CovOps
Location : Ether-Sphere Job/hobbies : Irrationality Exterminator Humor : Über Serious
| Subject: Chicago Taxpayers Strike Back Sat Aug 27, 2011 2:30 am | |
| WHEATLAND TOWNSHIP, Ill.—In these tough economic times, the sight of angry taxpayers filling the auditorium of a suburban high school isn't unusual.
But those gathered in this Chicago suburb earlier this month weren't facing off against impassive town officials. In a rare expression of direct democracy that invoked a 100-year-old state law, all 200 people present got to vote, and resoundingly overturned the township's plan to build a new $1.5 million civic office.
"We directed an out-of-control government to listen to the people," said Debra Holscher, the campaign's leader, who kicked off the insurrection by scribbling out a petition and getting 17 people to sign it at the town's annual meeting in April.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904070604576514413282874424.html?google_editors_picks=true |
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