The Story So far: The Mindful Activist Topic ArchiveAsk me anything. :)Mindful Activist Episodes and ArchiveThe Mindful Activist Episode 17 - Live From ChelanMyself and hospital commissioner Kees Kolff attempted to attend the board meeting of the AWPHD, but we were denied. The schedule actually said commissioners welcome. Maybe we smelled bad?Why is this denial of participation important?The greatest power an elected official is not in their ability to effect legislative actions at their level. Rather it is the ability to affect legislative or collective action at the level above their current station.Would you rather be the King or the King-Maker? The King holds all the power but also gets all attention, both good and bad. The King-maker makes kings when s/he needs a king. The King-maker is thus also the king-slayer of the previous king.The AWPHD is the arm through which elected public hospital commissioners take collective legislative state wide or nationwide healthcare actions.Thus, the AWPHD is the vehicle through which an elected public hospital commissioner might suggest collective action. The board meeting of the AWPHD is the ultimate authoritative body over actions or even ideas to consider for action by the AWPHD.The AWPHD board meeting is the venue where real change needs to happen for us hospital commissioners to reach beyond the confines of our local hospital districts to affect broader change.So it makes sense that mechanisms are in place to prevent the entry of ideas. This is what you do to protect power pathways. You block entry to the actual decision making nodes of the power matrix.There is a time at the conference where commissioners are allowed to "ask questions" about the AWPHD strategic plan. There was one question by Kees Kolff. They said they take that as approval for all their plans.
So it makes sense that mechanisms are in place to prevent the entry of ideas. This is what you do to protect power pathways. You block entry to the actual decision making nodes of the power matrix. (hivelink)