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
4:24 pm
“If not, I am sure he can invite you to a Starbucks to discuss his intimate relationship with the Cox big wigs (including his meeting there with a friend on a fishing trip) and why nothing is free.”
You must have me mixed up with one of the voices in your head, Keep.
Jean
August 1st, 2012
4:24 pm
Interesting analysis, Kyle. Now can you correct all the “Tea Party Win” stuff in the AJC? Lots of us voted against the T-Splost for reasons that have nothing to do with the Tea Party.
Thulsa Doom
August 1st, 2012
4:25 pm
Then again, as my wife says, ‘let’s not give any money to people who hate us or our friends.”
More mischaracterization. Its not about hate Joe. Its simply that Mr. Cathy believes in the traditional definition of marriage due to his religious beliefs. Trying to say that its about hate is just more dishonesty from the left.
josef
August 1st, 2012
4:25 pm
Of course the antis are lining up at CFA…it’s avout the only place they can support a supporter…po ole gay folks and their friends have got too many places to go to be able to all line up in one place…
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
4:26 pm
“Sorry, just not seeing it.”
As Bookman once famously wrote: Pats by 3.
josef
August 1st, 2012
4:26 pm
THULSA
It may not exactly be “hate,” but it sho ain’t love neither…juss sayin….
King Roy
August 1st, 2012
4:26 pm
Isn’t ME part of us? You must agree or you wouldn’t have brought it up. Not agreeing on something doesn’t mean we hate you. We don’t. I don’t believe in “gay” marriage. That is basically what Mr. Cathy said. He didn’t say “gays” weren’t welcome. He said they were.
josef
August 1st, 2012
4:28 pm
“You must have me mixed up with one of the voices in your head, Keep.”
KEEP:
Don’t worry…he’s just upset that the voices are talking to and not him!
Atlantan
August 1st, 2012
4:28 pm
Frankly it is simple a 9% sales tax in the city of Atlanta is way too high! Heck 8% makes me choke at times – especially with big purchases. I’m willing to support this type of program when it is better thought out and our sewers are paid.
Real Scootter
August 1st, 2012
4:29 pm
It’s so interesting how many of these posters have nothing substantive at all to your blog topic.
And what did you add that was substantive?
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
4:29 pm
“It may not exactly be “hate,” but it sho ain’t love neither…juss sayin….”
So? Can other folks not have differing beliefs than you, josef?
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
4:30 pm
“And what did you add that was substantive?”
GAZING!!!!!
Keep Up the Good Fight!
August 1st, 2012
4:30 pm
Bruno, we’ll have to disagree on that one. But he can keep trying to wow us, lol.
Joe Mama
August 1st, 2012
4:30 pm
Bruno — “Keep and Joe–As you may or may not be aware, the Cathys have donated millions and millions of dollars over the years to support children’s causes, specifically in support of foster care. Whatever they have donated to “traditional family” causes pales by comparison.”
I’m aware of that, and that assessment is your opinion, to which you are certainly entitled. I respectfully disagree.
“The bottom line is that none of us are perfect. The good that the Cathys have done for the community far, far outweighs any harm.”
Not to be contentious, but I believe that was the gist of the Roman Catholic Church’s defense to their broad child-molesting scandal, wasn’t it?
Respectfully, I don’t think it’s your place to decide for others whether the harm done rises to some sort of metaphysical standard of ‘greater than the good done.’ I recognize that the harm done has very limited importance to and impact upon you, but as one who is hardly or not even affected, I submit that you’re not in a position to judge that level of harm for those who *are* impacted by it.
Wrong is wrong, and the sort of moral calculus you’re engaging in is troubling to me. It’s certainly your right and choice to decide and proceed therefrom, but I personally can’t dismiss the wrong by papering over it with some right done by the same people.
“Obviously it’s your choice whether to support their business or not”
Thank you for that. And I mean that sincerely.
“but I think your confusing the mountain and the molehill.”
Frankly, I think you’re making a bigger deal out of it than I am. I’m not aiming to harm the Cathy family business or to dissuade others from dining there. I’m not actively protesting or demanding that others join me in my boycott. I’m simply troubled by CFA’s corporate stance, and while they maintain it, my wife and I have determined that we cannot in good conscience patronize CFA (and we had heretofore been regular customers). It’s really as simple as that.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
4:31 pm
josef
You’re probably the ONLY rational person from Bookman’s blog. The others, not so much.
Gale
August 1st, 2012
4:31 pm
Saw a funny tweet today; something about the ChikFilA “appreciation being so successful, they are considering saying they don’t like the Irish next.
King Roy
August 1st, 2012
4:31 pm
If you want to stay home then go ahead and pout. That’s your choice. Won’t bother me the least if you go or stay away. You are the loser. T_SPLOST is a product of the King Roy empire and dead just like my career. Got to big for my britches and the voters put me in my place.
Eat a Peach
August 1st, 2012
4:32 pm
“It may not exactly be “hate,” but it sho ain’t love neither…juss sayin….”
