Sunday, February 24, 2008

I'm tired of this

I'm tired today. I just completed a 32+ mile training week. First time above 30 miles.

But this isn't what I'm tired of.

I'm tired of the phrase, "Government must live within its means."

And I'm tired of Republican blowhards who talk about taxpayers like we are vulnerable adults being abused by greedy Democrats who want to 'rummage around in our pockets' and steal all our loose change.

Yes, Minnesota families are strapped by high oil prices and all the other high prices that entails. But the Repugnicans have been blathering this phrase for years.

And, yes, we ALL have to do a better job of living within our means; what do we really need and what can we really afford to have?

But in Minnesota, as in most democracies, taxpayers are the government, damn it. We decide what we want and authorize elected officials to pay for it.

The intelligent argument is not that the big 'G' is shakin' down poor Mister Taxpayer. It's that all of us consenting adult taxpayers don't agree on what we want government to spend money.

Elected officials who are now trying to make decisions about what to spend and how to find the money to do so were, um, elected -- by taxpayers. And I, for one, think its more honest to talk about how to craft tax policy to pay for what we need and want, than to disingenuously promise not to raise taxes today and then put spending on a credit card for tomorrow.

It's pretty easy to see, if you put half a brain cell on the task, that these slick-talking conmen are trying to get us to believe we can get something for nothing.

"Wah, wah, the democrats want to waste your money on afterschool programs for teens. You shouldn't have to pay for that; school budgets are bloated enough as it is, this is a waste of taxpayer money ... blah, blah, blah."

But hey, that 13-year-old who broke into your garage last week? He used to play basketball after school and keep his nose clean. Now he's joined a gang. Too bad you can't afford to risk losing your home owner's insurance to claim that stolen bike. Somebody ought to regulate those companies, why isn't government spending money on that.

Oh wait, those guys who sounded so great when they said they wouldn't rummage in your pocket to get your vote, they rummaged around a few insurance companies too and found some pretty good campaign contributions to go with that free market mantra they're always chanting. Too bad for you and all of us.

Here's a thought. We could let all those districts who elect 'no tax' advocates have their way. They don't pay any taxes, they don't get any services. It will be a bit inconvenient for those of us who have to drive their stretches of highway, or find a clean public restroom in their town (or a clean public restaurant, for that matter).

Maybe it could be an a la carte approach.

Here you go, don't pay for roads or transit. We won't tax you for roads and bridges and we won't fix 'em either. Buses and trains won't come your way. And maybe we'll have to exclude you from using our airports, too.

Or don't pay for public schools -- use the money you save to send your kids to Catholic school (psst, you'll probably pay more in the long run). Hope your town doesn't have kids with special needs. Those kids won't get to go to school in your district. Their parents will have to move away. Other parents will move away, too. So your property values will probably go down. But at least you didn't have to waste your hard-earned money on those bloated, failing public schools.

Ugh; such hyperbole. My message? Please try to pay attention. What do you want from government? Let your legislators and candidates for legislator know.

Do vote for people who say they share your priorities for government spending, and hold them accountable to find pay-as-you-go ways to pay for it.

Don't vote for people who promise you can have your cake and eat it too. They are likely full of shit and want your vote for some dark-side reason of their own; corporate welfare for their cronies or to continue W's war for oil so their industry peeps can sustain their profits.

I'm glad to be sitting in the sun, spouting my bilge into the pipes of the internets, and not still running, at least for today.

Over and out.

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