Earlier this week, in a social media post WNDB talk show host Marc Bernier referred to members of a growing grassroots effort to protect your family and mine from the predatory practices of this Oligarchy that passes for local governance here in Volusia County as CAVE People – Citizens Against Virtually Everything.

I happen to like Mr. Bernier, but we’re going to have to agree to disagree on this one – because nothing could be further from the truth.

The number of civically active citizens opposed to the Volusia County half-cent sales tax initiative is growing daily as our family, friends and neighbors – many of whom have never been politically active before – stand firm to the core belief that handing more of our hard-earned money to the same inept assholes that created this “infrastructure emergency” through unchecked sprawl and an exploitative corporate welfare culture is fundamentally wrong.

These active and engaged members of our community should be applauded for their efforts – not maligned and marginalized.

In my view, it is refreshing to see so many Volusia residents rising in unison against this bloated, plodding bureaucracy that now exists to serve the needs, wants and whims of millionaires who view our tax dollars not as a sacred responsibility, but as a means to an end.

It is the very essence of good citizenship to fightback – to scream ‘enough-is-enough’ – then begin the arduous process of reestablishing a government that serves all of its constituents as we work collaboratively to restore the public’s trust in our once-revered political processes.

It’s easy for our ‘powers that be’ to be dismissive of those who speak truth to power – who call bullshit and point out the inherent danger to our representative democracy of having a clique of incredibly influential power brokers at the Volusia CEO Business Alliance ramrod a sales tax scheme that will ultimately serve as an efficient pass-through from our pockets to theirs.

Watching these greedheads manipulate our elected officials like Edger Bergen’s dummy is not only embarrassing – it’s scary.

Think about it.

Have you ever seen a local sales tax initiative directed, funded and promoted almost exclusively by uber-wealthy insiders with an established profit motive?   

Have you ever seen our local politicians engage in such open electioneering – taking their marching orders from a highly paid shill hired to run an “education and marketing campaign” –  and openly promoting this shameless money grab to their constituents? 

Then, ask yourself – Why?

In coming weeks, We, The People will see a no-holds-barred push on social media – supported by an aggressive direct mail offensive – designed to sell this expensive sham to the citizens of Volusia County.

Don’t be fooled.

If you feel as I do that this parasitic, unaccountable and seemingly insatiable contrivance – a “government” in name only – now wholly controlled by a few uber-wealthy individuals and their corporate cronies that have made a cottage industry out of funding their private projects with public funds – then let’s stop enabling and perpetuating our own victimization.

I rarely tell anyone how to vote – but this is different.

Please VOTE NO! on the Volusia County half-cent sales tax scam.

Let’s let our elected officials and their puppet masters know that there is some shit we won’t eat – and begin the important process of returning trust and accountability to local government.

 

(Photo Credit: The Daytona Beach News-Journal)