Amen
Their money and their business so they have that right. I find it odd that if one looks into some of the orgs the Cathys / Chickfila donates too, it surely is not about love for sure.
Again, they have the right and others have the right not to go. Simple as that.
There are conservative organizations that boycott corporations and encourage people not to do business with them. So not sure why people are upset that some people have decided not to go to Chickfila.
As long as it is done within the law, I am good with boycotts and people making choices.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
4:32 pm
“but I believe that was the gist of the Roman Catholic Church’s defense to their broad child-molesting scandal”
Cathy, no Chicfila, has engaged in child molestation and for you to lump them in with the Catholic Church is absurd.
Joe Mama
August 1st, 2012
4:33 pm
Doom — “More mischaracterization. Its not about hate Joe. Its simply that Mr. Cathy believes in the traditional definition of marriage due to his religious beliefs. Trying to say that its about hate is just more dishonesty from the left.”
Well, you are certainly welcome to try to persuade me to your way of thinking, but IMO you’re going about it all wrong if you’re going to use words like “mischaracterization” and “dishonesty.”
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
4:33 pm
“I find it odd that if one looks into some of the orgs the Cathys / Chickfila donates too, it surely is not about love for sure.”
Oh please tell us the “hate” those organizations spread.
pogo
August 1st, 2012
4:33 pm
josef is always reasonable. Don’t ever lump him in with the geta bunch. We need more like him on both sides.
Peadawg
August 1st, 2012
4:33 pm
“The bottom line is that none of us are perfect. The good that the Cathys have done for the community far, far outweighs any harm.”
You must be a Joe Paterno/Penn State fan. Just sayin….
Eat a Peach
August 1st, 2012
4:34 pm
“josef
You’re probably the ONLY rational person from Bookman’s blog. The others, not so much.”
This from a blogger who has been put on probation here, booted there.
hahahahaha
Speaking of “rational”, that would not be what anyone on these blogs says about you.
josef
August 1st, 2012
4:34 pm
LOGIC
What was absurd about it? Absurd is when the basic statement is true, but it makes the opposite point of what it is you are contending…
And, for the love of G-d, Mec, who said I didn’t think somebody could have different beliefs than me…? I just want mine sanctioned into civil law, too…you didn’t see my earlier post about your shlong, the mohel and a minyan?
Hey, it’s been traditional and required for club membership for nigh onto 4000 years, now…
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
4:35 pm
” Don’t ever lump him in with the geta bunch. ”
I don’t and haven’t. The other folks are just downright insane. I remember a few of them that tried to hack other bloggers computers and steal info and reveal IP addresses.
pogo
August 1st, 2012
4:35 pm
josef is one of the only reasonable ones. Don’t ever lump him in with the geta bunch. We need more like him on both sides.
Peadawg
August 1st, 2012
4:35 pm
“(and we had heretofore been regular customers)”
So why the sudden outrage? That’s what I still don’t understand. None of this is actual new news.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
4:36 pm
“Absurd is when the basic statement is true, but it makes the opposite point of what it is you are contending”
What is absurd about saying Muslims kill homosexuals in the Middle East? It’s true.
JamVet
August 1st, 2012
4:36 pm
Let’ see if I’ve got this correct.
We’re talking about a fast food joint that serves tasteless, overpriced, unhealthy cr@pfood.
And now you cons are going to eat even MORE of it?
Talk about doubling down on the dumb. (I’ll have four sausage burritos and can you super-size those waffle fries? And a Giant Diet Coke, please.)
Might as well stuff yourselves, they’ll only throw it away.
Thank goodness you’ll all have Obamacare to take care of your massive waistlines and impending medical woes…
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
4:36 pm
“Absurd is when the basic statement is true, but it makes the opposite point of what it is you are contending”
Only to you I guess.
King Roy
August 1st, 2012
4:37 pm
Gale – Funny but Mr. Cathy never said he didn’t like “gays” – just doesn’t support or believe in the concept of “gay” marriage. Can’t you understand?
Del
August 1st, 2012
4:37 pm
I agree that the Democrats may be shooting themselves in the foot over this CFA issue and now by including homosexual marriage in their plank. Those Democrat politicians in Boston, Chicago and San Francisco along with so called kiss in activists at Chick-fil-A restaurants will turn off a lot of voters. The left should have simply acknowledged Cathy’s right to express his opinion and only stated that they wouldn’t do business with CFL because of it. An activist agenda will only galvanize Evangelicals to vote along with swaying more Independents to vote for Romney. It could even hurt Obama with the Black and Hispanic vote as many are strong Christian believers.
Bruno
August 1st, 2012
4:37 pm
Bruno, we’ll have to disagree on that one. But he can keep trying to wow us, lol.
I’d agree with WOW, but not NIF.
Frankly, I think you’re making a bigger deal out of it than I am.
Actually, I’m not making any deal out of it at all. I typically patronize Chik-fil-A about 2-3 times per year. and will continue doing the same.
