Base10 saw a campaign commercial for Anthony Weiner. In it he suggested a tax cut--for the middle class of course. He said it would be funded by a small tax increase on the rich. I don't know, but it always seems that in these calculations, I end up being the rich taxee (even though I'm only a humble civil servant) instead of getting anything back.

But that's not what annoys me. As a matter of fact, this commercial didn't even feature the metaphor I'm about to describe--although the class warfare issue just mentioned come very close. Base10 hates when politicians use the 'fighting' metaphor.

You've heard it. Politician X will 'fight' for you. Politician Y is "fighting to protect the rights of women/men/children." Who exactly are you fighting? Is there a big enemy? Can you tell me who it is? The response is usually the "political establishment." You know, City Hall or Albany or DC insiders. But isn't the politician using the fight metaphor also one of that ilk?

I think the fight metaphor is really a way to divert attention from the fact that you're offering no real policy change. It's very easy to claim that, "I'll fight for you!" or make vacuous statements like "I'm against drugs in schools." These statements don't mean anything and don't commit the candidate to any real reform. Not there's anything wrong with running on the status quo if that's your position, but when was the last time you heard a candidate say that they would keep things exactly as they are. The fight metaphor candidate is really doing just that.

What about some suggestions for real reform? Is anybody making a plan to slash the size of city government and eliminate some city agencies? Do we really need a Department of Cultural Affairs? How about real and substantial tax cuts to spur growth? The City government should not be merely a jobs program. Where are the suggestions to privatize operations like the Department of Sanitation--services which operate privately at far lower cost in most cities. Health and Hospitals can surely privatize some hospital facilities as can the Department of Education. Why aren't we talking about these issues?

I'm not suggesting that all city services be privatized. Police and Fire must ceretainly remain core government services, but frankly just about everything else is up for grabs. The bottom line is each of these groups represent constituencies that the candidates do not wish to offend. So instead of beginning a debate in earnest they merely assert that they will "fight for you." If you ever hear this expression, try to figure out exactly what new policy this candidate will use to win this fight.

- posted by Base10 @ 11:26 AM