Watched another debate last night, Ed v. Mike. I have to say, despite being the unabashed Fisher partisan that I am, I thought Mike came off very well in the first half but utterly bombed the second half.
On the schools, Mike laid out his plan to have the citizens vote on whether they want to pay property taxes or go to a graduated income tax. This accomplishes three things: it keeps the burden off the state budget, it allows the people to pick their poison and it forces school boards to go back to the people and allow them to vote up or down every subsequent time the board wants to raise taxes. That’s about as democratic as it gets and it ensures your money stays local. Brilliant.
However, in the second half of the debate Mike began all his answers with a dig at Ed. Rather than just say what he’d do and move things along he began by saying what Ed had already screwed up…then he gave his answer. To me this came off as petty and if this is what’s meant by negative campaigning I can’t say I like it very much. When asked a question answer that question. Don’t try to put or take words from the other fellow’s mouth. Just answer the damn question.
Regardless, Ed kept flogging Philly as if that was something to be overwhelmingly proud about. He may have saved the city from total collapse but it’s still a damn sight away from being a truly viable proposition and doesn’t seem to be enjoying the renaissance of a New York or a Boston. Nor will it until the people of Philadelphia drag themselves away from the old Democratic machine way of doing things and cut taxes tremendously, destroy the unions and enforce all the laws. Philly, still a blue collar town.
So, I’ma voting for Fisher, no doubt, but I think he hurt himself last night. Pity the last debate of the election had to end on such a sour note.