Indiana

Still Waiting

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

A couple weeks ago, I wrote the following column which appeared in the Indianapolis Recorder.  I issued a friendly challenge to AM 1310’s Amos Brown to debate the merits of Kernan-Shepard and township government and its impact on the African-American Community.  Amos still hasn’t gotten back to me yet, but if he takes me up my offer  I’ll be sure to let you know.  It would be a fun debate.

As you and your family sit down and try to figure out how to make ends meet in one of the worst economies in the last 60 years, picture this.

Picture a school district in Southern Indiana where the school board voted to give itself the same taxpayer-funded health insurance its teachers and administrators.

Picture a Mayor of one of the largest cities in Northern Indiana driving to Indianapolis in a taxpayer-funded Hummer H3 to tell state lawmakers his city is strapped for cash and it needs to increase its property taxes so businesses can pay more.

Picture a Central Indiana township trustee who spends more than $2.50 to administer every $1 of poor relief.

Do you see the big picture?

This is the government you are paying for and this is the government my counterpart Amos Brown is defending.

In his December 31 ?Just Tellin It? column, Mr. Brown all but equated efforts to reform local government and make it more efficient as an effort to eliminate black-elected officials in Indiana and bring back Jim Crow.   In the immortal words of Public Enemy, ?Don?t Believe the Hype.?

Government restructuring and reorganization is not about black politicians, but the money in black people?s (and ever other Hoosiers?) pockets. Indiana has more government per capita than the state of New York.  It has more counties than the state of California.  It has two-percent of the nation?s population, but eight percent of all the local officials.  Also the number of elected officials would fill up half of Conseco Field House.   

You, like a lot of us, are probably concerned about this economy and your finances, do really want to pay for more government than you need?  Depending on how you do the math there are anywhere from 40 to 66 taxing districts in Marion County capable of reaching into your pocket and taking your cash.  You?re even still paying for government that doesn?t exist anymore.  The former township assessors of Marion County will each get $54,000 in salary over the next two years, even though the taxpayers voted to eliminate their positions.   

In the long run, less government eventually translates into more money in your pocket. In the short run there is more accountability.  Part of the problem with this past year?s property taxes was that there was no accountability.  There were so many fingers being pointed in so many different directions it looked like an octopus with its tentacles tied up in knots.

Mr. Brown?s positions on Kernan-Shepard are wrong and do a disservice to the African-American community he purports to inform.  Reforming government is about protecting taxpayers, not politicians. Less government means more accountability and eventually more money in your pocket, period. 

Now should Mr. Brown wish to engage in a public debate over government reform and have the Recorder as the sponsor, I am more than willing to accept that challenge.  All we would need to agree upon is a time and place.   Heck, we could probably sell more tickets than an Ali/Frazier match. 

But in the interim, I suggest you read the Kernan-Shepard report for yourself and get the real facts and then ask yourself this question.  Who should keep more of the money you work for, the government or you?

I?ll pick you any day.

 

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on January 30, 2009 (boomark / email).