Responding to Nancy L. Driggs’ response to my letter to the Sakonnet Times (September 29th), the Newport Daily News and the Fall River Herald News (both during the preceding week), in which I voice severe criticism of the Referendum proposed to take the place of the Tiverton Financial Town Meeting:
The points I make are all distinct possibilities and therefore none are “lies”, as averred by Ms. Driggs.
The chief problem with the proposed Referendum is that it requires each citizen to do the same work as the elected Budget Committee. While closely watching the process unfold and making one’s wishes known........in a representative democracy, the notion of each citizen being urged to present his/her own budget will quickly lead to chaos.
The myriad of budgets that would surely be proposed would be enough to bore, offend or annoy any populace. The opportunities for financial mischief in this proposal are endless. If you are concerned about the lawsuits that have been initiated because of past Financial Town Meetings, they will be as nothing compared to the blizzard of suits we will see, if the FTR were to be adopted.
The genesis of this proposal is not the well-being of Tiverton the town or its citizens. Rather, it is the aversion of some of the wealthy and some of those who anticipate (through rose-colored glasses) of becoming wealthy, to the concept of progressive taxation. Progressive Taxation means two things: (1) At a fixed rate, as for real estate valuation, if you own valuable property, the amount of tax you pay will be higher than others pay; and (2) if you earn a lot, your earnings will be taxed at a progressively higher rate, as the amount of your earnings rises.
And there is an irrefutable logic that supports this: Those who enjoy greater material wealth do and will benefit more from the use of our “Commons” (air, water, roads, sewage disposal, schools, police and fire services, natural resources) than those who are not as wealthy; it is a supremely fair and legitimate method of taxation.
The proposed FTR is a crass attempt to subvert this system by hiding a morass of details and impossible conditions in a sea of words.
As for my affiliation with the Tiverton Democratic Town Committee, Ms. Driggs implies that I should be wearing a scarlet “D” whenever I venture out in public (h/t: my friend David). The truth is that most this diverse group of fine people are dedicated public servants, employed or volunteers, often both. Every reader who is interested in the Town’s vital needs is invited to join us. We will help you magnify your voice in our representative democracy.
Harris Gruber
Tiverton, RI
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