Sonnet of '76 (With apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning)
By C.T. BOWEN
Published October 19, 2003
Why do I oppose thee? Let me count the ways.
I oppose thee to the depth and breadth and height my wallet can reach, when the tax out of sight for the ends of Republican and ideal Democrat no longer fight.
I oppose thee to the level of every day's most basic need, the classroom and highway and green space, indeed.
I oppose thee freely, as people strive far right; I oppose thee purely, as we turn to graze and ignore the plight.
I oppose thee with the passion put to use in my old beliefs, and with my children's lost faith I oppose the with an education battle I am deemed to lose.
With my lost saints - I oppose thee with the breath smiles, tears of all my life! And, if God (liberal California judges be darned!) choose - I shall but oppose thee better after death.
I oppose thee for the ballot placement is unfair. Autumnal beauty beckons turnout of others whose opinions we share. The spring is much too accommodating, representing a new birth. But statesman Bob Graham's departure allows us to chortle with our own renewed mirth.
I oppose thee for rollbacks of tax rates we are due, but tied to a new sales levy, supporters will be few.
I oppose thee for complexities of language to go before the public. I oppose thee for specificity is more details than we wanted.
I oppose thee with poll data hard to comprehend. It doesn't matter really, I oppose thee universally in the end.
I oppose thee for the east Pasco commissioner portrayed himself as leaning to the right. Yet as chairman of this panel he is concerned about quality of life.
I could oppose thee with reservations, as the Democrats have done. 'Tis unfortunate education would benefit, or else opposition would be enthusiastic, unburdened by guilt of crossing teachers, environmentalists and other favored sons.
I oppose thee on roads, more growth it will bring. Spend it on potholes in front of my own house, then thee praises I will sing.
I oppose thee as I seek concurrency, a term few will understand. Tie new schools to development or else ban new housing on demand.
I oppose thee for reasons of frugality. It is true, we are cheap. That extra penny on the dollar will lead many of us to weep.
I oppose thee on the basis of history. We've helped kill four taxes in the past. New schools, no matter how worthy, rank somewhere close to last.
I oppose thee in a pitch to remain entirely unique. Who cares if 55 other counties charge it? For us they do not speak.
I oppose thee unequivocally, the reasons don't matter. You should have expected as much from the disciples of Arthur Laffer.
I oppose thee passionately in a quest all consuming. A tax cut, you say, and then fret about the details. It has reaffirmed our commitment and left us fuming.
Blasphemous are our brethren who say they support: Littlefield, Schrader, Mulieri and Simon. With pols like these, it's not easy to keep rhymin.' Don't forget Senator Crist who wants to help spend, and Governor Bush who promised financial rewards to locales that amend.
I oppose thee provincially, it is our county and the citizens' committee is stacked. On it sit a pair of out-of towners, we've good reason to be hacked.
I oppose thee with subterfuge, poor delineation and ill reason. It matters not, I say, it is the political season.
I oppose thee politically, with threats and intimidation. Better to bash, and arm twist and be abrasive.
I oppose thee for many reasons, but of this I am most sure.
The schools, the roads, the congestion? Let others worry about the cure!
