An Open Letter to the SF Chronicle Insight section
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/05/11
/IN276627.DTL
<http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/05/1
1/IN276627.DTL>
Dear Insight,
It's too bad Michael Yaki chose to "make book" on the mayoral race than
discuss issues in his May 11th article "SF mayoral hopefuls make a run
for the roses." Sadly, this is normal in San Francisco's
self-destructive political environment where games are easier and more
entertaining than appealing to the better instincts of a largely
apathetic and uninformed public.
But a cool wind is blowing across San Francisco's recently balmy
landscape that signals tough times ahead. Like in California's
gubernatorial race, where economic fantasy trumped reality...until the
race was over; San Francisco's leading mayoral candidates also prefer to
not discuss the severity of our problems. Instead, candidates would
rather seduce sleepy SF voters with reassuring words about how we can
continue business as usual and avoid our day of reckoning if only we
would accelerate public spending and collect more taxes.
While leading candidates are "cautiously optimistic" about our
short-term economic prospects in public, City Controller Ed Harrington
isn't expecting anything until 2008. So what's the establishment's
solution? They are busy lobbying Sacramento to allow cities to charge
income taxes, currently illegal. My solution is to tell every department
in City Hall they have 15% less and then let the managers manage. And if
they can't figure it out, they should be replaced. When City Hall's
revenue plummeted 30% in 2001, instead of acting responsibly, they spent
our surplus. The following year, they cut only 4%. If businesses
operated like City Hall, we'd all be out of business.
Michael Yaki, himself a San Francisco political casualty, might be right
about my odds. But if I go down, at least I will have honestly given my
best to promote ideas San Franciscans will need most in the tough days
ahead. The message of personal and economic freedom with corresponding
responsibility can inspire tolerance and cooperation to heal a troubled
and divisive San Francisco. Also, small government and free markets will
lead to a San Francisco renaissance, whereas more taxes and government
mandates will generate crime, more poverty, and unemployment. If this
message is ignored, San Franciscans will pay dearly in the days ahead
with the loss of wealth and Freedom they once enjoyed. Faced with this,
why wouldn't San Franciscans select a mayor that only wants "choice" for
citizens to do what they want rather than to take orders from special
interests lurking around leading candidates?
When Mr. Yaki left office, I wonder what odds he would have given that a
Green would soon be President of the Board of Supervisors. So if I don't
get out of the gate, it won't be because I'm Libertarian as he suggests.
The reason will be that too many San Franciscans preferred to "make
book" than get real. Unless this attitude changes in the public and
media, I give San Franciscans the same odds of winning in this election
that Michael Yaki gave me.
Michael Denny
Libertarian Candidate for San Francisco Mayor
www.MichaelDennyforMayor.com <http://www.michaeldennyformayor.com/>
(415) 986-7677 x123