I was surprised at the reaction to my recent post about the gubernatorial creation of a Motorcycle Advisory Council. Several commenters thought this was a “cool” idea and waxed rhapsodic about motorcycles. There was a discussion about motorcycle gas mileage and noise.

No one picked up on my point that forming this council was contrary to cost cutting and efficiency in government. Maybe I’m just a lousy writer. But maybe people like government programs that cater to their interests, regardless of whether they’re effective and efficient, and regardless of whether they duplicate existing programs. It’s the other guy’s programs that ought to be cut or never started in the first place.

Just to summarize my objections to this council:

1. After boasting of eliminating boards and commissions, here’s a new one of dubious value.

2. The three areas this council is supposed to cover–safety, tourism, and business development–already have state agencies and programs in place. Are they not doing their jobs?

3. Regardless of whether this council is funded or not, somebody has to set up their meetings, print agendas, and buy their lunches. State representatives are taken away from their regular duties to attend and to respond to the “recommendations” this group will make.

4. The suggestion that this council is way for motorcycle enthusiasts to participate in the transportation debate is preposterous. Were they somehow shut out of Gov.-elect Kaine’s town meetings?

5. If a citizen wants to give input to this group, how would he or she do it? The truth is that these kinds of groups are resume-enhancers for the members, not ways for the public to be more engaged in important policy decisions.

I know this little council isn’t going to sink the Commonwealth. I wish it well. Over time, however, the multiplication of these groups adds costs–tourism needs more staff because they’ve got to support the motorcycle council, the motorsposts initiative steering committee, the Southwest Craft Council, and god knows what else. All these groups also dilute accountability from organizations that should be serving the interests of all customer/stakeholder groups.

Now I see that we have a Cost Cutting Caucus blog. I wish them well, too, but I have to wonder if they really have the will to name names and take on sacred cows. I’ve been railing about cost cutting on a nuts and bolts level from this perch for years to no avail. Maybe that’s why the new blog hasn’t invited me to contribute–I’ve battled costs and costs won.