Political fear...

Fear.

It's an interesting political tactic which has been used through the ages, from the oval office and halls of congress, all the way to the council chambers of small-town Texas. Yes, it's a powerful — and, at times, completely debilitating — force, especially in the hands of someone who knows how to use it.

Unfortunately, I can't help but feel like that's exactly what's happening on our Big Spring City Council today, as council members — or maybe I should say member, depending on your school of thought — are being openly bludgeoned with it before our very eyes.

During the most recent meeting of the Big Spring City Council, I couldn't help but take exception to an exchange between Mayor Tommy Duncan and newly elected District 4 Councilman Bobby McDonald.

The issue at hand was an ordinance calling for a special election to be held to decide whether to do away with the existing Type A economic development corporation and replace it with a Type B corporation. The change would allow the Big Spring EDC an opportunity to undertake more diverse projects, however, many local officials fear the move is simply a means to turn the sales tax-funded agency into a cash cow for municipal projects which would normally require municipal dollars.

McDonald, who has been a supporter of Type A economic development for quite some time now, expressed his unwillingness to see the EDC done away with and Type A economic development in the Crossroads area abandoned, which drew what I can only describe as a rather disturbing statement from Duncan.

“Are you saying you don't want the people to vote on this?” Duncan asked McDonald, a first-term council member who only took the seat in May. And while McDonald tried his best to answer the mayor's question with diplomacy, Duncan continued to grill him, asking him over and over if he didn't want to let Big Spring voters weigh in on the issue.

Regrettably, McDonald did what any politician put in such a position would do — he retreated. Why? Because, as you well know, to answer Duncan's question with a “yes” would be an act of political suicide, especially when it's well known and documented Duncan is more than willing to go out and campaign for council candidates to ensure he gets the governmental body he wants.

However, that brings us to a very complicated question, which, put simply, is should every major decision be left up to the voters, not just in Big Spring, but in every city or county?

Where this becomes tricky is the line drawing. Seriously, what do you consider a major decision? For me, it's likely anything costing more than $100 (and you thought reporters were big spenders, didn't you). However, when city and county budgets run into millions and millions of dollars each year, where do you draw the line? What do you consider voter-worthy?

The citizens of Big Spring elect their council members and other elected officials based on one, singular idea: That person will vote their conscience and keep their constituents' best interests in mind. However, to hear Duncan talk about it, our city council should be trusted with little more than restocking the restrooms with toilet paper and urinal cakes.

Why, as District 3 Councilman Glen Carrigan has said several times, why should seven people (the council) be making these decisions for 27,000-plus people?

And, let's not forget just how good it sounds. Really, Mr. McDonald? You dare to take away the people's voice? You dare to deny them their chance to exercise their democratic rights?

Unfortunately, there is something of a sideways truth to the mayor's logic, but it's not a truth Duncan is going to like. Try to stay with me.

Duncan has made it clear one of his biggest goals as mayor is to get the tax rate down. He makes no bones about it and doesn't even try to hide his contempt for the city's current 94.95-cent property tax rate. That's just too high. Why, whoever let it get that high, they must be insane! Right?

Well, let's look at the 2011-2012 tax rate. It consists of 61.9725 cents for the general fund, which provides for day-to-day operation of the city; 8.5 cents for the narcotics task force; 0.7133 cents for certificates of obligation which paid for the new annex at the municipal animal shelter; 2.8801 cents for certificates of obligation which paid for the aquatics center; and 20.8841 cents for the 2007 bond projects to revamp Roy Anderson Sports Complex and fix the downtown streets.

Looking at this, whoever approved that 2007 bond is the fiscal predator who put Duncan on his political course, squeezing dollars from municipal departments and line items like a chupacabra wrings the marrow from its victim's bones.

Oh, wait a minute. That bond was approved by the voters.

The same folks Duncan is pandering too and the same folks he is trying to get McDonald to alienate so the newly elected councilman won't likely seek a second term. Without that bond, the city of Big Spring would have a ratty sports field, downtown streets even worse than they are now, a 74.0659 cent tax rate and, possibly, a mayor without a tax-axe to grind.

Our elected officials have completely lost their nerve. They have lost the ability to make the tough decisions and, instead, would rather just pass it off to the voters, many of which will never lift a finger to educate themselves on the issue.

Of course, it's so much easier to get re-elected when you never have to make a decision on an issue, just decide whether or not it should go to the voters. I wonder why the state and federal government hasn't already caught on to this wonderful idea? Oh, I know ... Because it defeats the purpose of having elected officials in the first place.

Like I said ... Fear, it's such an interesting political tactic.