A candidate, and I am not talking about our current president, campaigns on 'NO NEW TAXES!' The people vote the candidate into office, then this newly elected official realizes that the budget deficit is worse than anticipated.
THE newly elected official says, 'I promised you no new taxes and I mean it. I stand by it.' But instead, budgets are cut. Those budget cuts results in less subsidies for companies, and the companies decide to go through massive layoffs.
And the people without jobs have nothing to pay taxes with.
So…
So… Sounds like Biz as usual in the good ole USofA. Its gotten to the point that even if a politician has good intentions and plans to see them through he will be blocked by the gross incompetence and greed of the rest of the “good ole boys”. If we as a people do not TAKE BACK our country the politicians will soon make sure that no one will want the mess that is left.
BTW. Glad to see you are still alive and kicking. Isn’t great though to be able to use a old Samuel Clemens line? Yup you are in good company there with the false reports. 8)
The elected official looked at his options, raise taxes, lower taxes, or nothing at all. If the official raised taxes, the money would go to maintaining hospitals, emergency stations, schools, etc. but the people don’t have the money to pay taxes. Of course there is the option of only raising it on the upper class and businesses, but then CEO won’t have the money to run the company and keep people employed.
If the official lowered taxes, people would pay them but the community infrastructure would crumble. If he/she did nothing, the problem would be solved.
The official should raise taxes despite breaking the peoples trust and wallets for the greater good. Specifically, I would tax the employed more than the unemployed.
Cynical as it may be, raising taxes is the best option. It just might be hard for him to get re-elected
So. The real question is are we happy with where our money would be going? If yes, then tax liberally. It would be a shame to let 5-10% of all our efforts go to waste when it could go to feed a family – our own families. Just like basketball. Some people came down for exercise, some people came for fun, some people came for pride – but if the game don’t go down, people just came down for nothing.
…I would have rather seen taxes raised then massive layoffs.
I have listened to you for many (many) years and my opinion of you stays the same… you are very wise … and I love how you share! Keep us thinking … and laughing … and wondering … keeps us all young and hopefully being part of the solution, not the problem.
The government discovers and supports what it important. Companies focus on what makes them profitable. The people re-evaluate their career choices, go to school, find a new job. Everything in our lives runs on a cycle. The weather, economy, and life. While it’s heartbreaking to see people set back, people find a way.
Times are hard. People begin to distrust the government enough to get involved. Government programs are eliminated. More government programs are eliminated. People question the value of all government programs. Real change happens some good, some not so good.
Professionals who are highly valued start working on a cash basis (my doctor and pharmacy no longer take insurance). Eventually people remove all but the expenses that they deem as necessary. People then value only the most important things and the rest are not tolerated. The economy is much slower but more stable.
Personal responsibility becomes important again.
…Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.
John F. Kennedy
Inaugural speech as 35th President of the United States (1961)
So … those workers will go out and get a job in the private sector where they will actually contribute to our economy and not take from it. They’ll go to work for a widget manufacturer and generate new money which will generate new tax dollars.
Every government program that is cut, every tax cut, infuses cash into the economy which is invested to expand businesses, create wealth, hire workers, grow the economy and generate taxes. Government is a necessary burden on the economy. But when that burden gets too large the economy slows and tax revenue falls.
Government jobs suck the life out of an economy because their entire paycheck is taxpayer dollars — not new money derived from a manufactured product. The taxes they pay are just returning a small percentage of what was taken out of the pot. Yes, some Government jobs are essential, but those and subsidized jobs should be limited to just what is needed to provide police, fire, military, judicial, infrastructure etc.
Budget deficit means spending more than you receive. Cut backs are necessary. The government doesn’t drive the economy — business does. Holding on to budget items we can’t afford doesn’t help the overall economy. Those people out of work will find new work as the economy improves.
Did the candidate precede this statement with “read my lips”? We have a system of checks and balances. Thus a President is not vested with unlimited powers. Therefore, the President (or candidate) does not have sole power to enact or repeal taxes. Thus we legislate through compromise. Sometimes this is good, sometimes not. Our system is not perfect, just the best we can do at the moment.
What we need is TERM LIMITS. Preferably ONE TERM. Therefore politicians would not ingratiate themselves to their constituents with pork barrel spending. Secondly we need to limit the legislature from voting themselves pay or benefit increases without the consent of the electorate. Until we realize these changes, we are at the mercy of the politicians.
…or get rid of tenure and fire underperforming teachers. There is no other job on the planet where you are guaranteed employment regardless of your ability to complete your task. My kids have been personally affected by tenured employees who call themselves “educators,” but behave as high paid babysitters at best. This has affected my children from grade school through college level. Throw what stones you will, but tenure is a blight to the educational system.