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Friday, Oct. 30, 2009

ERICKSON: Vote “No Confidence”

You probably have not heard. In fact, I am sure you have not heard. There is an election in Bibb County this coming Tuesday, Nov. 3. There is only one real issue on the ballot — should our local taxes go up to fund the public school system? It is an ESPLOST vote.

Why have you not heard about the vote? Probably because the school board is scared to death that you will do to the school board what the school board has been doing to you — shutting you out.

I know there is some irony in a Macon city councilman daring to criticize another local governmental body, but given that I am happy to do the same to the city government, I would ask for some latitude here. Despite all the dysfunctional nonsense that comes out of City Hall and the County Commission, our county would not truly be in the dire straits we are in, but for the school system’s failures. If doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result is the definition of insanity, we need straight jackets and thorazine for our school board.

The school board says this vote is for capital improvements. They say most people who pay the special tax are from out of town. They say this money will be wisely used. They say they need the money. But when is the last time our school system has done something we can really trust?

Have you forgotten about the discharge of the gun, for which the school system offered no satisfactory answers? What about the violence in several schools that would have largely gone unheard of except for callers to local talk radio shows? What about rushing through, sight unseen, a big pay raise for the school superintendent, only to then cut salaries and furlough teachers? What about the burgeoning school bureaucracy that operates inefficiently, consuming resources that could better be spent in classrooms?

Our child will start elementary school next year. She will go into the public school system here in Bibb County. I do not like the thought of denying the school system the money it claims to need for capital improvements, but I have lost trust in our school system.

What I know to be undeniably true, both from my experience in elected office and from my day job as a political writer frequently rallying people to take action against government, is that often times when we keep reelecting the same people no matter what they do, they gradually become detached from their voters. Politicians who can reliably expect reelection and the maintenance of the status quo become tone deaf. We see this at the federal, state and local levels.

Occasionally, voters must punch the government in the nose, metaphorically, to get it to pay attention. It is the political equivalent of hitting the television to get the picture to come on.

This is one of those times.

The school board knows the public is unhappy. That is precisely why they are pushing this election with minimal public notice — flying under the radar, hoping only those who support them will turn out while desperately not making eye contact lest people notice what is happening.

Showing up en masse Nov. 3 to vote against the ESPLOST will send a no confidence vote to the school system. It is exactly what needs to be done to get the school board’s attention to present problems thus far ignored or glossed over.

Erick Erickson is a Macon City Councilman.