CITYHALL
GUEST COLUMN BY DAVE MESLIN
Taking politics outside of the Hall
After losing a crucial vote, Mayor David Miller has launched a public campaign to garner support for two proposed taxes. The “Fair Taxes” campaign explains the taxes and encourages citizens to offer support, acknowledging that power does not lie inside City Hall alone, but outside as well. This is a major shift in progressive political strategy, and a welcome one.
The usual approach is to avoid debate. If the progressives feel they have enough votes to adopt a new measure, they proceed under the radar. If the votes aren't there, the initiative is quietly placed on the back burner. The fear of open debate is based on the premise that the public won't be supportive or won't even understand. This is a patronizing approach to the electorate, and it's also a losing strategy in the long term. The public becomes increasingly uninformed and disengaged
2 comments:
I'm not sure I understand your comments about the column I wrote.
Are you saying I'm naive because of my premise that the Mayor doesn't consult with the public, or because of my support for the new taxes.
The first point is pretty clear, I think. Your comment about Miller not showing up at consultations only reinforces my point.
As for the taxes, I believe we need to invest more money into our city to make it work, above and beyond any savings that can potentially be found within the system. You may not agree with that idea, which would make me 'wrong' in your view, but I'm not sure how it makes me 'naive'.
The mayor's new campaign is a rare and refreshing example of progressive political outreach originating at the highest levels.
How many new brooms does Miller have to put in his office closet before people get the message....he is a one issue mayor who caters to the unions, the social in-activists, etc.
I support the new taxes but not for window dressing....don't buy any new theaters, forget bike lanes until cyclists start paying registration fees, speed bump cost will be borne by the people who asked for them, rollback council wages, reduce office budgets, etc.
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