Email
Editor:
Anyone who has taken a class in statistics knows that numbers can be manipulated so they say whatever you want them to say. So goes it with Pauline Eisenstadt, UNM West Advisory Council chairwoman and others who are upset with the threat of a funding cut of the quarter-cent higher education tax Rio Rancho allocates to UNM West. Ms. Eisenstadt and her supporters have circled their wagons and are ready to fight those who want to redirect a portion of that tax to fund more immediate priorities within the City of Rio Rancho.
To defend their position, Ms. Eisenstadt points out that nearly 63 percent of voters approved the tax in 2008. Talk about manipulating statistics. Yes, 63 percent of those who voted in the 2008 election voted for the tax. What Ms. Eisenstadt failed to point out — only 8,450 voters of the 42,386 registered voters voted in that election. That was a 19.9 percent turnout. Now the real math: 67 percent of 19.9 percent = 13.3 percent of Rio Rancho voters approved a tax burden on the other 80.1 percent of registered voters.
What does this tell us? First, it is every registered voter’s duty to get out and vote in each and every election. Second, the March 4, 2008, election approving the tax increase may not be reflective of the true will of the majority. Third, that a well-coordinated minority will have their way when the majority sits idly by and does not participate.
A lot has changed economically in Rio Rancho since that election and not in a positive way. If the election was held today do you think it would be approved? Oh, and where does Ms. Eisenstadt live? In Corrales.
Harry Gordon
Rio Rancho
Anyone who has taken a class in statistics knows that numbers can be manipulated so they say whatever you want them to say. So goes it with Pauline Eisenstadt, UNM West Advisory Council chairwoman and others who are upset with the threat of a funding cut of the quarter-cent higher education tax Rio Rancho allocates to UNM West. Ms. Eisenstadt and her supporters have circled their wagons and are ready to fight those who want to redirect a portion of that tax to fund more immediate priorities within the City of Rio Rancho.
To defend their position, Ms. Eisenstadt points out that nearly 63 percent of voters approved the tax in 2008. Talk about manipulating statistics. Yes, 63 percent of those who voted in the 2008 election voted for the tax. What Ms. Eisenstadt failed to point out — only 8,450 voters of the 42,386 registered voters voted in that election. That was a 19.9 percent turnout. Now the real math: 67 percent of 19.9 percent = 13.3 percent of Rio Rancho voters approved a tax burden on the other 80.1 percent of registered voters.
What does this tell us? First, it is every registered voter’s duty to get out and vote in each and every election. Second, the March 4, 2008, election approving the tax increase may not be reflective of the true will of the majority. Third, that a well-coordinated minority will have their way when the majority sits idly by and does not participate.
A lot has changed economically in Rio Rancho since that election and not in a positive way. If the election was held today do you think it would be approved? Oh, and where does Ms. Eisenstadt live? In Corrales.
Harry Gordon
Rio Rancho
