quote:
From Batesline:
"Furthermore, would Karen Keith unequivocally commit that she would not send a tax for amenities to the voters? Sally Bell has.
She has danced around this issue, by saying that the final decision belongs to the voters. But the voters can only give a thumbs up or thumbs down on whatever package the County Commissioners choose to send to them. Tax votes are expensive: Expensive for the county election board, expensive for the proponents, and expensive and time consuming for the opponents. Putting a tax on the ballot is not a neutral act. Surely Keith understands that."
By Bell refusing to send any referendum to the voters on personal principle of "no new taxes" wouldn't that equate to totalitarianism which most definitely is not a hallmark of any Republican philosophy I'm familiar with (excepting the Bush II admin [}:)] )? Do we want one official deciding what is and isn't best for us without letting the consituents decide?
Personally, I never said we shouldn't vote on a River Tax, but I did say many times it was hurried through and was not ready for a vote when it was presented. A package of that magnititude simply can not be rushed to a vote in four or five months.
I wasn't a proponent of V-2025 by any stretch but look what all we have gotten from it. I think it's gone a long way to advance our county. Personally, my family has benefitted from some of the higher education improvements which came from it, the company I work for has gotten some work from it as a result, and we have all personally benefitted from new public gathering places and community centers.
If there are amenities which would make Tulsa more liveable or could stimulate economic activity (i.e. better higher ed facilities, infrastructure development, etc) and has been well thought-out, it should be brought to a vote of the people.
Is Bates endorsing totalitarianism?
Now semi thread drift- slap on the knuckles to both campaigns, the BA expressway from 15th St. to the IDL is littered with Bell & Keith campaign signs on the median and the shoulders. The Bell camp seems to be the worst offender on this.
Would anyone else be upset with a stiff fine for placing signs on public R-O-W, like $500 per sign to be billed to the offending campaign? Placing signs in the median creates a hazard for whomever is dumb enough to run across three lanes with a pile of signs.
