Brian Greenspun risks 'bodily harm,' talks with a conservative, comes to partially correct conclusion
Do these people make you afraid?That title sounds like hyperbole, doesn't it? And I would agree, except that that's exactly how Brian Greenspun framed his column in Sunday's Las Vegas Sun.
I no longer feel sorry for good and decent politicians who honestly believe that they must "shade the truth" or, in the vernacular, tell a lie when asked by their constituents whether they, like those who run against them, will promise the voters something for nothing."Bodily harm" sounds serious, doesn't it? I thought Brian was going to reveal that he talked politics while confronting an armed robber or preventing a carjacking. Nope. Instead, he talked to his ... errr ... personal rolfer while getting a massage. I'd give you the funny parts here, but for three things.
There is no question that the voters are in the kind of mood today that demands politicians adhere to the "no new tax" pledge that seems to be the litmus test for any elected office. Voters, for good reason after years of seeing bloated government and ever-decreasing services, have resorted to a black-and-white process when it comes to their votes.
If you favor increasing taxes, you are out. If you pledge to hold the line or even reduce them, you are almost a shoo-in - practically with no other experience or prior qualifications needed.
And although I agree that no good government comes from attitudes like those I have described, I still don't feel sorry for politicians who won't come clean. They owe it to the voters to tell them the truth, even if it means defeat at the polls and results in really bad government for the people. I say this because I have taken a much greater risk to tell the truth to a voter. I have risked bodily harm - and I survived. So, if I can tell the truth, so should any politician who wants my vote. [Emphasis added]
First, the piece is so hilarious you should read the whole thing just for the belly laughs.
Second, I feel bad for Brian. Can you imagine publicly claiming you exhibited bravery for talking to your own (presumably contracted) employee and self-identified friend?
Third, I strongly agree with this part of Brian's conclusion - politicians "can and should be equally candid with the voters."
Liberals should let Nevadans know that in the next session, they plan on trying to pass a corporate income tax, which is the most volatile of all the major state taxes.
Unfortunately, the legislature has delayed the release of its tax study and likely won't put it out until after the election. This means that liberal legislators are trying to keep the public in the dark about their plans to raise taxes until after the election.
So today, I stand with Brian Greenspun and call on the legislative leadership - starting with Sen. Horsford and Assemblyman Oceguera - to be honest with the public about their plans to raise taxes in the 2011 Legislative Session.
To quote Greenspun:
"From that I learned politicians who have only a seat to lose - no bodily injury at risk - can and should be equally candid with the voters."
