Thursday, 4 March 2004 - 4:27 PM EST

When did taxes become so evil? They're a fact of life, property taxes being THE traditional primary source of revenue for public schools. If taxes stay the same the kids won't "get it?" California is suffering a budget crisis with the worst credit rating of the 50 states. Something needs to be done, and the borrowing proposition that just passed is just a stopgap.

In times of crisis, you can either cut spending or you can raise taxes. Either way it's going to take sacrifice. Given the choice, personally I would like kids in public schools to have textbooks with the "new Soviet update" in its geography and have firefighters come when my house starts burning down.

I just wanted to add that I've never heard of a public school teacher defined as a Rich Liberal either.

Friday, 5 March 2004 - 3:08 AM EST

Marc, I found a new lego site that made me laugh out loud! Check it out:

here

Friday, 5 March 2004 - 12:49 PM EST

The answer to your question is: When did cutting spending become so evil?

The reason California and a lot of other states are in the hole right now is because they spent like crazy during the 90's - California's budget grew by 44% in the four years following 1997. Government spending tends to have a "ratchet effect" - it goes up incrementally, but never down. Why? Why is the answer always to raise taxes and not to cut spending?

I view taxes as a necessary evil - but I think they are less necessary than most people. What the government is doing when it levies laxes is putting a gun to my head and taking my money, so it had better have a damn good reason for doing so. I think there are very few things that governments do that justify seizing my property on penalty of imprisonment or death.

Friday, 5 March 2004 - 1:02 PM EST

I love that guy! He has a book out which has some of the Genesis stories in it. How did you find out about the Reverend?

Saturday, 6 March 2004 - 3:55 AM EST

Why is the answer always to raise taxes and not to cut spending?

Because nobody wants to be Alabama.

I think putting prisoners on early release, cutting transportation to public schools, cutting access to higher education, and reducing investment in soil and water conservation, among countless others, is a bad thing. How much of this was pork I don't know, but I don't like what I see. Is Alabama now going to be a Mecca for business because of its lower taxes? Something tells me no.

Because the infrastructure we're so used to must be maintained and those crooked politicians satiated, cutting taxes in most cases just increases fees for services, which is almost the same as putting a gun to your head. Just a little more subtle.

Saturday, 6 March 2004 - 2:46 PM EST

Spending cuts are temporary, taxes are almost always permanent. When the economy turns around, all these states will go back to spending like teenage Arabs - but the taxes they have enacted or raised will remain. Then during the next economic downturn, the governors and legislatures (of both parties) will call for more taxes, wailing and gnashing their teesh about the children and the old people and everyone else who needs a piece of my wallet. Alabama passing that massive tax increase would not have prevented the government from calling for another tax increase the next time around.

I can refuse to pay fees if I am willing to go without something. No one can force me to drive on a toll road or register my car. You are right that there isn't much of a practical difference, but there is a big moral difference.