As I sit at the computer and stare aimlessly into space, my throat is kinda dry. Through my mind’s eye I see a shriveled up tumbleweed rolling across a dusty street. And, although I feel like Gary Cooper at high noon, I hear the theme song from The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence, playing.
There’s no way to win this gunfight. I don’t have a horse in this race, nor a stake in the outcome.
And yet folks have continued to call on me to help them. I don’t write anymore. We need your help. I don’t live here, I don’t vote here, what I think or say or write, really doesn’t matter.
Neither did my objections. Me, small-time scribe, a hired gun I became.
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On February 24, good-folk from these parts will take to the polling booths to determine the fate of an Oxford Schools bond extension. During the past few weeks there’s been a lot of gun-slinging going on . . . people from both sides of the fight have penned their opinions. Those against, stand on their principles of over-taxation. Thems for, emotionally stand up for their right to give Oxford students the best they can get.
Contrary to what both extremes may believe, each is a little bit wrong and each is a little bit right.
Yep, plain and simple, the bond extension is a tax increase. Government folks like to weasel around and say it ain’t because taxes aren’t going up. True. But an increase it still is. There is no way around it, stop saying it isn’t an increase, you only help further your opponents? argument.
It’s true, there is plenty in this bond proposal that, quite frankly, isn’t a necessity. And, were I the grand-pooba of all that is true and virtuous in Oxford, I would have called in at least one known person inclined to vote against a bond, and enlisted them. I would’ve charged that person to find what is wrong with my proposal from the get-go, to have the truest and fairest proposal ever. I would not just get a bunch of like-minded folks together and say, ‘What do you want? Go for it.?
But, that is a societal problem, not limited to Oxford.
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All that said, I asked myself, if I did live within the confines of the Oxford School District, would I vote for this bond extension?
If this bond passes will students, or the district, or taxpayers be harmed, maimed or labeled stupid? No.
If this bond passes will Oxford schools be improved? Yes.
If this bond passes will students and community members at large have more opportunities? Yes.
Would improved schools help the district attract more folks to move into foreclosed or vacant homes? Yes.
Would new/more residents buy more Oxford Leader newspapers? Hopefully.
Would I vote for this bond extension? Yes, I would, but I would not be surprised if it failed.
And, if it fails supporters cannot, nor should they try to, blame this newspaper. If it fails, it is not the end of the world . . . another extension, bond or election will be around the corner quicker than you can say, ‘that’s a lotta? talk for a one-eyed fat man.?
Should this bond fail, supporters need not be angry at folks who disagree with them. They need only draft a better proposal next time. It is not an ‘us versus them? scenario.
Conversely, if this bond passes, opponents need not cry foul and call voters emotionally led mental midgets. They need only be involved earlier in the next race.
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There you go, the good, the bad and the ugly, as I, a lowly scribe sees it.