taxpayers qua taxpayers

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I am not sure about the meaning of the following sentence. Could anybody do me a favor?


Taxpayers qua taxpayers are usually below the threshold of significance, unless there has been high visibility and much political discussion (e.g.,the space program).

Thanks a lot.

Celia

[Red5]

qua

\Qua\, conj. [L., abl. of qui who.] In so far as; in the capacity or character of; as.

EG: It is with Shelley's biographers qua biographers that we have to deal. --London Spectator.

[MikeNewYork]

Hi,

I am not sure about the meaning of the following sentence. Could anybody do me a favor?


Taxpayers qua taxpayers are usually below the threshold of significance, unless there has been high visibility and much political discussion (e.g.,the space program).

Thanks a lot.

Celia

I'm not sure I understand it either. Do you have any context for us?

It sounds as if it wants to say that taxpayers don't notice most of what they spend taxes for, unless it is a subject of public debate. However, the sentence doesn't really say that.

[mei]

Hi,

Here comes the context:

A stakeholder is someone who has made a significant investment in the
program, either financial or psychological. Taxpayers qua taxpayers are
usually below the threshold of significance, unless there has been high visibility and much political discussion (e.g., the space program). Program staff are stakeholders. (A school board that told a superintendent to get an evaluation done of some program in the district is a stakeholder, not a client.)

Celia

[mei]

Hi,

Here comes the context:

A stakeholder is someone who has made a significant investment in the
program, either financial or psychological. Taxpayers qua taxpayers areusually below the threshold of significance, unless there has been high visibility and much political discussion (e.g., the space program). Program staff are stakeholders. (A school board that told a superintendent to get an evaluation done of some program in the district is a stakeholder, not a client.)

Celia