Politicians are fad followers, according to the Reason blog, Out of Control. Let’s look at the list and see if we can recognize any of the trends:
If you’re an elected official and you want to be “with it,” there is of course the issue of big box retailers. Here you have two choices: ban them or clear the way for them by using eminent domain. In other words, don’t just stand on the sidelines like a dope.
You have to show your love for hybrids by offering them special perks, you have to show that you’re hip to the technology scene by wi-fiing your town. Speaking of hip, you should offer tax breaks to performance artists or do anything possible to attract the “creative class” to your city or state.
Of course, you have to ban smoking, but that never goes out of style. You should get yourself a light rail system, a sports stadium, convention center, and possibly even a convention center hotel. How else are you going to make your home town “world class“?
And of course you have to push for anti-outsourcing laws like this one[…]
[snip]
And don’t let anyone tell you that the purpose of government is to protect rights. The purpose of government is to raise as much revenue as possible by any means necessary.
We started off a bit slow there, since Houston doesn’t appear to be against big box retailers, but there is talk of eminent domain. We don’t really appear to pick up steam ’til we get to the smoking ban, which is a hot topic right now for a few councilmembers, the mayor and 30 demonstrators.
And before you know it, we are on the cutting edge of political fads: we’ve got light rail, sports stadiums, an expanded convention center and even a convention center hotel! We must be “world class“! Woo hoo!
I haven’t heard talk of outsourcing laws, but we do get points for a strong close, because we have a mayor who has dedicated himself to raising as much revenue as possible by (almost) any means necessary.
Isn’t it great to be a fad-following city?
(Old) Forum Comments (10)
