tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171294815895801587.post2688390241061234755..comments2023-10-22T13:06:32.952-04:00Comments on Organizing Grievances: Pat McCormick on Neil Cavuto Sep2009wobbliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840385151170176977noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171294815895801587.post-46875419693590331592009-09-30T15:36:56.039-04:002009-09-30T15:36:56.039-04:00I like how the whole thing is framed as "surp...I like how the whole thing is framed as "surprising" that they got the signatures. In our system, it is almost guaranteed that the right-wingers will get their signatures.<br /><br />I also love that any conversation of Oregon involves a conversation of Californian.<br /><br />"Draconian" equals an increase from $10 a year to $150 per year for corporations earning less than $500K and a 2% increase in income taxes for earners above $125K.<br /><br />Speaking of democracy, the only way these taxes can be repealed is if hundreds of thousands of people that these tax increases will not apply to vote to repeal them. It will be a close-run thing.solidcitizennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171294815895801587.post-71672353205070458552009-09-30T15:08:31.754-04:002009-09-30T15:08:31.754-04:00"this situation, though, means that people ha..."this situation, though, means that people have to directly vote for tax increases if they want stable fiscal government? brilliant democracy at work. I've heard that hasn't worked out too well at all in California."<br /><br />Gabba, forgive my parochialism here, but Oregon has qualitatively and quantitatively OUTSHINED California when it comes to anti-tax initiatives and referenda. YES, YES, YES, "democracy" that interpellates voters first and foremost as "taxpayers" is bound to produce fiscal crises of the state and legitimacy crises for the public sphere in general. <br /><br />My dissertation deals with the promise and pitfalls facing public employee unions as they attempt to enunciate an anti-"anti-government distaste." In this view, public investment is worthy of taxpayer sacrifice, social planning is a valid pursuit, and workplace democracy is a reasonable expectation. Talk about rolling a rock up-fucking-hill, m'friend!lex dexterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02984338384931444324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171294815895801587.post-30045092393119710572009-09-30T06:35:44.857-04:002009-09-30T06:35:44.857-04:00oh, ok... the EU citizens' initiative you were...oh, ok... the EU citizens' initiative you were asking me about in no way leads to legislation being put to public ballot (it requests the supranational EU Commission to propose legislation - only it can do so in the EU as a whole - which would be decided by the national governments in the European Council, and by the European Parliament). <br /><br />this situation, though, means that people have to directly vote <i>for</i> tax increases if they want stable fiscal government? brilliant democracy at work. I've heard that hasn't worked out too well at all in California.<br /><br />also, I guess you are no longer much fazed by the (not-so-)subtle ant-government distaste in that interview.gabbagabbaheyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07764368059568550318noreply@blogger.com