Text 4822, 62 rader
Skriven 2007-08-05 15:53:55 av Richard Webb (1:116/901.0)
     Kommentar till en text av TIM RICHARDSON (1:123/140)
Ärende: bridge collapse
=======================
TIM RICHARDSON wrote in a message to ROSS SAUER:

RC>But hey, I aint rich and I got a tax cut..


RS>How much?


TR> A pretty substantial one. Even *you* got a benefit from the tax cut.
TR> Why don't you tell us `how much'?

IF you think I got a benefit from the tax cut you'd be sadly mistaken. 
WHatever benefit my lady and I might have received from the so-called tax cut
was far offset by her employer cutting her health insurance back in 2005 and
they're part of a federal program.  SHe managed apartment complexes back then.

SO, after paying for medications to treat a brittle diabetic and investing in
my business a bit I saw no real benefit from the so-called tax cut.

YEt here again, we're arguing apples and oranges.  IT's easier to sell the
electorate a tax cut or no tax hikes than it is for politicians to stand up and
talk about how essential infrastructure needs repairs, and if we want to use
it, it needs to be maintained.

IT's also easier to not budget money for first responders; easier to not have
emergency management people properly trained and prepared, unless we're playing
terror alert games.  Been there, got the tee shirt and the tattoo.

MOst of you who benefitted from the so-called tax cut want to live in the
burbs, drive your SUV and make the long commute to work.  WELl good on ya, then
shut up and pay for the infrastructure you use. AFter all, you could live in
the city and ride the bus.  Yah that needs to be paid for too.

IT's a political fact of life that expediency, i.e. get those votes trumps make
the hard decisions. THat happens with every political stripe.  IF I'm running
for office my handlers want me to talk no new taxes, more money in Joe
Average's pocket.  That's how I get those votes.  IF I look out for the home
front too good and I'm in WAshington I"m accused of engaging in pork barrel
politics. Because the process is so unwieldy and is mostly unable to do the job
imho I've become mostly a Libertarian.  I'd just as soon do away with the
corporate welfare if we're going to do away with good educational programs, no
health care for small business people and lower paid workers; no money for
public transit in our cities.
LET's everybody pay as we go and see what happens to our infrastructure then.
WHen every road's a toll road and there is no public education maybe we'll see
some improvement <g>.

NO matter how much I could wish to see the above, it's impractical in many
areas of modern life.  THIs means that our politicians need to engage in some
real straight talk, (NOt John McCain's sloganeering) and point to incidents
such as this disaster; Katrina; the fires out west, etc. ROads pipelines and
bridges need maintenance; emergency response personnel need equipment and
training; schools need adequate funding.  If we want to live in an advanced
civilization these are the things we must pay for.  DOing anything less is
tantamount to criminal negligence.


Regards,
           Richard
...   REBUILD IRAQ? WHY NOT SPEND 87 BILLION ON AMERICA?                
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+
 * Origin: Radio REscue net operations BBS       (1:116/901)