Politic(ked off)
We voted in our town yesterday. I filled in my little bubbles and got my little sticker.
Today the results are in… and for at least two of the politicians their victory came down, quite possibly, to money. Not politics. Not what they’ve done or what they’ll do… but how much money they spent convincing us to vote for themselves or not to vote for the other guy.
In one instance the reported campaign dollars spent had the ridiculous difference of one candidate spending $30, 000 and the other spending $300,000. My mother and I have mused today over what that money might have been spent on instead… what $300,000 could have done for a school or for the local parks department. How many police officers? Could it have repaired a street? Filled the food bank to overflowing? For all one candidate’s campaign promises about “creating jobs!” where was spending $300,000 justified? Six people could have a nice, healthy income for a year…
Our mayoral winner’s victory thoughts quoted in the newspaper included the sentiment for us to remember that they are ”only one person…” which seems a little disconcerting to me. What kind of attitude is that? Don’t expect to much from me even though I promised I’d change everything… Don’t hold me to it because I’m just one person and so unless you do all the work nothing will happen…Don’t blame me– it will be your fault.
At least our school district’s millage passed. It’s part two of a request. Several years ago “we the people” okayed a millage increase to do some necessary structure upgrades with the caveat that this was only half the work that needed to be done– that there would be another “ask.” I’m glad people supported it. It was a pretty narrow margin– 51% to 49% is a little too-close for comfort.
Personally I wish that there could be a silly poll question on the ballots. Something to leave us laughing like what color we want the park pool house painted or the best Coney Island in town… something frivolous and silly.
Maybe How would you spend $300,000 to improve our town?
