I am seeing serious BIG time feedback on many blogs about taxation, patriotism and "critical" services! With the melt-down in the financial market combined with the higher taxes that will come with the "bailout" with the losses in home equity with [pick your own financial problem], we have ANGER coming from many taxpayers! And it is growing. . .
One of the items in today's Inside Higher Education is a little tidbit about the income tax ballot item in Massachussetts and how the state universities are reacting. The article was predictable with university officials warning about cut-backs and higher tuition to make up the tax losses. But what I find the most interesting is the responses. Here's one from ProfessorMojo, SUNY-Plattsburgh (I've added bolding for emphasis):
"As usual, the academics focus on their own livelihoods as opposed to examining the larger issue at hand. Certainly, some taxation is necessary, and few would argue against funding a state university system. However, the issue is the state government’s constant desire to suck more money from the taxpayer as opposed to being responsible stewards of the public treasury.
We’re facing budget cuts here at SUNY, and it is noteworthy that my co-worker’s first reactions are to increase taxes and tuition as opposed to reforming the union-driven state spending practices that got us in this mess in the first place."
I made no secret of my anger at the PORK inside the so-called bailout bill for the financial markets. That pork will cost ALL of us more tax dollars and redirect them to places we as taxpayers have no say over! I am ANGRY enough to support a ballot issue just like this for my home state of California AND for the nation over all!!!
I think this brings up the reason for taxes.
As I write this, there is a large brush fire in Northern L.A. County where the 118 and 210 freeways meet. I listened to the City of LA officials point out that there are 1,000 firefighters on the line and that THIS IS WHAT TAXPAYER want from their government - protection of the people.
I agree that colleges and universities are critical to the well-being of America as are many other essential services like roads and water. But where does the definition of "essential" that stop?
This question comes from an article in Education Week that talks about the complaints about changes inside the Department of Education combining the Title I and Title III programs for English as a second language programs. Obviously there are savings in combining the programs as well as oversight issues. But predictably, there are screams that "their" issues are so important that they "deserve" a separate agency.
Just how many things can we afford to make "special"? How many tax dollars can we afford to spend on what?
I appreciate that everyone wants their special needs handled. I understand it's easy to say mine's more important than yours. But in TOUGH ECONOMIC times, you make priorities. You cut back on things that are "nice" and things that might even be "important" and focus on what is essential. But we need COMMON SENSE.
What do YOU think we should pay for? Where should we say, yes, I know it's important but NOT as important as firefighters or colleges or ????
