[Peace-discuss] local issues

[C. G. Estabrook]

Unless persuaded otherwise, I'll vote for the constitutional convention and 
against the sales tax increase.

*Some of the opposition to the constitutional convention looks like coming from 
those who fear Hamilton's "great beast." The attitude seems to be that politics 
should remain under the control of competent professionals -- God knows what 
might happen if you let the redneck majority get their hands on it.  But it 
seems to me that Jefferson's balanced comment should guide us, if we take 
democracy seriously, when he distinguished between "Those who fear and distrust 
the people, and wish to draw all powers from them into the hands of the higher 
classes [and] Those who identify themselves with the people, have confidence in 
them, cherish and consider them as the most honest and safe, although not the 
most wise depositary of the public interests."

*Sales taxes are regressive.  The objection that this one is for school 
facilities (a good thing) doesn't overcome that problem, because in fact it may 
not indeed go to the schools.  As Dianna Visek pointed out in a good comment in 
the N-G two weeks ago, "When the General Assembly instituted a state lottery, it 
promised to use the money for education.  Although it was indeed used for 
education, the Legislature reduced the school money coming from the General Fund 
by the same amount ... Whatever money we raise locally will end up reducing the 
money coming from the state."  --CGE


Karen Medina wrote:
> Dear Peace Discuss,
> 
> I'm just wondering about various takes on:
> * The Illinois Constitutional Convention. 
> * The Champaign School Board wanting to use the Park District land to expand 
> Garden Hills school
> * The Champaign City Council's treatment of Linda Abernathy.
> 
> Sorry that 2 of them are Champaign topics. But they do impact Urbana in the long 
> run.
> 
> -karen medina
> 
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