I was reading the California Voter’s Guide supplement on Proposition 1A which authorizes the sale of bonds to construct a high-speed train between SF & LA. The “pro” argument presented in the guide is pretty straightforward, it’s basically: “It will be awesome and reduce traffic, pollution, strengthen regional economies and etc. etc. etc., all without raising taxes!” (Since the project will be financed through the sale of government bonds). Sounds great, right! But then the “con” argument comes out with the typical anti-big-government scaremongering like “Your tax will go up! Communists will kidnap your children!” and etc. But what is really telling about the whole thing is the language that the “con” side uses to make their case, describing the project as a “boondoggle!” A BOONDOGGLE!!! Now if that’s not a message targeted directly at the, shall we say… “youth-challenged” residents of our state then I don’t know what is. (Looking at the etymology for the term it seems that it was coined by an American scoutmaster in the 1930s). Anyway, I hope the initiative passes. Maybe if we put a throw in a steam-whistle & and put a cow-catcher on the front of the train, people will feel more comfortable about it?
In other “get-your-dadgum-hands-off-my-hard-earned-money” related news, here’s a video of Obama discussing his tax plan with a plumbing business owner:
It’s just so disturbingly refreshing to see a presidential candidate engage in a detailed and nuanced discussion of real policy that I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
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