The autumn of our discontent...

A lot of incumbents, both individuals and political parties, took quite a bashing in this fall’s election. Probably one of the biggest upsets in the state occurred in the Mayor’s race in Indianapolis. Both parties are still in shock over that one. New Castle elected its first Republican Mayor in 56 years. City Councils across the state are going too see a lot of personnel changes come January 1st.

I guess it’s a good thing that 20 some percent of the population decided that changes needed to be made. Some may have felt that taxes needed to be lowered, or that spending needed to be trimmed, or both. Some may have thought switching a Republican for a Democrat, or a Democrat for a Republican would achieve the desired effect.

Sorry folks, it’s not going to happen. Lowering taxes and reducing spending requires downsizing the government. That’s not something Republicans and Democrats do very well. In Indianapolis, Mayor Ballard and his Council will not spend significantly less money than Mayor Peterson and his Council. Taxpayers will continue to pay for the new stadium that is being built, and the old stadium even after it is torn down.

A year from now, the vast majority of taxpayers in New Castle, Muncie and Indianapolis will have seen no difference in the cost of government from the changes made in this election.

Hopefully a few more small government candidates will step forward before the next election, and a few more taxpayers and voters will be ready for a real change.