Angry Voters Need to Relearn Civics Lesson : Too many have forgotten how much the quality of life they enjoy here depends on the institution they vilify.

The rage that voters vented in the last week’s Measure R election suggests that in addition to changing county government, we have to change how people think about government in this county.

The first thing we need to do is figure out a way to reconnect people with the political process. Most people have little idea of what the county is or does. Consequently, they do not feel it is their responsibility to monitor the performance of their elected officials and their policies. Only about one-third of the electorate cast ballots June 27. This means that two out of every three eligible voters didn’t participate in the most important issue to come before voters in decades.

Despite the low turnout, important democratic themes were present in the election: Big money didn’t determine the outcome. Despite being outspent 20 to one, the No side won. Likewise, average citizens beat political, economic and academic elites, who usually get their way in this county. Grass-roots tacticians also triumphed over professional strategists, while county government meetings became more accessible.

Finally, Measure R received more serious and sustained discussion than any political issue in recent memory. Literally hundreds of political forums were held throughout the county.

Proposals aimed at restructuring our political system should try to foster the interest in county government ignited by the bankruptcy.

We also need comparative data to have informed political discourse, and the press should provide it. Simply saying that “county government is too big” or “county government has grown to much” with no reference points is empty political rhetoric. Too big? Compared to what?

One of the points lost in the debate about Measure R is that Orange County government--in terms of number of employees, expenditures, and revenues raised per capita--is already lean when compared to the other 57 counties in the state.

Likewise, while it is true that we pay a lot in taxes, is that the same as saying we are overtaxed? This is one of the wealthiest counties in the country, and because people buy a lot of things and earn a lot of money they pay a lot of taxes. But compared to other urban areas in the nation, Orange Countians do not face an unreasonable tax burden.

For example, General Motors paid more than $100 million in taxes last year--a lot of money. But does that mean they carry an unfair amount of the nation’s tax burden?

In a similar vein, Orange County’s sales tax has inched up over the years, but is Orange County the same place it was 30 years ago, or has an aging infrastructure and attendant urban and social problems that the public has demanded be addressed (crime, traffic congestion, pollution, child abuse) made increased expenditures necessary?

Finally, far too many people in Orange County have an irrational hatred of government. They feel that government is an illegitimate social entity, and consequently all taxes are theft.

It is inconceivable that we would be able to enjoy the quality of life that we have in this county without government.

Somewhere along the way we seem to have forgotten this important civics lesson. We will need to relearn it fast, if we are ever going to get out of this mess.