Fiscal conservatism or avoidance of shared responsibility
A smart friend of mine sees unfairness in the proposed State Tax reform proposal.
It may not be fair, but it may be the fairest that can passed by the legislature. Those who do not pay their fair share of the cost of running our government would like to see little change.
I suspect that when many of us in the middle say that we support fiscal conservatives, what we hope for is the lowest and broadest taxes to fund the most cost efficient delivery of services. It disappoints me when the façade of “fiscal conservative” is used to disguise covert tactics for personal gain and avoiding shared responsibility: subsidies, corporate welfare, estate taxes, tax shelters, earmarks, favoritism to the pharmaceutical companies, oil industry and military-industrial complex, etc.
I have little doubt that it would cost each of us less taxes, in the short and the long run, to enable universal health care, college educations, Social Security, pension reform, a combined flat tax and consumption tax, drug legalization, energy independence, environmental protection, and controlled competition in all industries.
This is what it means to me to support fiscal conservative and pragmatism.
But often the people promoting a pound of cure have more influence than those who advocate an ounce of prevention.
Is "fiscal conservativism" simply a popular code for "immediate selfish gratification?"
It may not be fair, but it may be the fairest that can passed by the legislature. Those who do not pay their fair share of the cost of running our government would like to see little change.
I suspect that when many of us in the middle say that we support fiscal conservatives, what we hope for is the lowest and broadest taxes to fund the most cost efficient delivery of services. It disappoints me when the façade of “fiscal conservative” is used to disguise covert tactics for personal gain and avoiding shared responsibility: subsidies, corporate welfare, estate taxes, tax shelters, earmarks, favoritism to the pharmaceutical companies, oil industry and military-industrial complex, etc.
I have little doubt that it would cost each of us less taxes, in the short and the long run, to enable universal health care, college educations, Social Security, pension reform, a combined flat tax and consumption tax, drug legalization, energy independence, environmental protection, and controlled competition in all industries.
This is what it means to me to support fiscal conservative and pragmatism.
But often the people promoting a pound of cure have more influence than those who advocate an ounce of prevention.
Is "fiscal conservativism" simply a popular code for "immediate selfish gratification?"
posted by Paul Silver at 3:42 PM
The plan would have been easier to pass if they would have allowed for an increase in homestead exemptions, which would have helped the poorer and middle class homeowners. Instead they stuck to their guns, the ones that have prevented anything from passing, so that they could help the wealthier business landowners.
I do not mind a business tax, but HB 1 removes the recapture function and that will put us back in court and we will have to start all over again because the poor schools will yet again be found on unequal footing with the rest of the state.
The leadership has put its blinders on in the House and will not do anything that even look like a compromise even though the votes are there, just because they do not want to. Well, I am sorry, but that is no a good enough reason for me. I think we need to take the gavel out of Mr. Craddick’s hand and give it to someone who might actually care about the kids and taxpayers of Texas because he seems to cares more about the $1 million dollar (lobby paid for) renovation of his apartment in the capitol than anything else going on in this state.
Posted by
Anonymous |
Monday, April 24, 2006 2:36:00 AM
hey Paul:
well said! 'shared responsibility' is a great way to phrase "provide for the common ___________"
its frustrating to see the repeated efforts to re-arrange deck chairs (eg, tweak property tax codes), which of course will never change direction of the boat, and fails to acknowledge that we ARE in fact all in this boat together.
of course,
kids without health care get sick and injured regardless (someone forgot to tell the microbes, i guess) and adults without a college education (heck, a decent high school education) contribute far below their potential.
how short-sighted, or intentionally self-sighted, do you have to be to dismiss the eventual impact on everyone's fortunes of ignoring shared responsibility?
keep up the good posts!
adios
mario
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Posted by
Anonymous |
Wednesday, April 26, 2006 7:56:00 PM
Fiscal conservatism?
Oh Yeah! Now I remember, its been so long since I've seen it being utilized.
Too bad our multi layered government spendthrifts can't remember too and start practicing it again.
Posted by
Chippedchips |
Wednesday, August 16, 2006 2:24:00 PM