ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, March 29, 1996 TAG: 9603290032
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
CITIZENS' INTEREST and involvement in their governments are, of course, things to be devoutly wished for and encouraged. Even in a city as well-run as Salem, grass-roots lethargy is inexcusable. Even in Salem, where residents' comfort level with their government is the envy of other municipalities, watchdog groups are helpful to have around.
Residents have a responsibility and a right to demand accountability from their elected representatives.
That said, we still can't muster much excitement or ecstasy over a small group of Salem residents, a very small group, that has zeroed in on taxes and fiscal policy, and seems intent on making them the central if not the only issue in upcoming councilmanic elections. Sorry, but taxes and possible tax increases aren't the only feature of civic life worth citizens' attention.
To be sure, the squeaky wheel that is the Salem Taxpayers Association is only an echo of what's going on elsewhere in the valley and country. Many Roanoke County residents are furious over increased property assessments, personal-property taxes, water and sewer bills, the proposed bond issue, etc. Many Americans, especially those experiencing flat or declining household purchasing power, aren't feeling good about their tax bills these days.
What of the public services and quality of life that such taxes pay for? What about the future, in which taxes are to some extent an investment? These are less considered, once taxophobia starts feeding off legitimate economic anxieties and less reasonable floating resentments.
This is not to suggest that residents of Salem (or neighboring jurisdictions) shouldn't question elected representatives' fiscal decisions. Officials at the local level, if less so than at the state and national levels, have been known to be spendthrifts when it comes to OPM (other people's money). Vigilance is the only antidote.
Taxpayers, though, exist in every political system, including tyrannies. Democracies have citizens, who are something more than taxpayers. And the civic interest isn't well-served when voters are urged by self-appointed taxpayers associations to put on blinders - to narrowly judge expenditures only as costs and not as investments, and candidates only as tax-raising risks.
Too often, the result is to encourage candidates into making unwise ``read my lips'' pledges never, ever to raise taxes - thus giving the politicians either a promise to break or an excuse for myopia and evasion of hard choices.
LENGTH: Short : 50 linesby CNB