Guerrilla theater dates from the mid-1960s. According to Michael William Doyle, it was performances by “Marxian cadre” based on New Left politics and a manifesto from Che Guevara – in other words, it was staged political propaganda. I like the term so much I’ve expanded my personal definition to include all forms of staged political propaganda regardless of philosophy.
With elections shortly in the offering, we are already being exposed to guerrilla theater at almost every turn. This ranges from President Obama’s visit to the 38th parallel for the classic binocular shot, to Mitt Romney’s meet-and-greet at Cousins Subs Sandwich Shop in Waukesha, Wis., to the short parade of people urging the Hollister City Council last week to extend the city’s “temporary” sales tax, Measure T.
It’s hard to believe that those folks coincidentally showed up on the same night to promote a non-agenda item, but no one mentioned any group or plan. Why not just admit it was a staged effort coordinated by someone, probably in the city government or on the staff, looking for cover – “I can’t tell you what to do, but it would be nice if you all showed up on Tuesday.”
Not a single speaker mentioned that the tax proposal is probably going to be for a 10-year extension! By the time all current and future “temporary” taxes expire, your 15-year-old will be 30 and their children – your grandchildren – will be 10 years old. “And don’t mention $40 million or a decade of taxes,” says the invisible advisor. “They do not poll well.”
I’m sympathetic toward those whose primary concern is the animal shelter. The city has had many years to set up a system to fund the shelter’s operational costs, but they have failed to do so preferring to hold the animal lovers hostage to a broad tax policy – “Support this sales tax or the animals will suffer” is the message. It’s a cruel but effective strategy, ripping the heartstrings of the shelter’s supporters and volunteers.
I’m less sympathetic toward the employees who say the tax is, “only pennies a day,” when they pulled in almost $5 million in city-paid benefits in 2009-2010 including $620,000 to cover their share, but paid by the city with taxpayer’s money. If they are concerned about services, why don’t they immediately start paying their full share? Some employees were paid off with a triple pay raise for supporting the last tax – the fact that we ran out of money before it all came to fruition just shows how ill advised the decision was.
I’m not at all sympathetic toward the Gavilan College trustee, Kent Child, who supported the tax on all the ordinary working families after the board, including Child on the supporting end, recently voted in an obscene $42,000 annual pay raise for the college president. As with all guerrilla theater, there comes a point where it goes so over the top and you just can’t take it anymore. That was the point for me. That is not merely chutzpah – it’s contempt for the taxpayers who are looked upon as a milk cow for the entitled.
It should be obvious by now that a majority of the Hollister City Council intends to use the same strategy that got them more than $19 million in sales taxes last time. There will be no plan and no permanent reform, just the same old script: The house is offering only Armageddon or higher taxes, and no side bets, please.
This version of guerrilla theater always has the same plot and the same players, but at least the admission is free and, if you like tragicomedy, it’s a must-see.
Marty Richman is a Hollister resident. He will be taking a few weeks off starting next week.
