractor millions of dollars in damages."


On top of that............


"[Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Gilbert,] said there are many legal and ethical problems ... The simplest solution, he said, is to scrap the program."

And finally.......

"It was Janet Napolitano who, as governor, insisted on putting the photo enforcement provision in the budget. She said that an experiment in Scottsdale along Loop 101 showed that it reduced both speed and accidents.

Napolitano subsequently admitted, though, she designed the new program in a way to generate the most money by convincing motorists who are snapped speeding to pay up and not contest the fines: The citations do not accumulate points against anyone's license. And violations are not reported to insurance companies to use to raise anyone's premiums."

So, let's talk about - as if it needs expanding on - lack of leadership:

• Why didn't all these concerns and mis-guided plans come up and be questioned when this program was first being considered? On top of that, long before any contracts where signed?
• Why is the state waisting time on this when its making money for the state (as far as I know), will COST the state money to take it out and the state has such much more serious issues like the budget and education?

More on the Lacking Leadership in our State

The Arizona Republic reports today that Governor Brewer will address a joint session of the Legislature Wednesday. She is expected to ask the Legislature to raise taxes. This is frustrating as we, the citizens of the State of Arizona, are going to be penalized for the the lack of leadership in the state - both now and in the past.

Matthew Benson from the Republic wrote a great article back in January that really reflects my opinion of the leadership our state had for almost eight years under Governor Napolitano - unclear to none. You never saw Napolitano really come out and champion issues (accept All Day Kindergarten). And, unfortunately, it seems like the lack of leadership continues right into present day.

A quote from today's article:

"[Governor Brewer's] appearance is welcome, said House Minority Leader David Lujan, D-Phoenix. 'We've been waiting for the governor to step forward,' Lujan said. 'We've heard very little from her.'"

Our state is in sever need of leadership:

• Leadership that is ever present by being constantly in the public eye and ear.
• Leadership that listens to the people and experts in their fields.
• Leadership that then acts and puts forth a direction and plan for real action, not just a "pop fly" that ultimately hurts the people of Arizona.

Really Getting Started

I've been chatting with people, working more on my platform and getting the blog ready. Today, however, I saw this article in the Arizona Republic and decided that it is time to fire things up and talk about the lack of leadership in the state.

Last year, our former Governor and the State Legislature expanded the use of photo radar in the state to everywhere in the state by giving money to the Department of Public Safety to put photo radar on the state freeways (as opposed to the old situation of just the municipalities doing photo radar). Now, this year, there are currently 14 bills in front of the Legislature trying to reduce the penalties associated with photo radar, or GET RID OF IT ALL TOGETHER! This about-face is where "leadership," or the lack of it, comes in.

I'm not really for or against photo radar. However, I'm very much against the state government spending time and money to put something in, then wasting more time and money to take it back out. The state, for quite awhile, has lacked leadership and does this kind of thing all the time - basically drifting aimlessly with no one at the helm while treacherous rocks loom ahead.

Case in point; I received an email from my daughter's school district last week - sent out to all the parents updating us on the "school and state budget crisis." Why isn't the State Legislature focused on the education crisis in this state - both at K-12 and the college level - as opposed to something that is said and done ( as well as has a 60% plus approval rating)?

These are examples of why Leadership and Education are major parts of my focus.