By Dave Golembewski
All my life I have believed in democracy. When I first moved to Arizona I voted on sales tax in Maricopa County. Then some twenty years later, I moved to Payson in Gila County and learned we weren’t allowed to vote on sales taxes here. I was even ridiculed in a council meeting by a Mayor for asking him to allow the people to vote on a sales tax increase. He asked how I would vote . I said,
“ I’d vote no.” He said, “Then why would I allow you to vote?” and laughed at me. I was also told by a Councilman that we (they) vote for the people because most people are too uneducated on the issues. I was in shock. First, I believed in no taxation without representation and in educating voters on the issues. Representation meant putting taxes (raising or lowering) on the ballot, and also letting voters tell you where they want it spent if it is raised. Just like in the Valley where we voted on increasing sales taxes to build stadiums, etc. In Payson they just raised the sales tax without the people’s vote. I’m for changing our Bylaws in Payson and possibly the State of Arizona to not raising sales tax without the vote of the people. Other Important issues I believe in are educating people and stuffing the ballot for them to make a lot of decisions on election dates. In between that I believe in representing what the majority of the people want. I call that a true representative of the people. I don’t know how our country got started on representing special interest groups. But I do know why it happened, it’s called Greed. Mr. Greed bought out Mr. Representative. We have to get back to what our Forefathers wanted in the Constitution. They wanted the people to be represented and enact their own taxes for the benefit of all people, not just a few. So think ???? on the Fourth of July ???????? if you want someone that represents you and wants you to vote for yourselves, and will change laws to benefit you, then enjoy your freedom to vote by voting for someone who will fight for you.???? Happy Holiday and Vote 4 Dave! ????
