Saturday, June 02, 2007

Ignoring the Voters

This week Hamilton County commissioners approved a 1/2 cent increase in the Hamilton County sales tax. This is less than a year after the commissioners placed the issue on the ballot where it lost by a 57 to 43 margin.

Like a lot of issues they got to the right answer for all the wrong reasons.

I voted against the issue last fall because I believe the county already has the money to fund this jail if they simply wanted to realign priorities but I was pro jail.

There were also groups opposed to the tax because they were anti jail. The NAACP was against it because too many of their members would end up as residents there.

So how did the commissioners hear this vote. Faagetaboutit.

I'm not one of these people that believes in the collective wisdom of democracy. After all, look at Ted Kennedy and Jimmy Carter. And sometimes the elected representatives need to lead people to places they don't want to go.

But to completely blow off the various objections that people had about the jail and implement what they wanted in the first place is a complete miscarriage of leadership.

What makes it even more heinous is that it come on the heals of a city of Cincinnati budget that included 2.1 million for various arts and museums in the city.

Granted, the city and county operate autonomously, but that 2.1 million would have gone a long way to add to the jail issue. Since most of the criminals are city residents, it only seems fair that they kick in for their housing.

Overall not a good week for Hamilton County and the City of Cincin....OOOPs what's that sound.... Another 10 residents just headed to Warren, 5 to Clermont, and 8 to Butler Counties.

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