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>> If communities want to mortgage certain parts of their cities, that is their prerogative. This is not the community choosing to do so via, say, a referendum
by enraged_camel 8y ago
>> If communities want to mortgage certain parts of their cities, that is their prerogative.
This is not the community choosing to do so via, say, a referendum. This is an elected official making these decisions on behalf of, and without any input from, the community.
You might say, "but that's why we elect politicians!" But it's not so simple. People elect politicians to run the everyday affairs. A megacorporation asking your city for incentives in return for jobs and massive investment should be regarded as an extraordinary occurrence, and should be decided via a public vote.
- kodablah 8y ago> should be decided via a public vote Completely agree, but I am having a hard time reconciling that with my belief that if a citizenry wants to remove the handcuffs of its leaders to make these moves, they should be able to. I think transparency in public spending and negotiations is what we should be asking for at a higher level.
- Spivak 8y agoIt's not an extraordinary occurrence though, your state probably already hands out billions in subsidies, investments, and no recourse loans. If you don't trust your representative to act in your best interest in a negotiation then that's what's broken.
- enraged_camel 8y ago>>It's not an extraordinary occurrence though, your state probably already hands out billions in subsidies, investments, and no recourse loans. Not to a single entity.