In the House of Wood

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November 10, 2011

In the House of Wood

Grant me this Wish

Steve Woodhouse Journal-Express The Zope Gazette Thu Nov 10, 2011, 02:42 PM CST

Knoxville —

First of all, I want to congratulate Liz Mathis on her election to the State Senate in District 18. Her election gives me hope for the 2012 session within the Senate.

It will be good to have a journalist among the ranks of the Senators. There may already be some that I’m not aware of, and if there are, they are not doing a good enough job of standing against the impediment of the democratic process.

I know Liz to be an independent thinker, someone who will not let Senate leadership, like Mike Gronstal, tell her how to vote. I believe she will vote her conscience, as to the feeling of the people of her district.

In fact, one of the first things I believe she can do would be to suggest a new Democrat leader in the Senate. Perhaps someone who can first of all, hold his/her caucus together, but someone who will realize that the role of Senate Majority Leader is not equated to dictator.

If Gronstal could hold his caucus together, he could easily defeat any vote in the Senate. There is nothing wrong with him fighting passionately for his beliefs, trying to persuade others and voting his conscience. There is something wrong with abusing your power to block a vote.

For all I know, Liz could be tight buddies with Gronstal and will stick up for him. She may be an extreme liberal, as it’s been 13 years since I’ve spent much time with her. But one thing that I’m sure she’s not is a partisan sheep. It doesn’t fit her personality.

The next item that Liz, or any other legislator for that matter, should address is the proposed 10-cent a gallon gasoline tax. There should not be an increase, at least not without examining current revenue to the state government and reviewing its allocations.

I realize that’s a crazy idea to a politician. “Try to genuinely undo some handout program? That might cost me some votes.”

Despite their irrational way of thinking, it is the only way to preserve this Republic, and it starts here at home.

For instance, Knoxville is discussing an expansion of its multi-use/bike trail. They have received grant funding for this, and will likely seek more. While I am not positive where this funding comes from, chances are, it comes from tax money. Even if it’s not, the state’s got to get it somewhere. As we know, government has no money that it has not taken from someone else.

So if you’re going to continue to take this money from people or businesses in an economy in decline, why don’t you try to be at least moderately sensible and reallocate the money to where there may be a greater need?

I realize a hike in the gas tax will raise a lot more money than what the magic genie known as the state government doles out in grants. Nevertheless, there is no reason the genie can’t look beyond these grants or current road funding and put more of the wish-granting power (money) it receives, into roads.

I’m using the metaphor of a genie in this case because this trail funding is only sought for economic development. It’s another way government can pick winners and losers.

Towns want these trails in the hopes of attracting families. What brings families to a town are good-paying jobs, good schools and affordable housing.

Taxes can strain the private sector’s ability to create more jobs. Throwing money into public schools without addressing real issues affecting students (which are at home, and not really government affairs) does not make them better. Do I really need to say anything about affordable, quality, stable housing?

So my hope for Liz is that she will crusade to put the genie back in the bottle, reduce Gronstal to rank and file and use a journalist’s no-nonsense mentality to try to fix this state. Is that too much to ask?

Take care of yourself and thank you for reading.

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Grant me this Wish

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