One thing I've learned in life - when your wife (husband, partner, ??) yells at you about leaving your socks on the floor, it's NOT ABOUT THE SOCKS, STUPID!

The torrents of emotion being expressed pro and con about I-695 - IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY, STUPID! Sure $750 million per year sounds like a lot of money and $1200 is a lot of money to a working family. But it is only a little more than 2% of the overall state budget - a budget that grew 11% over last year. It's chump change in the grand scheme of things! Incompetent as our leaders may profess to be, they can deal with it. The vital functions of government will not be interupted - it would be political suicide if they were.

No, it's about something much more important than money. It's about power and control - who's got it and who's trying to take it away.

It IS about our representative form of government. The representative form of government as set forth in our constitution is the best of all worlds. Unfortunately, it don't represent us, the people, anymore. Just listen to 'our leaders' talk about I-695. They're saying 60+% of the people (those who support I-695) don't know what they're doing, the people can't be trusted to make decisions about spending their own tax money. They have ignored the people's complaints about the MVET for ten years. When the people voted NO on the baseball stadium, they just got together behind closed doors and did it anyway, and financed it with a raft of new taxes and tax increases. So, who do 'our leaders' represent? Certainly not the people who elected them.

Fortunately, our forefathers considered this situation and provided a remedy for overriding an arrogant, non-responsive, government. It's called the Inititive process. Hmmm... Seems like it's working, just the way they envisioned.

When I-695 passes, it will probably cause some inconvenience as the government adjusts to the 'new paradigm', as they say. Our representatives must learn to listen to the people for a change instead of the special interest lobbies. In fact, it may be difficult to get legislation crafted until they adjust to the new rules. And don't worry about this nonsense about special elections to raise the price of school lunches. Again, in spite of their feigned incompetence, they'll figure it out.

And once 'our leaders' decide to work with the people, instead of fighting them trying to outsmart them, they may find people have this thing called 'common sense' and are perfectly willing to pay their fair share for the services of government if they feel like they're not getting ripped off. Or, if they don't adjust, they'll be gone..

Vote YES on I-695. It's the best chance you will ever have to really make a change in government.

-- Wayne (wsmith@precisionimages.com), October 16, 1999

Answers

Dear IQ=60 (AKA=John Q. KnowsWhatHeTalksAbout (I.Q.>59@brains.com))...

First, I find is ironic that you claim to have better things to do, but you spend the time to read, think and respond to Wayne. Who I'll remind you uses his real name.

Second, you're a mouse when you make up a fake name. I'll remind you of the rules of this forum;

"...Please don't use a fake email address; it creates a lot of technical problems for the community. For example, this software will send you an email alert if someone responds to your message and those alerts will bounce back to us if the address you type isn't valid..."

It's so pathetic of you to ABUSE this forum in this way. The web operators have labored hard and for no money to bring this to you. Yet you completely disregard this in you're own interests when it pleases you.

Additionally, I'll bet that the general public isn't as STUPID as you say when you say "Nearly everybody supporting this one doesn't have the full picture". In defense of the general public, they clearly know what the issues are here. They're taxed too much and they're not going to be bullied, threated or intimidated.

And lastly, bragging about an IQ greater than 59 is no great claim since the avarage IQ is 100. Thanks for proving it to us all you boob.

Yes on I-695

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John Q. KnowsWhatHeTalksAbout (I.Q.>59@brains.com), wrote:

Sir I respectfully beg to differ with your erroneous contention that just because 60% of the folks like something, it must be good. Nearly everybody "supporting" this one doesn't have the full picture, other than the typical targetless ranting and other assorted noise. It isn't about power. It's about being informed.

100% of the people with whom I have discussed this issue in detail by sitting down, looking at the state's budget, explaining the revenue stream, letting them look at the real numbers, etc., have realized that this is really a bad initiative. For example, Initiative 601, Referendum 49, the tax equalization method (helps smaller counties without the bigger base), etc. And the $1,200 you quote is way off for most "working" families. My wife and I have good paying blue collar jobs and we pay a total of about $925 to cover all 3 vehicles. I have other, more important things to do, so good day. Cordially John

-- John Q. KnowsWhatHeTalksAbout (I.Q.>59@brains.com), October 17, 1999.

-- William Sheehan (wsheehan@billsheehan.com), October 17, 1999.

Dear Mr. @brains

100% of the people that I've talked to know fully what this initiative does. And their 100% for it. I did not have to sit down and explain it word for word to them. What type of group did you have to sit down and explain this to and brag that your IQ is over 59. Forrest Gump's was higher then that.

Plus my wife and I also have "good paying blue collar jobs" just like you. Our tabs ths year was over $1300 for just two vehicles. So I don't think the $1200 is way off, maybe way to low.

Ed - tested in the top 1 percentile in IQ test. But not bragging about it to 6th graders.

-- Ed (ed_brigdes@yahoo.com), October 17, 1999.