Dean,
Wherever I go in the world I see "liberal" civic councils behaving this way. I say "liberal" because that is becoming a label that describes calculated manipulation by a determined, organized few to advantage minority interests, generally claiming a mandate granted by the disinterested public who are apparently fully aware that local taxes are for the purpose of social engineering agendas.
The odd thing is that these otherwise cunning people seem unable to see that the further they drag the pendulum off-center, the further and harder it will come crashing back.
Regards
j.R
"... They ne'er cared for us
yet: suffer us to famish, and their store-houses
crammed with grain; make edicts for usury, to
support usurers; repeal daily any wholesome act
established against the rich, and provide more
piercing statutes daily, to chain up and restrain
the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and
there's all the love they bear us."
-- Shakespeare: Coriolanus, Act 1, scene 1
