Posted on 09/21/2010 2:57:26 AM PDT by reaganaut1
DENVER — With Republican candidates thundering against government spending and the Tea Party’s popularity soaring in parts of the country, one might think that any proposal aimed at lowering taxes would be a safe bet for the Republican Party these days.
But in a state known for strict constitutional limits on taxation, even Colorado’s conservative Republicans are alarmed by three ballot measures that would — of all things — cut taxes.
The measures — which would lower property, income and sales taxes; limit government borrowing; and reduce vehicle registration fees — are widely seen as too extreme by Democrats and Republicans alike. With the November election approaching, they present a test case for a conflict that is playing out, perhaps in less drastic fashion, throughout the country: voters showing a strong inclination to diverge from the recommendations of their elected officials.
Both parties here fear that if frustrated voters approve the tax measures, they could pose major challenges for state and local governments in providing basic services.
“I don’t see them as good policy,” said State Senator Greg Brophy, a conservative from the state’s eastern plains, who worries that the proposals would make it virtually impossible to balance the budget. “It’s like losing your job and getting sick at the same time. I’m for limited government, but not no government.”
The proposals, which will appear on the November ballot and are backed by tax reform groups in Colorado, contain provisions to change the state’s tax code.
Amendment 60 would require school districts to cut property taxes, leaving it up to the state to replace the education funds that would subsequently be lost. Amendment 61 would prevent the state from borrowing money and would limit borrowing for local governments.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I forget who made the analogy, probably Rush, but if you lose your income, what is the first thing to go in your home? FOOD? Or more likely the extra goodies like cable TV or music lessons, or such. You always do the four walls first: food, roof over your head, lights on, and transportation to get work.
These government minds all “think” alike: “OMG tax cuts! We MUST cut basic services first! Keep all the overhead by any means possible!”
I think that playbook page is in bad need of being torn out and burned.
Absolutely.
Starve them into reducing their “services” and cut them to the absolute minimum. Schools are an excellent place to start.
The people, like most of us, want the power to govern back. They want to see common sense prevail; they want to oversee and control public expenditures. This cannot be a surprise.
Exactly
they could pose major challenges for state and local governments in providing basic services.
About time state government spending was challenged.
Isn’t free public education the ultimate hold it over the heads of the people freebie that is the first thing mentioned when budget cuts are proposed? Next in line are police and fire protection.
I can see some much needed changes coming sooner rather than later, if the economy continues to shrink. Business as usual depends on strong vibrant economies, and business as usual is the last thing we need right now.
Maybe a definition of basic services would be in order.
Because of no competition, and income by virtue of police authority, centralized government becomes the most inflated, inefficient, phony, and corrupt institution in the world of human commerce.
Think of how few Nobel Prize economists (and NYT) have declared that. The Suntrade Institute does.
Johnny Suntrade - HS graduate
Colorado’s strict constitutional limits on taxation have been eroding for several years now.
>> if you lose your income, what is the first thing to go in your home? FOOD? Or more likely the extra goodies
The thing is, if you lose your income, you cut BOTH.
You cut the “extra goodies” OUT, but you also cut DOWN on the essentials. You buy food, but steak is out, chicken is in.
Government needs the same understanding.
Around here, the schools are Taj Mahals, they build hundred million dollar FOOTBALL STADIUMS (!), the fire department has a fleet of the very newest shiny trucks (and they roll three of ‘em to every emergency call, even if it’s a cat in a tree), the cops have every new toy imaginable, and so forth.
We still need schools, firemen, and cops, but they too need to cut down on the bells and whistles to balance the budget.
And the crap like diversity training, the county department of womyn’s affairs, “consultants” who “study” every issue to death for a hundred thou, etc. etc. — these things need to go COMPLETELY.
Property taxes are tooo high everywhere. Cut some services. Cut some govt jobs... Privatise transportation and mail services...
Privatise road maintenance....
Think out of the box for once.
I’m sick of these politicians... both sides of the aisle...
Waste. Nothing but waste....
Bring back common law banishment.
In 19th century America, most small towns were patroled by watchmen or town marshals. They served to keep the town peaceful and identify troublemakers like drunks and bums.
If a bum caused trouble, he’d get hauled before the town judge. He’d be given a choice - pay a fine, work 60 days on the county farm or leave town on the next train.
Banishment would greatly reduce the amount local governments spend on social services, including the saleries paid to leftist dregs who administer the programs.
BTW, many counties had poorhouses and church charities that helped people get back on their feet. It mostly worked well. Boardinghouses with cheap weekly rents were also common.You could get room and board for a few dollars a week. Now it’s impossible to open one because of the fascist bureaucracy.
The Rinocratic Oligarchy...the Ruling Class..generally is able to use the state courts, and if that fails, the local Federal Courts, to thwart the will of We the People.
Hopefully Coloradans will prevail
Too bad they couldn’t pass a bill in CO banning public employee unions. Then there wouldn’t be any problem balancing the budget with the new reduced tax collections.
“Isn’t free public education the ultimate hold it over the heads of the people freebie that is the first thing mentioned when budget cuts are proposed? Next in line are police and fire protection.”
Maybe the counter to that should be:
If these are the areas that must be cut first because of budget cuts then maybe they need to be removed from government control and privatised.
A thought comes to mind. Take New York City for instance. I bet I could run a Fire Station there on just a $25 dollar a year Fire Insurance Policy from each Family or business in my district. And for those who want to take a gamble and not pay. That’s fine too, Only if I had to make a call to their location the entire cost of the run would be their responsibility since they decided to gamble on the Fire Insurance.
The same goes for Schooling too. Part of the cost of having a child should be the cost of educating that child. That might cut down on out of wedlock births too. Who knows?
They are simply afraid that if they let the people keep more of their own money, that they won’t have as much to squander on their pet pork projects. “We the People” are fed up with it. In 42 more days, WE are going to exercise some real hope and change.
The same goes for Schooling too. Part of the cost of having a child should be the cost of educating that child. That might cut down on out of wedlock births too. Who knows?
Who really knows the COST of government freebies? Said with tongue in cheek, because there is no such thing as government freebies is there? Someone pays and the idea that you don’t is propaganda. I can see a need for real education.
Momma used to say “money doesn’t grow on trees”, but in today’s climate, apparently it does. Free public education has run its course and produced a few generations of folks who are economic dunces, not all, but enough to make one wonder.
Time to get EVERYONE on the tax rolls, with no one exempt from their portion of the cost of living. Reality instead of retirement.
Excellent education will happen when parents pay directly for their childrens’ education. Single payer hasn’t worked, doesn’t work, and will never work.
That's what you're paid to do. If it is too hard, quit or get fired.
If they just concentrated on the “basic services”, like they’re supposed to, and not every pie in the sky, touchy feely, whatever... There would be no cause for alarm.
Get rid of the dept of education....and let the states run it....
Can you imagine how great school will be?
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