The L-O-S-T in T-SPLOST refers to public trust
There’s a saying for politicians and for those of us who cover them: The voters are always right. While we’re bound to be subjected to a round or two of recriminations about who’s to blame for the absolute debacle that was the metro Atlanta T-SPLOST campaign, pay attention to those who show signs of understanding and accepting that saying. They’re the ones who will be most likely to find the way forward from here.
For my part, here’s what I think the voters were saying in their 63-37 defeat of the $7.2 billion tax.
The political class has lost our trust.
If that sounds obvious, consider that it’s also a puzzling situation, given that many of the same people who voted overwhelmingly against the T-SPLOST have been voting in large numbers to elect the same Republican politicians who gave us the T-SPLOST. I think there’s a pretty clear explanation: This is the consequence of having a one-party state.
Georgia has been a one-party state for pretty much 140 years now. The first 130 years, it was a one-party state ruled by Democrats. The past 10 years, it’s been a one-party state ruled by Republicans and Democrats-turned-Republicans. (Note: I am referring here only to the party holding the levers at the state level, not municipal or federal offices.) For most of those 140 years, there has been very little credible, effective opposition from the minority party. I’m sure it was worse for the Republicans at times between Reconstruction and Sonny Perdue’s watershed win in 2002, but the situation is pretty bleak right now for Georgia Democrats. And that means Georgia Republicans feel very little electoral heat, which leads them to act in a very insular way.
That’s played out no more clearly than in their attitude toward ethics: If legislators are wise, they’ll recognize that the lack of public trust on display in the T-SPLOST vote means they can’t very well ignore the support of 87 percent of GOP voters for a lengthening of the proverbial arm separating lobbyists from legislators. If I heard one voter say he thought T-SPLOST was all about rewarding political contributors and allies, I heard it from dozens of voters. Legislators cannot go too far in trying to improve the negative public perception around our lawmaking process.
Geographically, at least as it relates to the T-SPLOST, you can locate the center of that lack of trust along the Ga. 400 corridor. Perdue arguably lost Tuesday’s tax vote two years ago when he reneged on the longstanding promise to end the toll when the original bonds were paid off. An opinion poll conducted for the AJC, published last weekend, showed the 400 toll extension was a factor for 55 percent of voters — and that 64 percent of voters doubted the T-SPLOST would end when promised and be limited to the projects on the list.
Nathan Deal obviously thought he could show some good faith by announcing recently that the tolls would come down by the end of next year, fulfilling one of his campaign promises. But the AJC’s opinion poll showed the maneuver actually made voters less likely to vote for the T-SPLOST by a net 6 percentage points. The reason, in my view, is that it sends a signal that state government decides when and how to make these decisions on purely political considerations. Bad political considerations, it now appears.
There are a couple of ways for elected officials to show they understand this message. First and foremost, they must demonstrate clearly that all available transportation money is being spent as wisely and efficiently as possible.
That means showing transportation spending really is a priority for the state. All revenues from the motor fuel tax should be directed to transportation; currently, part of it goes to the general fund. When the inflation-driven formula for the motor fuel tax dictates that the rate should rise to keep spending level in real terms, state government should let it rise. Where money can be cut from lesser priorities and redirected to transportation infrastructure, it should be cut and redirected.
As for efficiency, the state needs to be much more transparent about which projects are priorities based on pure cost-benefit analysis, and begin spending the money we do have on the highest-rated projects. If that means re-examining the wisdom of balancing spending based on congressional districts — they might be equal in population, but they aren’t necessarily equal in terms of transportation needs — so be it.
The money I’ve talked about so far would probably be skewed toward roads rather than mass transit, if only because a constitutional amendment allowing gas-tax revenues to fund transit looks like a sure loser. Transit should be addressed in a two-step manner: First, create a truly regional (if not state-run) governance structure for mass transit in metro Atlanta that incorporates MARTA and the other transit agencies. Second, allow voters beyond Fulton and DeKalb to vote in a referendum to participate in the system, with specific descriptions of the infrastructure and services that would come with it. If they want to join, let them join the same way Fulton and DeKalb joined MARTA.
If some of that sounds like baby steps, well, that’s because they are. One of these days, the people who run our government — at the local, state and federal levels — are going to realize a little modesty on their part would go a long way toward re-establishing the public trust they’ve clearly lost.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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1,018 comments Add your comment
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
3:01 pm
“The dems are adding gay marriage to their platform.”
And they’ll lose a lot of seats come November.
Obama = the best thing to happen to conservatives since Reagan. Worst thing ever for the Democrat Party.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
August 1st, 2012
3:03 pm
Well Logic, since we know your past history under many names and your repeated banning from Bookman’s, we know how fast you move the goalposts. So prove your claim of lies and I’ll be glad to prove my original statement correct. You can do that right? I mean you do have more than internet chest thumping when you claim “lies” or is that just knee jerk reaction? You can do this logically without resort to personal attacks? Let’s see you take an honest challenge while learning to play nice.
