The elected serve those who elect them. The problem is that politicians have been targeting those who have no money while at the same time spending hell out of something that is not there. Doing it at a frightening pace.
I can explain it the only way I know.
In Washington State were I was stationed in the service.
In 2002 a 1,200 foot long, 60 foot wide, and 10 foot deep logjam in the Deschutes River threatening to seriously damage 22 properties. Homeowners were going to lose their homes.
Thurston County officials spent more than $100,000 to figure out that it would take another two months and $1.6 million to clean up the mess. The homeowners pulled together to clear the logjam. Knowing the county decided that was too much to spend on private property. Those homeowners spent $8,000 and unclogged the river in less than three weeks. They were able to keep costs low because many services were donated. They were given a free hydraulic permit and found a jail work crew to clear a roadway, a local logger who was willing to donate his time, and a local church to cut wood for low-income families. For some reason the county couldn't find a way to use these low-cost solutions. Maybe they didn't look very hard. But maybe there's no incentive when they're writing checks from someone else's account.
That's right folks your elected representatives seemed to have lost touch with people. Thurston County sent in a consultant at a price exceeding $50,000 if I remember the news. Just to go over there and look. Assess the cost and report back. There was a stuffed shirt with a tie who accepted that assessment and told those homeowners "sorry we can't help you" The homeowners claimed it was the county's responsibility to clear the logs. Legal wrangling ensued.
Those homeowners were losing homes because the water was backing up. They did the job for $8,000.00 instead of One Million Six hundred thousand dollars plus the assessment cost.
A damn good lesson for a politician.
The tax base is still paying the bill but dwindling as a voting base. Don't lose touch with your constituents. Most often the only time we see you is when you need a vote. Your funding for municipalities will dry up because we who pay these taxes will vote with our feet.
