Opponents of an Olympic candidacy want to prevent Grisons from thinking about ideas for the future at all costs. Ideas that could be generated and tested in detail through an Olympic candidacy.
To prevent the thought process, Olympic opponents play the keyboard of populism up and down. The tactic of “scandalizing” is a popular tool. It was therefore not a question of whether, but rather when, the Olympic opponents would draw the “scandal” card.
So now it's here, the “scandal”: The Graubünden municipalities were asked by the application committee whether they would be prepared to make a financial commitment for a YES on February 12.
This procedure is “outrageous” and “scandalous,” the opponents of the bill now screeching, who are otherwise known to never have a bite barrier when it comes to municipal funds for their concerns.
Fortunately, municipal authorities are autonomous in their decisions. The canton does not tell them how they should think about cantonal votes. It can certainly make sense for a municipality to contribute money to a cantonal vote. That is when it comes to their very own, vital interests.
If tourist communities such as Arosa, Chur, Davos, Falera, Laax, Flims, Lantsch, Lenzerheide or St. Moritz were to put a few Fränkli in the voting fund of business associations, that would not only be legal, but also legitimate.
It would be neither legal nor legitimate for the canton to contribute financially to the cantonal vote. But that is not the case.
“Scandal!” So now those who have been avoiding keeping the promises made in their 2013 voting propaganda and providing tangible ideas for the economic survival of this canton and its tourism are screaming.
The only idea they have about this is probably reaching for the state treasury. The federal government should fix it with even higher subsidies.
On February 12, we will vote on whether we should develop ideas about the Olympic Games in the form of a candidacy and bring them to the second vote in 2018 on a possible implementation.
We are voting on a thought process. A thought process that Olympic opponents want to prevent at all costs.
Actually, you should now say “Scandal!” scream. Or not?