USMC
August 1st, 2012
3:03 pm
OBAMA equals DISASTER; FAILED economy!
Let’s hope Americans come to their senses this fall and vote this buffoon out of office.
“The Federal Reserve on Wednesday said the U.S. economic recovery had lost momentum so far this year…”
http://www.cnbc.com/id/48444211
Joe Mama
August 1st, 2012
3:04 pm
Kyle — “Long-term, I think we’ll move away from the gas tax to something else. Tolls are the most obvious alternative.”
Kyle, are you familiar with the system in use on the Dulles Toll Road in suburban Northern Virginia?
getalife
August 1st, 2012
3:05 pm
“Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2004″wiki
See: Massachusetts.
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 1st, 2012
3:06 pm
See: North Carolina. ,/i>
LOL . The bigoted South doesn’t count. Heck 50 years ago blacks couldn’t even eat at the same restaurants in the South.
http://www.pewforum.org/Politics-and-Elections/Two-Thirds-of-Democrats-Now-Support-Gay-Marriage.aspx
Look at the bottom of the screen.
Facts are facts.
Its over for the bigots.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
3:06 pm
“Well Logic, since we know your past history under many names and your repeated banning from Bookman’s, we know how fast you move the goalposts.”
Like I stated, you keep diverting attention away from your lies. It gets you nowhere.
“So prove your claim of lies and I’ll be glad to prove my original statement correct.”
LOL
“You can do this logically without resort to personal attacks? ”
What personal attacks?
getalife
August 1st, 2012
3:07 pm
I don’t think government should track our cars or pee.
It is odd reading the gop supporting a tax increase.
Cue the twilight zone theme.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
3:07 pm
“The bigoted South doesn’t count. Heck 50 years ago blacks couldn’t even eat at the same restaurants in the South.”
North Carolina went for Obama in 2008. The DNC will hold their convention there.
Keep trying.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
3:08 pm
“I don’t think government should track our cars or pee.”
Yet you’re fine with it defining marriage.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
3:09 pm
“Facts are facts.”
A poll is not a fact.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
3:10 pm
“Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2004″wiki”
And their state is going bankrupt.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
3:10 pm
Kyle, is it ok to post links?
Here’s a good one.
Black pastors group launches anti-Obama campaign around gay marriage
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/31/black-pastors-group-launches-anti-obama-campaign-around-gay-marriage/
Joe Mama
August 1st, 2012
3:11 pm
Awk! Memory overflow in line 1310!
Kyle, please disregard my earlier question and replace with this one:
Are you familiar with the system used on I-90/Mass Pike in Massachusetts?
getalife
August 1st, 2012
3:12 pm
Logic,
I don’t think government should be watching in our bedrooms.
They should protect the children though.
USMC
August 1st, 2012
3:12 pm
“Yet you’re fine with it (Government) defining marriage…..”
…as a MAN and a MAN or a WOMAN and a WOMAN or a ….
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
3:12 pm
“I don’t think government should be watching in our bedrooms.”
That we can agree on.
Thomas
August 1st, 2012
3:15 pm
Trolleys will cure all traffic woes. Trolleys!
Found this on the web. The real Deal Governor Deal could offer heavy tax incentives for an Asian trolley manufacturer to come in. Stimulus III could provide 586 million to fund a start up Trolleyandra.
Put your space suit on we are going to the moon with this one!
Trolley Sales: Trolleys, Trams, and other Equipment.
On the market, ready for delivery.
New and Used Trolleys for Sale – New and Used Trams for Sale
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Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
3:17 pm
I said this a while back about the Atlanta traffic problems. The ONLY way to curb it would be to burn the city to the ground, build on a grid system and create a Chicago style transit system. Atlanta is one of the worst planned cities in the US. It was never designed to house a transit system. Marta is a joke and should be shut down ASAP.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
3:21 pm
Even the libs in Chicago agree that Obama is in big time trouble.
Obama insults small-business owners
The White House has been in damage control mode ever since those remarks, and Friday’s report showing the economy grew at an anemic 1.5 percent in the last quarter only added to the urgency of Obama’s re-election campaign to find a way to change the subject.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/huntley/14087561-452/obama-insults-small-business-owners.html
Dirty Dawg
August 1st, 2012
3:23 pm
I hereby vow to boycott the chicken folks…in the winter when they aren’t serving peach milkshakes and except when my Grandkids want to go…but other than that.
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
August 1st, 2012
3:24 pm
What I learned from reading these thoughts, is that, those who preach tolerance the most, the libs, are the least tolerant.
Chick Fil A controversy is fueled by people, who are tired of those trying to silence others. If Cathy has an opinion, he has a right to express it. Deal with it. An effort to tie this to bigotry is just another effort to silence the protest over his right to have an opinion, kinda like calling people racists, because they disagree.
