Who Will Control Our Government? (Part 5)

Preface: This series of articles, detailing reflections from over the years, will continue over the next week. I welcome any feedback. Miss earlier parts? .

Part 5.  The Question is Fast Becoming Whether We Will Have a Democratic System of Government or a Corporately Controlled Government.

It is frustrating being a citizen in Albany and watching what is going on across the nation. After all, our city government actually works well. It would work even better if it were not so affected by the political dynamics at the state or federal level.

Albany, like all local jurisdictions, is impacted by the concerted effort to cut taxes and spending. Albany receives federal and state monies (tax revenues) for any number of projects.

Street improvements, paving projects, sewer systems, police and fire equipment, bicycle paths, and park improvement at one time or another have been partially or fully funded by state or federal tax revenues.

Our school district receives enormous amounts of state funding, as well as some federal funds.

When the federal or state governments cut back, local governments and school districts lose vital funds. Programs are cut. Maintenance is deferred. Employees are laid off. The residents either do with less or have to pass additional tax measures to make up for the loss.

REDEVELOPMENT 

The most recent example of a tax takeaway in Albany is the loss of redevelopment monies.

The state, in an effort to address its own budget crisis, has essentially legislated away the local tax benefits that historically inured to Albany and other local governments.

Albany, like other local governments, have lost a revenue source that allowed for refurbishing of the community. The loss of funds, whether redevelopment or other types, degrades the community and our quality of life.

These governmental cutbacks accomplish another goal of those who dislike government. Government becomes less effective and less able to accomplish the purpose of protecting the health and welfare of the community.

The community then gets disillusioned with government.

LOCAL TAX MEASURES

Over the years, Albany voters have approved numerous tax measures to counteract the loss of revenues.

To maintain a top-notch first responder ambulance program in the Fire Department, the citizens dug into their pockets.

When the schools needed additional funding due to the state cutting revenues allocated to the Albany Unified School District, the citizens stepped up.

When other shortfalls occurred in the city’s general fund because of state or federal takeaways, Albany residents backfilled the general fund losses by passing increases to real property transfer taxes and utility user taxes.

Our citizens have made a strong statement. We don’t want to cut taxes to spite ourselves. We want our taxes to be used for the betterment of our community, for the general welfare of all.

The onslaught of anti-tax measures at the federal and state levels are a threat the welfare of all citizens. Our governmental institutions should not be a playground reserved for the super rich and their corporate aliases to increase their wealth at the expense of our communities.

The anti government, small government advocates do not just try to cut government’s revenues. Even though the Republican mantra, in particular, is to support local control, if local control is not to their liking, then they make sure to preempt it.

In the 1980s, Albany could regulate the local cable company. It could even have a say in cable rates. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 deprived cities of local control over cable companies and other communication technologies.

A bipartisan majority in Congress was happy to restrict local regulation for the benefit of those communication giants who so generously contributed to their campaigns. And this is business as usual in Congress and even at the state level.

THE POWER TO PROTECT

Local governments can also be denied the power to protect the community from environmental degradation, and to protect the general welfare of its citizens.

The Bush administration signed laws preventing appropriate environmental review at the local level of “fracking practices” used by the natural gas drillers.

The Republican-controlled legislature in Florida is attempting to deny Florida counties and cities the power to enact or enforce wage and hours laws.

Don’t believe the politicians when they say we need to cut regulation. They are liars. They like regulation. Only the regulation they like tends to permit the irresponsible degradation of the environment, to allow for the emasculation of laws protecting workers, and to make it impossible for government to protect citizens against improprieties of big corporate interests.

Ultimately, without appropriate regulatory control, citizens will be helpless. There is an old saying “You can’t fight city hall.”

We are on the road to a new saying: “You can’t fight the big corporations.”  

The bottom line question is whether citizens wish to be governed by democratic institutions or by corporations.

Have no delusions, our country will be governed. It is now only a question whether there will be a democratic system of government or one that is corporately controlled.

This series will continue later this week. Miss earlier parts? .