Voting Is Confusing

We poor, dumb citizens. We're so easily confused.

In the past few days, several local politicians have claimed that having two tax-related issues on the November ballot would be too confusing. Would that short out your mind, having two tax thingies to vote on?

One has already got a lock on the ballot. It's the scheme to raise the sales tax one-fourth of a cent for VIA to spend on various transportation issues. It has the blessing of the high wazoos at city hall.

The other tax-related issue - the poor, abandoned orphan - is to add one-eighth of a cent to the sales tax, to buy aquifer land to keep it away from the developers. San Antonio already voted Yes on this once, and $65-million went to preserve a lot of good land. Now the proposal is to do that again and buy more land.

City Hall apparently hates the idea of keeping land from developers. Council members don't want to even allow it on the ballot in November.

Voting on it might confuse you, some of 'em say.

You poor, dumb, slack-jawed, drooling taxpayers. Good thing your elected officials are watching out for your welfare, huh!

Brad Messer, commentary, KTSA.