Lessons from Proposition #1

Here is a lesson in politics.  In economics.  But mostly, in reality.

In the state of Michigan, voters have something called referendums.  A throwback to old fashioned democracy.  The other day, Michigan voters got to vote on the following referendum –

“A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO INCREASE THE SALES/USE TAX FROM 6% TO 7%. TO REPLACE AND SUPPLEMENT REDUCED REVENUE TO THE SCHOOL AID FUND AND LOCAL UNITS OF GOVERNMENT CAUSED BY THE ELIMINATION OF THE SALES/USE TAX ON GASOLINE AND DIESEL FUEL FOR VEHICLES OPERATING ON PUBLIC ROADS, AND TO GIVE EFFECT TO LAWS THAT PROVIDE ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR ROADS AND OTHER TRANSPORTATION PURPOSES BY INCREASING THE GAS TAX AND VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEES.”

Not exactly artfully worded – well let’s face it, a discombobulated accumulation of words crafted by the ruling combine – politicians, bureaucrats, union folk, media types and lawyers.  All of whom were solid supporters – strong voices for a “YES” vote.

Now the state of Michigan is not exactly a hot bed of reactionary conservatism.  It is not the home of the tea party; the libertarian movement.  It is the home of many democrats, many democrat politicians; many union types and America’s top failed municipality – Detroit.  Detroit has been referred to as a “reservation” wherein the aforementioned cabal of lawyers, media folk, union folk, bureaucrats, special interest groups and their political servants (i.e. democrats) drive by occasionally and toss in food, blankets, clothing and so forth.  The mythology about Detroit rising from the ashes, ala phoenix is political propaganda.  Camouflage for the idiotic nonsense we know as liberal (i.e. democrat) politics.

In any event, the gang in power, including a bunch of republicans conjured up this back door approach to a tax increase thinking the public would buy into it if it was characterized as the way to improved roads, schools and infrastructure rebuilding.  So they also issued this propaganda to gild the lily:

The proposed constitutional amendment would:

• Eliminate sales / use taxes on gasoline / diesel fuel for vehicles on public roads.
• Increase portion of use tax dedicated to School Aid Fund (SAF).
• Expand use of SAF to community colleges and career / technical education, and prohibit use for 4-year colleges / universities.
• Give effect to laws, including those that: Increase sales / use tax to 7%, as authorized by constitutional amendment; Increase gasoline / diesel fuel tax and adjust annually for inflation, increase vehicle registration fees, and dedicate revenue for roads and other transportation purposes; Expand competitive bidding and warranties for road projects; Increase earned income tax credit.

You get the idea.  Cut your way through all the propaganda nonsense – it’s a tax increase but trust us say the government cabal – we will rebuild roads, etc.   All will be just hunky-dory.

The voters went to the polls and here is the result:

Proposal 1	Votes	%
Yes	350,742	20.0%
No	1,404,779	80.0%

You are reading the results correctly.  8 out of 10 voters said “NO”.  We don’t trust you.  We know you waste our money now.  We can’t seem to do anything about it but we sure don’t need to feed the pig more.

There are a few politicians who use this expression – elections have consequences.  They use it conveniently when they win.  They use it to claim a mandate.  An affirmation of their propaganda; their rhetoric; their nonsense.

To get 80% of voting Americans to agree on anything these days is not a miracle but it is a message.  The only problem is the message is being sent – it just is not being received.

Prop #1 is a profound message for Hillary, Barack, Bubba and their cabal.  Sent loud and clear.  Not a chance they will receive it much less change their ways.  Every day that passes they move further and further away from reality.  And we don’t see even one republican with the moxie and the spine to seize the moment.