With an election approaching, so I’ve heard, you might be interested in some of the ballot issues that always seem to just appear toward the end. We’re releasing a series of articles coming about these questions, and if you mostly just come to the blog without visiting our main website, you may have missed them.

One of our interns, Calvin Harris, (no, not that Calvin Harris) discussed his thoughts about a proposal before the voters in Saint Louis County to raise the sales tax for youth services, aka Proposition 1. It is a great piece with some creative thinking, and I hope you enjoy it. The passage of Prop. 1 would mean, as a father, I could count on other taxpayers in Saint Louis to pay to care for my son. It was just so stupid of me to think that it was my own responsibility to take care of my child. How reactionary!

And, of course, over in Kansas City, you are voting on light rail. I strongly encourage everyone to read the study Randal O’Toole wrote for the Show-Me Institute about transit in Kansas City, before you make up your minds. It is well worth your time.

While we are on the subject of light rail, former intern and current global traveler Patrick Eckelkamp released an op-ed about the pluses and minuses of the transit tax increase in Saint Louis County. This is a big decision for voters in Missouri’s largest county, and Patrick did a great job of discussing the issue.

More pieces yet to come. …