Well, let the boondoggle begin.
Russ-100k-Dean claims, “I feel [ratepayers’] pain…” Let’s be clear: he absolutely does not. He expropriates $100k, in paychecks alone, from Exeter taxpayers. Consequently, he himself pays no taxes—he is a net tax consumer. He goes on to say that, oh well, “it’s a mandate.” This is important, because people will say that it is “fair” for two reasons: 1) it has been voted on and approved, and 2) the people who use the “service” will pay for it (via sewer rates).
The first point is wrong obviously because voting how to spend other people’s money against their will is inherently unethical. To be sure, about 2000 people of Exeter’s 14000 people (including children) voted. That’s 14%. Of the 2000 about 75% voted in favor. That’s 1500, or 10%. So, 10% of the Exeter population support this upcoming boondoggle. How in the world is it ethical for 10% to force the remaining 90% to pay for something? Answer: it’s not.
For number two, it should be clear that wastewater treatment in Exeter is absolutely not a productive market. It is a crony government operation. The “price” that “customers” pay are not determined through supply and demand. It is determined solely through political machinations (for, example, through an EPA mandate). Also, if you read that brochure that was sent out, you’ll see that the choice of taxing for this mess is based in part on the people who pay fewer taxes now. You see, the Exeter government wants your money, no ifs, ands, or buts.
Who benefits? Not the people whose sewer rates will more than double, any more than someone who has been robbed is bought dinner by the robber. Certainly the engineering firm (Write-Pierce) will benefit immensely. I’m sure they supported this warrant article, whether or not it’s a mandate, or a good idea, or whatever. There is a law of politics: no matter how over-budget, wasteful, or shoddy a public works project is, some bureaucrat-politicians will claim that it is a testament to the alleged importance of government, and will beat the taxpayers over the head demanding our fealty for it.
Another big issue this year was zoning. Zoning issues are usually personal issues: people local to a community want to use the club of local laws to prevent property from being used a certain way. Really, whoever owns a piece of property has the ultimate say over how it gets used, with the strict constraint that they don’t trespass on other properties. “Government ownership” is a myth—really it’s the taxpayers and the homesteaders who own such resources. So, zoning issues should be resolved using property rights. Here, it is useful to note that a property owner does not own the value of the property, so the claim that some goings-on nearby will reduce property value is not a legitimate form of trespass.
At least the schemers who want a Charter Commission to grab more power and money were, temporarily, denied. And, it tickled me that Dan “beautify my storefront” won’t get nice brickwork on Water St. On the other hand, the local prison school will expropriate $5.4 million from the taxpayers for full-day kindergarten. The schemers are delightful because they will be able to better turn curious kids into mindless drones to carry on the banner of the State. In 15 years, these kindergarteners will expropriate new taxpayers for golden brickwork in front of the Water St. Bookstore.
It is important to point out that nothing was decided by a single vote. As usual, that I stayed home and did not participate in this state sacrament made no difference whatsoever. It's among how 1000-1500 people think it's ok to hoist ~$75 million in total on everyone else. They should be ashamed.
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