Harbor Lights on Measure G: the Politics of Fear
Nothing beats good old fashioned terror when you want to force people to swallow your political agenda. Remember “weapons of mass destruction” and “We’re fighting them there, so we don’t have to fight them here?” Redondo Beach voters have been treated to the same tactics this election season courtesy of the No on Measure G backers. Voters have been told to be afraid of things like another 30,270 car and truck trips everyday and destruction of the view on Harbor Drive. Let’s take a moment to look fear in the face. When the No people make traffic increase references, they use data from a report by Fehr & Peers Transportation Consultants that’s posted on the city’s web site. Like almost anyone using data out of context, they select and combine the data that will substantiate their preconceived notions. Building a Better Redondo has the following quote on a FAQ page of its web site. “According to several studies funded by the City, traffic will go to gridlock in King Harbor and adjacent roadways.” The Fehr and Peers report does not use the term “gridlock” anywhere. That’s a fear-generating device. What’s more likely to scare people, factual terms like traffic increase or apocalyptic…
Read this story on easyreadernews.com