Russ Steele
All the citizens of Nevada County are being buffeted by the issues of the day, a declining economy, closing business, ballot propositions that will have a significant impact on our lives in the County. Where the the voice of our public leaders? What are their positions on:
Proposition 18: Safe, Clean, and Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act of 2010. A $11.1 billion bond measure filled with 2 billion in pork, some that could come to Nevada County. Nevada County is a water producer, what will be the impact on our local resources?
Proposition 19: legalizes recreational marijuana use. Proposition 19, also known as the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010. What will be the impact on Nevada County, we are one of the largest pot growing regions in the state and to pretend that our local economy does not benefit is just plain dumb. What happens when the price of pot drops to dollars per pound instead of hundreds of dollars. What happens when farmers can legally grow pot in the valley, and all local growers vanish with and the economic stimulus that they provided the local economy? In addition, the legalization will only create yet another tax support government bureau. What will be the local responsibilities for policing and tax collection?
Proposition 22 – Ballot title: Prohibits the State from Taking Funds Used for Transportation or Local Government Projects and Services. Bars state government from taking, borrowing, shifting or restricting use of tax revenues dedicated by law to fund local government, community redevelopment or transportation projects. One would assume this would be a good thing for the County and the Cites the Nevada County Transportation Commission, get our government leaders a silent? Why?
Proposition 23: rolls back AB 32, the states landmark greenhouse gas emissions law, until the states unemployment rate drops to 5.5 percent or less for four consecutive quarters. Are local governments for or against this proposition. If they are against the protection of local jobs and what is their rational. If they are for it why are they not supporting it by speaking out in public?
Proposition 24: repeals recently enacted corporate tax breaks letting businesses carry back losses, share tax credits, and use a sales-based income calculation to lower taxable income. What is local government’s position on this Prop. It will encourage business to seek lower cost of business locations. You would think that local government would have an opinion? Do we need to shed more business?
In the 1700 during the formation of our nation leaders spoke out, often in competing voices in pamphlets that appear in days or hours. One phenomenon of the quick-print world was the pamphlet war—back-and-forth volleys among two or more ideological adversaries. Today the pamphleteers' have been replaced by the blog-o-sphere, but the the voice of our leaders are missing. Why are they being silent.
We have blogs on both sides of the issues in our local community, and one that claims to be in the middle of the road. Why are these education tools not being used by our local government leaders to educate the public like the 1700 pamphleteers' on the issue of the day. Why are they not using the modern day mass communications tools, especially the interactive blogs? The cost if free, except for the time invested in formulating an argument. I think that this writing exercise helped our founders sharpen their arguments. Blogging could help our local leaders examine their positions and hone them in to precise arguments.
On a related issue. The liberal Democrats can be found on the left side of the middle of the road blog. Several of those blogger's hold position on the Democrat Central Committee. However, few conservative speak out on the blogs, certainly not members of the Republican Central Committee. Why all the silence? Why give up this opportunity to educate the public when the other side is speaking out? The liberal Democrats are not missing the opportunity, why should the conservative Republican not make a similar effort?
Our founding fathers knew the fate of the Republic relied on informed voters. We have more population but fewer informed voters. Why have our local political leaders advocated their responsibility to inform voters on the Propositions that will have an impact our our lives in Nevada County?
Proposition 18: Safe, Clean, and Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act of 2010. A $11.1 billion bond measure filled with 2 billion in pork, some that could come to Nevada County. Nevada County is a water producer, what will be the impact on our local resources?
Proposition 19: legalizes recreational marijuana use. Proposition 19, also known as the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010. What will be the impact on Nevada County, we are one of the largest pot growing regions in the state and to pretend that our local economy does not benefit is just plain dumb. What happens when the price of pot drops to dollars per pound instead of hundreds of dollars. What happens when farmers can legally grow pot in the valley, and all local growers vanish with and the economic stimulus that they provided the local economy? In addition, the legalization will only create yet another tax support government bureau. What will be the local responsibilities for policing and tax collection?
Proposition 22 – Ballot title: Prohibits the State from Taking Funds Used for Transportation or Local Government Projects and Services. Bars state government from taking, borrowing, shifting or restricting use of tax revenues dedicated by law to fund local government, community redevelopment or transportation projects. One would assume this would be a good thing for the County and the Cites the Nevada County Transportation Commission, get our government leaders a silent? Why?
Proposition 23: rolls back AB 32, the states landmark greenhouse gas emissions law, until the states unemployment rate drops to 5.5 percent or less for four consecutive quarters. Are local governments for or against this proposition. If they are against the protection of local jobs and what is their rational. If they are for it why are they not supporting it by speaking out in public?
Proposition 24: repeals recently enacted corporate tax breaks letting businesses carry back losses, share tax credits, and use a sales-based income calculation to lower taxable income. What is local government’s position on this Prop. It will encourage business to seek lower cost of business locations. You would think that local government would have an opinion? Do we need to shed more business?
In the 1700 during the formation of our nation leaders spoke out, often in competing voices in pamphlets that appear in days or hours. One phenomenon of the quick-print world was the pamphlet war—back-and-forth volleys among two or more ideological adversaries. Today the pamphleteers' have been replaced by the blog-o-sphere, but the the voice of our leaders are missing. Why are they being silent.
We have blogs on both sides of the issues in our local community, and one that claims to be in the middle of the road. Why are these education tools not being used by our local government leaders to educate the public like the 1700 pamphleteers' on the issue of the day. Why are they not using the modern day mass communications tools, especially the interactive blogs? The cost if free, except for the time invested in formulating an argument. I think that this writing exercise helped our founders sharpen their arguments. Blogging could help our local leaders examine their positions and hone them in to precise arguments.
On a related issue. The liberal Democrats can be found on the left side of the middle of the road blog. Several of those blogger's hold position on the Democrat Central Committee. However, few conservative speak out on the blogs, certainly not members of the Republican Central Committee. Why all the silence? Why give up this opportunity to educate the public when the other side is speaking out? The liberal Democrats are not missing the opportunity, why should the conservative Republican not make a similar effort?
Our founding fathers knew the fate of the Republic relied on informed voters. We have more population but fewer informed voters. Why have our local political leaders advocated their responsibility to inform voters on the Propositions that will have an impact our our lives in Nevada County?