And, why all the bitterness over the Tee Splat. It is democracy in action, support it, rather than be so bitter.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
3:24 pm
“I hereby vow to boycott the chicken folks”
I’m sure the billionaire Cathy will miss your business. He must be crying in his sweet tea right now.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
3:26 pm
“What I learned from reading these thoughts, is that, those who preach tolerance the most, the libs, are the least tolerant.
Of course the libs are intolerant. They make claims that something is true, then when they can’t post a link to back up their claims, they divert attention away to personal attacks. It’s all they have.
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 1st, 2012
3:26 pm
North Carolina went for Obama in 2008. The DNC will hold their convention there.
Keep trying
Nah. You wouldn’t get it anyway.
If you cant see attitudes are changing in this country. That the younger the generation the more they support same sex marriage then there is nothing left to say.
I know you dont like it.
But its coming just the same.
If you are over 50 ( like I assume you are ) then you will probably be gone by then anyway so take heart in that.
Motorist
August 1st, 2012
3:27 pm
If T-SPLOST really wants to improve traffic in metro Atlanta, they should remove the ridiculous Peach Pass lane in Gwinnett County and make it a priority. We should of never had it in the first place. It has not made traffic easier and noone is using it. Waste of money!!!
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 1st, 2012
3:28 pm
Last Fox News poll had Obama ahead by 4 points.
If Obama is ahead in a Fox News poll well ….
That cant be good for Cheesy Grits.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
3:30 pm
“If you cant see attitudes are changing in this country. That the younger the generation the more they support same sex marriage then there is nothing left to say.”
No they aren’t.
“If you are over 50 ( like I assume you are ) then you will probably be gone by then anyway so take heart in that.”
Again with the lies.
A dad
August 1st, 2012
3:30 pm
Getting back on topic, why don’t we take all the fees and taxes intended for transportation and put them in a “lockbox” like Social Security? There, that ought to stimulate some fun comments (and yes, I know that SSI funds have been robbed and replaced by paper back by the full faith and credit of the gov’t for years)
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
3:31 pm
“Last Fox News poll had Obama ahead by 4 points.”
Then again, the election is in November. This time 4 years ago, Mccain had a lead over Obama. It’s funny how elections work ain’t it.
Let’s see, Obama has angered white people, independents, blacks, Jews and Latinos.
Not good.
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 1st, 2012
3:31 pm
They make claims that something is true, then when they can’t post a link to back up their claims,
I posted many links. You just choose not to accept them because they dont fit your narrative LOL
I love the fact that Christians and Conservatives are crying of discrimination against Chick Fil A when it was their own bigotry that started the whole thing.
Oh the irony !!!
josef
August 1st, 2012
3:31 pm
On topic: heh, heh, looks like the voters have made their point. You’re a poltician? You want it? That’s good enough a reason to vote against it. The price of pork is just too high for these trying times.
*******
And the “bigoted South…” Oh, dearie me, are we ever going to realize just how thin that one wears in this day and age…the South evidently HAS rejoined the Union…or the rest of the Union has rejoined the South…nothing going on in one part of the country that’s not going on in the other…
Equality? Ain’t it grand?
willie lynch
August 1st, 2012
3:31 pm
I agree with you on much of that Kyle.
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 1st, 2012
3:33 pm
Then again, the election is in November. This time 4 years ago, Mccain had a lead over Obama. It’s funny how elections work ain’t it.
It is. Long way to go. But all things being equal id much rather be ahead right now than behind.
Joe Mama
August 1st, 2012
3:33 pm
R. Hollister — “Chick Fil A controversy is fueled by people, who are tired of those trying to silence others.”
Who’s attempting to silence anyone?
“If Cathy has an opinion, he has a right to express it. Deal with it.”
And he has no right to be exempted from *consequences* arising from the public expression of those views. Deal with it. Or, in the words of Rush Limbaugh, “freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences.”
“An effort to tie this to bigotry is just another effort to silence the protest over his right to have an opinion.”
No one’s disputed his right to have and express an opinion. The issue is that he stated that his opinions on the matter were guiding principles for the *business.* I’m perfectly willing to accept his personal views on the subject, and had he left it at that, I could have overlooked it and continued to patronize his business. However, when he made it plain that his personal views were key to how he ran CFA, that was it as far as I’m concerned.
Again, Mr. Cathy is certainly entitled to have whatever views he wants and to express them whenever and however he wants. But he’s got no reasonable expectation of everyone separating his personal views from how his business is run if he’s going to *explicitly* tie them together.
willie lynch
August 1st, 2012
3:33 pm
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
3:31 pm
This coming from the side who’s candidate will only do interviews on one network. Truly a man of wide ranging views and opinons.
