It's that time of year when government bodies, be they local, state or federal, are looking at their requirements for revenue for the next tax year. This means that they are looking at your pocketbook, figuring out how much they can take without you squealing so much that you won't accept it. After all, have you ever seen a governmental entity that truly cuts taxes in a given year. Oh, they might reduce millage rates while raising the property values or, in the case of the feds, they might say they are cutting when they are really only reducing the rate of growth. After all, the feds always have an inflationary kicker within the system that eliminates the possibility of a true cut in taxes. But whatever the case, you can "bet your bippy" that there will be some special provision, some special assessment or whatever else they creatively design that allows them to take in more of your hard earned money while telling you otherwise.
Look, I get it that there are some things that government must do that cost money, but the problem is that government today, even at the local level, has stuck its nose in so many places that were never intended. But, of course, with governments taking over the duties that traditionally were done by full time charitable organizations, including religious groups. we've secularized a program that was in its hay day very successful. But it's much worse than that, for they often even work to attract people who are looking for a free lunch or refugees for whom we knos little. As seen in Europe and even in parts of the United States, these programs are not working well for they have increased crime rates, particularly violent ones, due to differing cultural values that don't fit the American mold. Just look at what is happening in Europe today and you see the American sanctuary city of tomorrow. It's dangerous and it will also be expensive, requiring even more tax increases or enhanced assessments.
What is happening here in my local area is just an example of what is happening all over the nation as all levels of government look for new ways to bring in more revenue. Stormwater assessment, changed calculations for funding fire services for rural residents, just to name two. will result in those least capable of handling increased tax-related bills: those on fixed income and those who are legitimately poor yet are trying to hang on to family property. As the old saying goes, you can put lipstick on a pig and it's still a pig, and continually increased tax and fee assessments eats up private dollars like a big, fat pig.
How many of you have driven down the road and watched a public works crew in action where one person is working and multiple others are standing around? Or how often have you requested something easily accomplished by government where the agency spent excessive time explaining why it couldn't be done? Often, they could have accomplished the request in half the time spent talking about it. And, of course, if you know the right person and the request is reasonable, it then gets accomplished when that person intervenes. It shouldn't be that way but it is and it shows how the very nature of government becomes more and more disruptive of private life as it grows. And it always grows, it never shrinks both in terms of size and scope and money.
Let's face it. Government is bloated and that includes local, state as well as the monstrosity that is Washington. But unless average citizens get engaged, challenge what they think is exorbitant and vote accordingly, things will never change. The lure of power and money is always great and it takes great willpower to deal with it. And remember that government never really produces anything, only the private sector produces wealth. But the government is always there to try and take more and more of it and with the power of force, they more often than not do so.
So when you think that budget hearings are boring and you don't want to be bothered, think about these words. The only way to get government under control is to be informed and speak up. It's what the Founders intended by citizen government and it's up to us to carry it out, if we truly care.
Look, I get it that there are some things that government must do that cost money, but the problem is that government today, even at the local level, has stuck its nose in so many places that were never intended. But, of course, with governments taking over the duties that traditionally were done by full time charitable organizations, including religious groups. we've secularized a program that was in its hay day very successful. But it's much worse than that, for they often even work to attract people who are looking for a free lunch or refugees for whom we knos little. As seen in Europe and even in parts of the United States, these programs are not working well for they have increased crime rates, particularly violent ones, due to differing cultural values that don't fit the American mold. Just look at what is happening in Europe today and you see the American sanctuary city of tomorrow. It's dangerous and it will also be expensive, requiring even more tax increases or enhanced assessments.
What is happening here in my local area is just an example of what is happening all over the nation as all levels of government look for new ways to bring in more revenue. Stormwater assessment, changed calculations for funding fire services for rural residents, just to name two. will result in those least capable of handling increased tax-related bills: those on fixed income and those who are legitimately poor yet are trying to hang on to family property. As the old saying goes, you can put lipstick on a pig and it's still a pig, and continually increased tax and fee assessments eats up private dollars like a big, fat pig.
How many of you have driven down the road and watched a public works crew in action where one person is working and multiple others are standing around? Or how often have you requested something easily accomplished by government where the agency spent excessive time explaining why it couldn't be done? Often, they could have accomplished the request in half the time spent talking about it. And, of course, if you know the right person and the request is reasonable, it then gets accomplished when that person intervenes. It shouldn't be that way but it is and it shows how the very nature of government becomes more and more disruptive of private life as it grows. And it always grows, it never shrinks both in terms of size and scope and money.
Let's face it. Government is bloated and that includes local, state as well as the monstrosity that is Washington. But unless average citizens get engaged, challenge what they think is exorbitant and vote accordingly, things will never change. The lure of power and money is always great and it takes great willpower to deal with it. And remember that government never really produces anything, only the private sector produces wealth. But the government is always there to try and take more and more of it and with the power of force, they more often than not do so.
So when you think that budget hearings are boring and you don't want to be bothered, think about these words. The only way to get government under control is to be informed and speak up. It's what the Founders intended by citizen government and it's up to us to carry it out, if we truly care.
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