Oklahoma politicians are no different from any others. When the money rolls in, they spend it like Ted Kennedy in a bar, expanding government and starting lots of new programs. Then, lo and behold, the party ends, and they start crying about not having enough revenue. Even with all the spending, they still didn’t fix the roads and bridges which are in horrible shape.
OKC just passed an extension of an extra penny of sales tax to fund a massive boondoggle called MAPS. It is someone’s fantasy idea of what dowtown OKC should be.
In the Tulsa area, voters finally stopped the dream of the local chamber of commerce types who wanted to build fake islands in the river and put condos, restaurants, etc. there.
Just as in every other town, city, and state, there is no end to the fantasies people dream up for spending other people’s money.
Why is it that nobody ever asks if the money should be spent in the first place? How did everyone get suckered into the notion that government can provide economic development? Until we somehow convince people that government should be limited and the private sector is the only real source of prosperity and progress, we will continue to be saddled with ever-increasing levels of taxation and spending.
Give me the red pen, and I’ll find plenty of spending to cut, and none of it will involve public safety.
Some out here are smart enough to understand that government at all levels has become incompetent, corrupt and in many regions, has just morphed into outright criminal enterprises run by local insiders.
Hard-hearted Republican! Think of the women and children, the starving elderly, the damage to the environment, yada, yada, (substitute your own favorite detested Commie talking point here).