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 1st, 2012
3:34 pm
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/election_2012_vs_election_2008_four_years_ago_today.html
And BTW your wrong. Obama was ahead in the polls this time last year.
I provided a link !!!
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
3:34 pm
“I posted many links. You just choose not to accept them because they dont fit your narrative LOL”
You posted a link to a Pew Poll. Not exactly the most reliable poll out there.
“I love the fact that Christians and Conservatives are crying of discrimination against Chick Fil A when it was their own bigotry that started the whole thing.
Wrong again. NO ONE cried discrimination. Do you not know what the first amendment is all about?
Bigotry? LOL, keep trying.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
3:35 pm
“This coming from the side who’s candidate will only do interviews on one network. Truly a man of wide ranging views and opinons.”
Another lie.
John Birch
August 1st, 2012
3:36 pm
Cathy has every right to be self-righteous and delusional. After all his religious believes are those of the pro-slavery division of a christian sect that started some 1600 years after the death of hrist and yet have the audacity to purport to know the word of god. I’ve had my last filet and the fries suck anyway.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
3:36 pm
“And BTW your wrong. Obama was ahead in the polls this time last year.”
You DO realize that there are many polls out there, right?
Ed
August 1st, 2012
3:36 pm
Mr. Wingfield – Your research is rather shallow and seems to blame the 1st republican govenor post civil war. Actually if you or the paper were truly into reporting facts, you would find that the last democrat govenor Roy Barnes and his cronies tried to steal the GA 400 toll money so they could purchase land from their friends. Then some unknown committee votes to extend the tolls till 2050 (I think) without public notice of the meeting or public comment. We have endured broken promise after broken promise from politicians in this town & state. What we object to is the cushy pensions convicted politicians and state employees get anyway.
Then there was the corruption under Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell, in the Fulton County government, DeKalb County government, and the list just goes on and on…..
The policitcal class just does not get it. Who the hell is paying for all their salaires & benefits & pensions. How big a staff all the polictians have. How about the Atlanta Regional Commission, G-DOT, the transportation department of each county or the transportation department of each city.
WE THE TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING FOR ALL THIS!!!!! And I am only talking about transportation.
Fulton & DeKalb taxpayers pay for MARTA, Grady. In Fulton we have a E-SPLOST we are paying for (don’t get me started on the school board). Our wonderful county commission is handing out pay raises / bonuses while people are lossing their homes. Where is the belt tightening at the city couty or state level?
THE TAXPAYER IS TAPPED OUT!!!! If the media in this town would take their blinders off and really work for the citizens of our fine metro area, then maybe just maybe, we can trust the politicians and you – the media.
Until then – FORGET ABOUT IT!!!!
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 1st, 2012
3:36 pm
This coming from the side who’s candidate will only do interviews on one network. Truly a man of wide ranging views and opinons.
Hey Fox News is fair and balanced. They cover both sides of the news.
The Republican side AND the Conservative side.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
3:37 pm
“And he has no right to be exempted from *consequences* arising from the public expression of those views. Deal with it. Or, in the words of Rush Limbaugh, “freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences.”
What consequences? Chicfil is doing quite well.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
3:37 pm
“Hey Fox News is fair and balanced. They cover both sides of the news.
”
Romney has been on CNN, ABC, CBS etc. Keep lying, libs.
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 1st, 2012
3:38 pm
You DO realize that there are many polls out there, right?
Yes and as the link i provided shows. Obama was ahead in most of them.
Just like now.
I gotta know… how does that taste ?
josef
August 1st, 2012
3:39 pm
Okay, according to my faith…
Let’s go there…all you momzerim pull out the shlong and call the mohel..don’t matter if the doc did do it when you were born, no go, not kosher…gotta do it right..at least three drops of blood in the presence of a minyan…
I want a law sanctioning that…after all, it’s been traditional for about 4,000 years now…
The good part is, though, you can buy a Canadian…
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
August 1st, 2012
3:39 pm
For the poll people, you might as well use one of the two who got the 2008 election right.
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Wednesday shows Mitt Romney attracting 47% of the vote, while President Obama earns support from 44%. Four percent (4%) prefer some other candidate, and five percent (5%) are undecided.
Most voters under 40 prefer Obama while most over 40 support Romney. The gender gap is alive and well. Obama does about 14 points better among women than men. Among white voters, Romney leads 56% to 35%. Obama has an overwhelming lead among black voters and leads by a two-to-one margin among other minority voters. All of these dynamics are similar to Election 2008.
From Rasmussenreports.com
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
3:39 pm
“After all his religious believes are those of the pro-slavery”
Democrats created the KKK. Deal with it.
Also, Muslims will kill homosexuals. Christians, not so much.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
3:39 pm
“Yes and as the link i provided shows. Obama was ahead in most of them.”
But not all, like you claim.