Letter: “They were cranky”
“They were cranky, irritable and we did not read that well,” Gov. Braun said, referring to voters after last week’s election.
Well, Governor Braun, they’re still cranky and irritable, and you still aren’t reading them very well. If you decide to run for reelection, the Mid-States Corridor may very well become your Waterloo.
Thankfully, we live in a nation where we can vote for what we believe in, knowing that no matter who wins an election, we will have another opportunity to hold our elected officials accountable and correct the mistakes we believe have been made. The Mid-States Corridor will continue to be an important issue in that process.
Some may leap to the conclusion that last week’s election results represent a desire by the people to completely change our political system. I don’t believe that is the case. Nor do I believe the results necessarily represent an endorsement of a more “Democratic socialist” form of government. I believe voters were expressing their frustration with affordability, accountability, and elected officials who weren’t listening to them. Those concerns transcend political parties.
The Mid-States Corridor is not, nor will it ever be, a winning campaign promise. The project is unpopular with voters here in southwestern Indiana. And, Statewide polling has also shown that Hoosiers overwhelmingly prefer using transportation funds for local road and bridge projects rather than the Mid-States Corridor. That preference comes at a time when more than 300 INDOT road and bridge projects have been canceled, postponed, or delayed because of funding constraints. Shouldn’t those projects receive attention before the state launches expensive new ones? Let’s not forget that INDOT has yet to demonstrate a dedicated funding source for the Mid-States Corridor.
If Gov. Braun learns anything from last week’s election, it should be that people vote for their interests, not simply for what a political party wants. Voters will continue to be cranky and irritable when their concerns are ignored, and politicians will continue to misread them.
The voters do not want the Mid-States Corridor.
Those opposing the Corridor are a nonpartisan group. They are not crying in their drinks or weeping and wailing about the election results. Quite the opposite. The results have invigorated them. They have shown us that there are chinks in the armor and that we can win this battle. Changes in our state government may very well bode ill for the Corridor.
What did voters tell us? Affordability, less corruption, and greater accountability from elected officials are among the issues demanding attention. There will be more banners, more yard signs, more hats, more T-shirts, more buttons, and more decals on our cars and trucks, all saying STOP THE MID-STATES CORRIDOR.
The Property Rights Alliance (PRA) is not going away. In fact, it is getting stronger and better organized. We intend to be a force to be reckoned with going forward.
Now is the time to gather together and plan for the future. A future without a multibillion-dollar expressway running through it. A future where progress and growth come from innovation rather than at the expense of others. A future where our farmers can pursue their chosen profession without the threat of the state taking their land through eminent domain. A future where communities can determine their own direction and residents can enjoy the fruits of their hard work.
Yes, the future is bright, and it will be one without the Mid-States Corridor.
Jim Arvin
Rutherford Township
Martin County
