 |
Report Comment
"First comes the implication that "our lawmakers can't be trusted to spend the money for its intended purpose", followed by the tacit admission that our legislators "are frighteningly inept at managing taxpayer dollars", followed by ... an admonition essentially, of how we all need to pay our fair share. Golly gee, if that doesn't make you hot to pony up another few thousand a year in taxes, I don't know what will.
How then is the righteous tax collector thwarted? According to Hamilton, by ultra-right-wing media and bible-thumping religiosos pounding the ignorant masses with the false gospel that they already pay enough in taxes, while the greedy rich look on and snicker.
Of course there's another reason why freezing or lowering taxes plays so well. It could be that there are still quite a few people around who have eyes and a brain. They can add up all the federal, state, property tax, and sales tax they pay, and quickly deduce that a) it accounts for as much as 30% of their income, and b) the amount of government "services" they receive are shockingly small in comparison. So the "less tax" argument tends to be an easy sell. You don't necessarily need a Tea Party rally, right-wing newsprint, a religious fanatic, or a talk radio wind-up to convince you of that.
Load up "The Bad Roads of Oklahoma" by Susan Herndon on the MP3 or CD player. I assure you, your toes will tap and you head will bob with empathy as those lyrics spin out. Maintaining roads and bridges are the most basic and essential of all government services, because they affect every single one of us, including our children whom we ferry back and forth on those roads and bridges, bobbing and weaving like an NFL running back trying to miss the dips and potholes. Roads and bridges - first and foremost - should be the first thing the budget takes care of. If Oklahoma government can't properly maintain these structures - and they apparently can't given their chronic, pathetic state - why should anyone be eager to give them more tax dollars to do that, or anything else?
One last thing. Believe it or not, I keep my lawn mowed and hedges pruned and walkways edged, and I don't receive a single penny of government subsidy for that purpose. So if the Legislature doesn't like the dumpy look of their digs, or is afraid the roof might fall in on them, I'd suggest they pass the hat amongst themselves if they want it fixed.
That, or start responsibly and effectively managing the resources they already have."
|
|