Erwin's cat
August 1st, 2012
4:37 pm
As Bookman once famously wrote: Pats by 3.
hmmm…is Bookman stealing my material too
Kasim Smiff
August 1st, 2012
4:38 pm
No MARTA money!
No GUB’MENT union jobs! 
No political Quid pro quo! 
No graft, no corruption, no kick-back! 
No backroom Nathan deals! 
Kiss my T-SPLAT losers.
Just Say No to New Taxes
August 1st, 2012
4:38 pm
Repaying the money RoyTheCrook diverted from Ga 400 tolls to Atlantic Station access roads would be a start in earning the public’s trust, as it now stands I would just as soon burn all current and former politicians at the stake as look into their little beady eyes, imho! Prosecuting Roy for his crimes would go a long way in earning my trust!
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
4:38 pm
“We’re talking about a fast food joint that serves tasteless, overpriced, unhealthy cr@pfood.”
Chicfila gets the highest ratings from Eat this, not that and many other sources. It got an A + from Zagat.
Keep trying, ZamVet.
“And now you cons are going to eat even MORE of it?”
Like I said, left wingers are so full of hate.
Joe Mama
August 1st, 2012
4:38 pm
King Roy — “Isn’t ME part of us?”
‘Us or our friends’ in the context in which I used it is my wife + myself, or our friends. If Cathy hates our friends, then we need not be included.
This may help you to understand:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boolean_algebra
“You must agree or you wouldn’t have brought it up. Not agreeing on something doesn’t mean we hate you. We don’t.”
I’m not so much concerned with the “we” in your construction as I am with Mr. Cathy himself.
“I don’t believe in “gay” marriage. That is basically what Mr. Cathy said. He didn’t say “gays” weren’t welcome. He said they were.”
I don’t believe I commented on whether or not they were welcome. That’s really beside the point as far as I’m concerned.
josef
August 1st, 2012
4:38 pm
Hell, all that flattery,…I must not be doing something right!
Eat a Peach
August 1st, 2012
4:38 pm
Logic
Did I say “hate”? NO, YOU DID. That is the problem with you. You either call names and put words into people’s mouths than wonder why you are pouting from the outside looking in when banned or placed on probation.
So address my posts as they are written or pass me by.
You were called out your 1st day back. Learn to be an adult
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
4:40 pm
” You either call names and put words into people’s mouths than wonder why you are pouting from the outside looking in when banned or placed on probation.”
I haven’t called anyone names, Peach. Again with the lies.
Joe Mama
August 1st, 2012
4:41 pm
Logic — “Cathy, no Chicfila, has engaged in child molestation and for you to lump them in with the Catholic Church is absurd.”
You pretty clearly need to reread Bruno’s post and my reply again, because I did no such thing.
If it’s still not clear to you upon rereading, then I will certainly clarify for you if you ask politely.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
4:41 pm
JamVet called Cathy an idiot the other day. Well, looks like that “idiot” is making a lot of money today.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
4:42 pm
“You pretty clearly need to reread Bruno’s post and my reply again, because I did no such thing.”
You brought up the Catholic Church when it has NOTHING to do with Chicfila. I was dead on with my statement.
Eat a Peach
August 1st, 2012
4:44 pm
Kyle
You can delete my post that is in moderation. Has too many links.
Thanks
Bubba Burger
August 1st, 2012
4:44 pm
Maybe you should have your taste buds checked. Chick – Fil – A, according to a poll done by Consumer’s Reports, was the TOP fast food chain favored by their subscribers….. #1 in cleanliness, #1 in service, #1 in food quality and taste.
josef
August 1st, 2012
4:44 pm
LOGIC LIB
“Absurd is when the basic statement is true, but it makes the opposite point of what it is you are contending”
What is absurd about saying Muslims kill homosexuals in the Middle East? It’s true.
*********
There’s nothing absurd in that…it’s the truth as you say…but then when you follow it with “Christians not so much…” You’ve entered into the real of the absurd….
It’s hardly a defense of Christians….
Not, mind you, that I lump all Christians or Muslims into the same category with their least decent members…
Erwin's cat
August 1st, 2012
4:44 pm
“I don’t believe in “gay” marriage. That is basically what Mr. Cathy said. He didn’t say “gays” weren’t welcome. He said they were.”
No it’s not..at least to my recollection, he said he is in support of traditional marriage…I don’t believe he ever mentioned the “G” word
Old Timer
August 1st, 2012
4:44 pm
that is an astonishing number, considering how few of these voters are affected in any real way by this 50 cent toll.
Translation: I’m OK with those N. Fulton people getting shafted, so long as it’s not me getting taxed an extra $250 per year to use a road when everybody else in GA is getting roads built without tolls.
I’ve seen you use this kind of argument before, Stands, and your argument grates like a pebble in a shoe. I don’t ever want to see you moan piously about injustices done to others when you’re so willing to ignore injustices done to fellow citizens.