Ballot Questions

[Marc]

Again I agree, except for the fact that the public isn't really educated on infrastructure. In general they don't understand needs or associated costs. not in the slightest. If you did that you would end up with a lot of pretty things above ground and crumbling less sexy but probably more essential things underground.

Isn't that more or less what we have now?

[raider.adam]

In concept I agree with you. Except, I would say the general public has no idea of the needs for infrastructure... especially for the subsurface out of sight out of mid work needed. In addition, are you going to have a vote for every improvement ever needed?
I guess it comes down to picking your poison, the corrupt politician or the clueless public. i am not claiming I have the answers here and these aren't new problems.

The referendum required for bond measures is already required by law. Specifying and binding the cost centers they are for increases transparency.

False dichotomy. Of course not every improvement is going to be voted on. But you could put a ballot question like this:

Borrow $111.3 million dollars to be allocated as follows:
$30 million transit
$30 million streets
etc etc.
City Council will not have the authority to modify these amounts.

Now there are also problems with that kind of system, but nothing's going to be perfect.

Correct. You make the bond money legally binding to certain cost centers.

Again I agree, except for the fact that the public isn't really educated on infrastructure. In general they don't understand needs or associated costs. not in the slightest. If you did that you would end up with a lot of pretty things above ground and crumbling less sexy but probably more essential things underground.

So you are saying if the public got more details about spending and bond issues, they would be less likely to vote for them?

[qweezyq]

The referendum required for bond measures is already required by law. Specifying and binding the cost centers they are for increases transparency.



Correct. You make the bond money legally binding to certain cost centers.



So you are saying if the public got more details about spending and bond issues, they would be less likely to vote for them?

Well from what you (i think it was you... don't feel like reading upwards on it) are saying, voters vote yes to every ballot question. So I guess tying it to certain cost centers wouldnt really matter and in this case would be a good thing. But yes, if voters actually didnt vote in favor of every spending question in philly, I am do not think they would make the right decisions when it comes to where to spend the money in infrastructure.

[govtstatistic]

I could think of quite a few questions here is a good one
that some are voting for overseas

comments are very interesting

[govtstatistic]

Surprisingly A Lot Of Questions Are Being Raised Overseas . I Woner Why Some Of These Questions Are Not Being Asked Here In The USA ? ?

Show Fuel Tax
The Suns Front Page Seems To Be Having The Same New U.N Taxes Wanting To Be Implemented Worldwide
Oh Well Keep Digging America
Someone Has To Live High Off Of Your Wages
Politics In England

[govtstatistic]

Where Do I Sign Up For Wanting
Bigger Business,
Bigger Government
Bigger Banks
And Bigger Wall Street
All With Bigger Unaccountability