RSS Electronic Edition | Newsletters Subscribe | Customer Service Contact Us | Community Buy Photos Modmomsclub

Columnists - Columnists: Mike Mooney

Friday, May. 09, 2008

Pay no attention to the man behind the screen; just pass this road tax

E-Mail Print

Like my friend, Gerry, always is telling me: "We just can't be taxed enough!"

So, he was jumping for joy when he learned Stanislaus County was bringing back the transportation sales tax measure in November.

Why not?

It is, after all, an ingenious plan.

Each of us agrees to pay just half a penny more for all those things we no longer can afford to buy because the economy is in the Dumpster.

There is a catch, though. We have to trust that the politicians who collect the money -- an estimated $700 million over 20 years -- will do the right thing.

Don't worry.

They've taken a solemn oath not to fritter it away, like all those other millions they've sucked from us over the years.

Nosiree!

This new tax money will be used only to improve our crumbling roads and bridges.

Really!

This time, things will be different.

This time, they'll actually use the money in the road fund to build, repair and maintain roads. Maybe some bridges, too.

Brilliant!

At this point, I suspect, the little bit of hair remaining on Gerry's head is curling.

Steam, no doubt, is pouring from his ears and nostrils as he reaches for the howitzer he keeps over the fireplace.

So, I'd better fess up.

When Gerry says stuff like, "We can't be taxed enough," he's being sarcastic.

You can read his lips.

This guy would rather be stung by a buck moth caterpillar than fork over even a half cent more in taxes.

The Cubs -- baseball's most pathetic losers -- will win the World Series before our fearless leaders convince Gerry to support a tax increase, no matter how noble its purpose.

To make matters worse, thousands of Stanislaus County residents share Gerry's disdain for government, along with his belief that politicians are the last people on Earth to be trusted with our hard-earned money.

That's why sales tax promoters were unable to close the deal with voters in November 2006, when a half-cent sales tax increase failed to win the two-thirds majority needed for passage.

If our politicians couldn't convince people then:

before the economy tanked

li>before the mortgage crisis

before gasoline prices soared to record highs,

what makes them think they'll fare any better this time?

Still, that doesn't mean we can ignore our crumbling roads and bridges.

Heck, even Gerry will concede that point ... I think.

So, what's a government leader to do?

Put Gerry in charge?

As tempting as that sounds, it wouldn't work.

Too confusing. The county already has a Gerry.

That would be Gerry Kamilos, of course, the guy trying to build a short-haul rail system at Crows Landing. He's probably got enough on his plate at the moment.

No. I think we're going to need something else.

How about a summit?

Maybe our leaders can cop to government's many past excesses and failures and pledge to do better.

Besides, dwelling on government's past mistakes, as egregious as they may have been, won't help solve today's road woes.

As for all you government leaders out there, stop talking about problems and start solving them -- the sooner the better.

You're always talking about us making sacrifices -- the need to do more with less -- what about taking some of your own medicine.

Shift your priorities. Rebuild. Renew. Reinvigorate.

Don't waste your time identifying pie-in-the sky projects if you don't plan to build them.

Maybe an incentive program would help.

How about this?

If a pothole swallows my car, you cover the repair bill.

Maybe that would help create a sense of urgency when it comes to government actually getting things done.

Oh, and one more thing.

If you're going to insist on a half-cent sales tax increase, it cannot be open-ended and you guys can't control the purse strings.

We want regular reviews -- at least once a year -- and residents must have the final say.

Think results, not excuses.

How about it, Gerry? Should we give them one more chance?

Mike Mooney's column appears every Friday in Local News. He can be reached at mmooney@modbee.com or 578-2384.