cur-mud-geon:
anyone who hates hypocrisy and pretense and has the temerity to say so; anyone with the habit of pointing out unpleasant facts in an engaging and humorous manner
A Journal Sentinel article (MATC split on how to handle secession talk – 7/28/07) penned by Erica Perez discusses the attitudes displayed amongst MATC board members at their meeting yesterday.
As you might expect, the threat that any taxable entity might break away from their grasp is disconcerting to them. A few displayed a sensible approach suggesting that outreach might help dissuade the uninformed. None seemed concerned with the fact that we have no representation on this board; an appointed, not elected, board that consistently increases its tax rate.
I was particularly taken with the line of reasoning from board member Pedro Colon (D – Milwaukee) who represents the 8th District in the state Assembly. Mr. Colon, coincidentally, sits on the Joint Finance Committee in Madison and is one of the Democrat members who maintained a virtually airtight stance in favor of the largest tax increase package in the history of our state.
Colon was quoted as saying, “This is really a political debate about people who don’t want to pay taxes.” He went on to say, “We provide a value. I don’t want to justify a bunch of political whims.”
Duh?
This is indicative of the larger problem we citizens face. We are cast as the “village idiots” simply because we do not recognize and acquiesce to Colon’s definition of the “greater good”. This is their expectation even as our bank accounts continue to be tapped by all levels of government. Here we have a classic example, in my estimation, of the historic “taxation without representation” struggle.
This pervasive attitude on the part of leaders that to question “authority” somehow makes us bad citizens is a despicable display on the part of an appointed board. Especially an appointed board that has historically increased its tax take with seemingly nary a thought as to its impact on us taxpayers. It is way past time for us to push this fight to a successful conclusion.
Once again, I applaud the local effort and I hope it starts a fire in the hearts of other similarly over-taxed citizens in other communities. The MATC has been, in my opinion, out of control with salaries and perks and labor agreements that are all put together, in effect, behind closed doors. There are no elections of members of the board…only appointments.
How can we expect anything but what we’re getting from that kind of governing body considering that we’re not even represented by an appointee?
