All it takes is the Four ‘C’ Words: creative, consultative, collaborative, community. Use in any order.
- We’ll find creative solutions as part of a consultative process in collaboration with the community.
- We’ll have a consultative process with collaborative communities to develop creative options for the future.
- We’ll consult with creative communities to build a collaborative city.
Et cetera.
Just be careful not to commit yourself to specific targets or deadlines – like “we will end street homelessness by 2015.” Instead:
- We will find creative solutions to homelessness in consultation with senior governments and the community to develop a collaborative program.
See how easy it is.
We commit to a process leading to the selection of a blue-ribbon task force whose purpose is to recommend the strategy for convening a panel to discuss the issues involved in properly setting up a committee . . . . .
Ken, you just made me choke on my lunch (with laughter)!
Penny — I was half-way to dialing my lawyer before I read “with laughter”.
You should go into politics!
I’m looking for a consensus opinion from a trusted circle . . .
“Just be careful not to commit yourself to specific targets or deadlines – like “we will end street homelessness by 2015.””
I think wildly unachievable goals are almost as bad, since you know in advance that they’re promises that will be broken. But at least they tell you what the candidate is trying to do. And IMHO the fruits of such promises should be judged more on the effort that was expended toward accomplishing them rather than whether they were actually achieved or not.
See how insidious it is: nominalize the electorate into oblivion. Alas, it’s far too easy.
I’m sorry, really sorry. Sorry that I didn’t listen to your concerns (or at least do a better job pretending that I did ). Sorry that you all didn’t realize how absolutely right we are and how wrong you all are. I’m not promising I’ll listen to or even care about your opinions if re – elected, but for now I am truly, deeply sorry.