Quote:
Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas
In another comment to the issue of rail and public transportation, I said that I almost wish that the voters could be taken out of the equation. We are the biggest obstacle to our own success. We have to discuss, debate, study, vote and give our opinions on everything while the problem keeps getting worse. Just imagine 100+ years ago if they had gone to the voters and asked them if they wanted water lines installed in cities, water treatment plants, sewage treatment plants and an electrical grid. Can you imagine anyone actually debating if those things would be good? I think for issues on infrastructure that the public really shouldn't have an opinion on it. What I wish is our public leaders and governments would just ask us if we think there is a problem and would we like to see the problem solved. Then that department could go off and come up with a solution to the problem (if there is one) and vote about it among themselves without any further public input.
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Do you really believe voters should be taken out of the equation or not? We live in a democracy, I believe voters should participate in important, billion dollars decisions.
Transit boards, county hospital boards, and highway commissioners are not elected to their positions, they are appointed. Citizens in a democracy should have the right of representation by the power of their vote on every tax and appropriation our government makes. With county commissioners, school board members, and city council members we get to vote upon them periodically, it isn't absolutely necessary to have a refrendum upon every tax or appropriation they make. But the people have no direct power or representation over decisions made by independent commissions and agencies.
Might as well eliminate all referendums if taxation and appropriations issues are taken off the board. Maybe we should change how CapMetro board members are selected, from appointed positions to elected positions, then they would have more representation powers to set taxes and expenditures.