It’s one of my very favorite recurring election stories. All of the right people — the Responsible Politicians, the Civic Leaders, the Chamber of Commerce, the big newspaper — they all decide that what the town needs is a sales tax boost to buy Important Things for the community. The Leading Responsible Businesses generously fund the referendum needed to approve the tax increase.
All that stands in the way of the voters doing as they are told are some scruffy eccentrics — none of the right people, probably those crazy Tea Partiers. They raise a pittance and use the internet and yard signs, an effort easily drowned out in the media by the Right People.
And then the scruffy eccentrics win. And now they win again: Cedar Rapids voters have rejected a sales tax increase for the second time.
Maybe installing sneaky revenue cameras just doesn’t build voter trust and affection as much as you’d think.
Related:
DESTINY: SPECTACULAR FAILURE
State 29: Hermann G
