I’m channeling my inner Reagan in the story’s headline but it bears mentioning that centralized planning bureaus wreak havoc on the prosperity free individuals create. The U-T Editorial Board’s campaign for a taxpayer-funded football stadium offered commentary from retired banker, former mayoral candidate, former Port of San Diego Chairman, and long-time supporter of taxpayer subsidized real estate development, Peter Q. Davis.
Mr. Davis simply says “We need the right plan” and he offers the Padres scheme as the template to get the taxpayers to fund it. As promised, I’ll refute the points offered each time the U-T Editorial Board campaigns for this:
While there are union jobs at 10th Avenue, they are few in number compared to the jobs that construction of hospitality uses and a new stadium would create.
Oh boy, a classic Keynesian argument. We already know about the Broken Window Fallacy so let’s dismiss that.
I call on them to open their books so the public can better understand what might be a fair contribution from them.
Financing private businesses, with taxpayer funds, isn’t the proper role of government. I discussed this yesterday when I described the success of the UT sale to local entrepreneurs:
The U-T editorial board knows this too. Four to five years ago, as daily print media were losing revenue, an idea for publicly-funded newspapers was floated. Nobody bought into it and newspapers had to retool or perish. The ones which perished were great acquisition targets for bold entrepreneurs, like Messrs. Manchester & Lynch, and have thrived since the right ownership took over. THAT is how the free market works.
I call on the candidates for mayor to take a strong and positive position supporting a public outreach program including the establishments of a commission to discuss in public the issues of public concerns. And, as with the Padres and the city, I call for a public vote once the location and financing plan have been negotiated.
The candidates would do well to discuss what IS the proper role of government. In my view, that’s to: provide a good infrastructure, field a competent police department, offer a fair and impartial justice system, guard the beaches, have good fire and emergency services, and bring water to and haul trash from businesses and residences. Free individuals, working through commerce, charity, and community can solve the rest of the challenges and seize the rest of the opportunities society offers…
…including sports and entertainment. Having a good plan to fund sports and entertainment should be devised for bankers, not voters because it simply isn’t the proper role of government.