That is not a questionnaire

By Todd Stadler · Thursday, November 1, 2007 12:03am

Lately, we've been getting pieces in the mail or tucked into the neighborhood newspaper from Sam Adams and his Office of Transportation about how Portland's streets and bridges are in trouble, and the city needs to increase taxes to pay for all the transportation improvements.

Of course, any time the government comes running to me yelling, "the system is broken — we need more money to fix the system," I find myself wondering what exactly the government has been up to recently and what it was spending its money on. Certainly, new funds are needed for new problems or new economic situations, but is that the case here? Transportation problems aren't typically sudden or unexpected, are they?

Regardless, the pieces we've gotten have referred us to the city's Office of Transportation Web site, where you can fill out a questionnaire on this Safe and Sound Streets program.

Except I get the impression that this form isn't designed to gauge public opinion so much as influence it. After several questions that basically ask you to consider how transportation could be improved in your neighborhood and therefore why you'd support a new tax (including the Message: I Care request to "tell us your story" — do you think anyone's story was "I get around fine because the streets are okay"?), they throw in this fact-filled preface:

Regardless of the importance of this issue, raising taxes and fees is always an uphill battle. This effort to save lives and save money will not move forward without strong community support. [Emphasis mine]

before asking these unbiased questions:

Do you support the possible funding package?

If yes, what are the issues that make you the most supportive of this effort?

If no, what are the issues that make you not supportive at this time? [Emphasis mine]

Gee, is there something I'm supposed to think after reading this? It's not ... quite ... obvious ... enough. Thankfully, I think I figured it out while noticing that almost the same set of options is available on the page where you can give a Safe and Sound Streets Project endorsement, whatever that is:

I support the Safe and Sound Streets Project

I do not support the Safe and Sound Streets Project at this time

I am still uncertain and would like additional information [Emphasis mine]

Hey, I'm thinking about supporting this program! We all should support this program! In time, we will all support this program!

And those questions are all good and well, but what about the question I really want to answer, the one where I pick from the following options:

I think Sam Adams is awesome and want him to be my mayor!

I do not yet realize Sam Adams is awesome, though I want him to be my mayor!

I knew Sam was awesome, but tell me again why that would make him an awesome mayor as well!

I need more information to learn why Sam Adams and his inevitable mayoral reign are awesome!

Oh, did I mention that Sam Adams, city councilor and head of the Office of Transportation, is running for mayor? Huh, darned if all this hubbub about the Safe and Sound Streets Project hasn't got me thinking about him.