Be careful what you ask for, because you might get it - and then regret it.

That old phrase appears to be germain in light of the hastily approved City Council move to put the viaduct on a special election ballot for just under seven weeks from now. We get an election that is not worth the paper the ballots are printed on.

The governor asked for an election to find out what the people of Seattle wanted to do to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct. The state, and apparently she, herself, want to replace the viaduct with another viaduct. Of course, our contrarian mayor wanted a gold plated $4 billion tunnel, but backed away to a four lane "Tunnel Lite" that would cost $1.2 billion less than the original "heavy" six lane tube.

His honor backed away from the big tunnel mainly because, after telling people he had a "viable financing plan" for months, it appears he didn't have a financial plan at all.

During the build-up to the election decision the state - and we guess the mayor - came up with a hideous drawing of what a new viaduct would look like. The idea was, "Do we want this ugly viaduct obstructing the view of the bay, or do we want it all in a 'cut and cover' tunnel," that happens to cost a whale of a lot more?

So, now that Gov. Chris Gregoire has said build an elevated viaduct or the $2 billion the state put up for a replacement would be shifted to the 520 bridge, the council slaps a special election on the ballot for March 13. The choice is a "Tunnel Lite" or an "ugly Viaduct?"

The questions are absurd.

The state can - and - will build whatever it wants. The state transportation department says it used to like the tunnel idea, but since it has no money and the city does not have money, it will build a new, aerial viaduct.

Your vote on March 13 may carry a bit of moral persuasion, but otherwise is flat-out useless. Unless someone tells the state where the pot of gold is, it will build a new viaduct.

The city council and the mayor have darkly hinted that Seattle could withhold building permits and stop a viaduct rebuild. That is impossible.

Under the Washington Constitution, cities are a creation of the state and the state can override any attempt by the city to halt the project. Seattle is powerless to do anymore than attempt to persuade the state that a tunnel is better.

It all boils down to who has the cash to do what. The state has $2 billion, the city has nothing.

Go and vote, but this is one time when your vote is virtually worthless.

Prepare for the new viaduct, and the hassels that the construction will bring. Ignore the hot air from City Hall, because that is all it is: Sound and fury signifying nothing.

-Jack Mayne