Some politicians do things, even good or great things, with the real goal of acquiring political capital. They work hard to make sure everyone knows what they do. The public can tell, and even while appreciating the changes they benefit from, they often do not really admire those politicians who are more worried about themselves and the people benefiting are just a means to that end.
Other politicians do things because they really want to make change and benefit the people they are meant to represent. Sure, they want to be acknowledged for their efforts, but that is not their primary concern. They probably also know that the acknowledgement and admiration will be a natural result of their efforts.
People wondered a short while back why Yaakov Litzman was the top-rated minister in the government.
I think the answer is fairly obvious. It at least seems that he does not put much effort in to hiring publicists to boost his image and standing and take advantage of everything he does, but he just does what he said he intended to do. Litzman works and works quietly and works non-stop and recognizes it is also the small things, perhaps especially the small things, that people recognize the benefits from and not just the big bombastic changes.
While Deri and Gueta and Gafni and Netanyahu are fighting and criticizing each other over who gets credit for changing the pay systems for public transportation, Litzman has introduced cheaper food (not just via vending machines) in hospitals and is now working on lowering the exorbitant cost of parking in hospital parking lots.
People cannot figure out the new payment system on public transportation, and even though people are saving money, they are confused by it. People understand easily that 5nis coffee is cheaper than 18nis coffee.
As reported by Behadrei, Litzman mentioned that he is at the beginning of the process but he is working on lowering the costs of parking lots at hospitals. As well, some hospitals already have food carts going around with prices similar to Coffix and that will expand.
And, I think, this is why people think highly of Litzman. He isn't out shooting his mouth off at every issue out there, and he isn't working harder to get credit for things than he works to implement change. He just does what he needs to do and in his broken Hebrew he makes a one sentence announcement and then moves on to the next item on his list that needs to be done....
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Good post. We need more like him. In a rational society, it would be the Litzmans getting the significant jobs; and not the loudmouths.
ReplyDeleteFunny thing is, I work in Ontario, Canada is a small town hospital that charged $8 for daily or overnight parking. Recently the health minister announced that he was capping hospital parking rates at $10 because big city hospitals charge $20-30 for daily parking. So what does my hospital do? Raise the rates to $10!
ReplyDeleteno matter what changes there will always be some people who lose out and some who benefit. I guess the trick is to have more people benefiting than losing out...
ReplyDeleteDoes this really mean that he is a better minister than the others? No.
ReplyDeleteLitzman has a very easy position. He can make these changes and they are not controversial to the public and will only hit the pockets of the hospitals that will lose money in the parking lot tenders. Other ministers do not have the same opportunity to win with the public.
I remind you that Shai Peron was the most popular minister in the last Knesset because he came out with popular changes very often.
Katz building a bridge will get press, but people forget. Cahlon is dependent on a lot of external factors to his success.
Think about it, which other minister can make small changes like this (that will cost him millions of shekels in accounting) that will affect the public.
better? not necessarily, but better liked
DeleteI dont think people have any reason to remember litzman more for his changes than any other minister. if people forget that Katz built highways and light rails and bridges and whatnot, they'll forget that litzman put a vending machine with cheap food in every hospital or that he lowered the price of parking. I dont think he is in a better situation because of it.
Deleteand perhaps some of the other ministers should also be looking to see where and how thye can make small but effective changes, and not just focus on the large grandiose plans. Litzman does large projects and reforms as well - the MRI situation, he is working on medical marijuana changes, improving hspital situations with the number of beds and emergency room efficiency...