Charlotte Mayor McCrory

Yesterday the two Republican candidates for Charlotte mayor had a "debate" on WBT 1110 with Jeff Katz. I found the mayor's responses to one particular issue (taxes) rather interesting. Both candidates were asked about the half-cent sales tax repeal that is on the ballot this fall.

First, a little background. Many years ago, the city of Charlotte asked Raleigh for permission to raise the sales tax. Raleigh gave that permission, but the city had to ask voters to approve the sales tax increase county-wide. The government PR-machine (paid for by taxpayers) went into high gear. This sales tax increase was to build a train. This train would be the best thing since the wheel. The train was going to solve every single problem in Charlotte from crowded schools to cancer. Well, it might not cure cancer, but the person who did cure cancer might ride on the train!

Over and over again the benefits of the train were brought out (100% lies, of course). They talked about how it would reduce congestion and save the planet. And they continued to say that these taxes would ONLY be used for the train and never would be used for anything else. The tax passed and the people anxiously awaited their savior in the Charlotte Rail And Public transport.

Now, back to yesterday. A repeal of the train sales tax is on the ballot this fall. The voters will decide if they want to repeal this tax now. The candidates were asked what they'd do if the tax were repealed. Now, I don't have an exact transcript of the mayor's words, but I'm pretty sure I've got just about what he said -- at least this is what is sounded like he meant:

Moderator: "Mayor McCrory, what will you do if the sales tax is repealed?

Mayor: Can I say that I'm very proud of everything I've ever done in my life first? I would reduce waste in the bus system. You see, we all know there's tons of waste there now, but we don't have to reduce it because you suckers keep paying for it. I'm very proud of the waste that's in the bus service. I just claim it's for the children, and you bums just give us more money. But if the tax were repealed, I'd have to trim that waste down some.

Next, I'm going to claim I'll cut bus services by 66%. I'm very proud that I will be able to cut the bus service. You see, I want that damn tax money to build my train, and I'm going to build that damn train, no matter what you stupid morons do. By claiming to cut the bus service by 2/3, I'm going for the inner-city vote. I'm very proud of my past election results in the inner city. But I'm going to scare them into thinking they won't be able to ride the bus any more if they vote for the tax repeal. I'm also trying to get the gang vote -- if they think their buses will be taken away, they'll support my efforts to keep the tax in place. I'm very proud of the way I, personally, have handled gangs in Charlotte.

Oh yeah, by the way -- you know that tax? Well 65% of the tax right now is going to pay for the buses. I'm very proud of that. Now I know the tax was passed to specifically and only be used for the train, but I'm amazed you idiots still believe us when we talk. When we get your money, we do whatever we want to with it. So we're using 65% of that money to support the current buses, which is why I'm going to threaten to take the buses away if the tax is repealed. And I'm proud that we have buses in Charlotte.

I also need more support against the repeal from the suburban voters, so I'm going to threaten to raise property taxes if you miserable bums dare to take my tax away from me. I'm proud to say that I know some suburban voters. I've never voted to raise taxes in Charlotte, and I'm proud of that. Yes, I'm well aware that people are paying 10 times what they were 5 years ago in taxes, but I didn't raise the property taxes. But if you people DARE to take my tax money away from my personal train, I'm telling you, I'm building that damn train anyway. We're going to build it up and down every direction we can find, no matter the cost. I'm proud that we've spent money on my watch.

So if you uneducated people who call yourself voters dare to repeal my tax, I'm going to raise property taxes and I'm going to cut the bus service, so don't test me. Just give me my damn money and no one will get hurt. And I'm proud that I'll be able to build the train no matter what.

Yes, he really did say he was proud that many times (or perhaps more). Don't you wish you could have this mayor for your very own?

Posted by: Ogre at 11:38 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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