This is small government’s time in Georgia
Today, we are all the Party of No.
Every day, it seems, another group is outside the Capitol telling Georgia’s lawmakers “No”: no education cuts, no tuition hikes; no Medicaid cuts, no new hospital fees.
A bad situation turned even worse this week when Gov. Sonny Perdue revealed that, rather than rising as hoped, state revenues fell again last month — down 10 percent from a year earlier and a staggering 41 percent from February 2008, when we only thought the economy had hit bottom.
Practically, this news means the state budget, which swelled to $21 billion two years ago, will come closer to $15 billion in the year that begins July 1. This drop is prompting calls for higher taxes, lest we descend into underserviced anarchy.
But if this unpleasant surprise supports anyone’s position, it’s those of us who oppose tax increases.
Income and sales taxes are down because payrolls and consumption have shrunk. Some of this shrinkage is voluntary, some of it isn’t.
If the state takes more of Georgians’ money by fiat, you’ll see those pullbacks, voluntary and otherwise, grow even sharper. The revenue numbers tell us that a tax squeeze will further strangle a state already gasping for air.
The nonpartisan Tax Foundation reports that Georgians face the 16th-highest state and local tax burden among the 50 states and District of Columbia: 9.9 percent of the average Georgian’s income. Only once in the past 30 years (2001) have we suffered a higher ranking.
By other calculations, however, Georgians are just 34th in taxes paid. All of which reaffirms that statistics say the darndest things.
But let’s work on the assumption that Georgia truly is a low-tax state. If so, it didn’t happen by accident.
The people of this state historically have not been inclined to take all that government has to offer. We understand that our preference for low taxes means we get less government than some others do.
And you know what? Other people apparently think we have it right.
Georgia had one of the nation’s fastest-growing populations over the past two decades. People flocked here for varied reasons, but they wouldn’t have come if a lack of government were inhibiting prosperity and opportunity.
All that said, this year’s budget and the subsequent statewide elections offer a rare moment of truth for competing ideologies about the size of the public sector.
I suspect most people, even in this conservative state, believe there’s such a thing as too little of certain services: education, water and infrastructure, public safety.
We can and do argue about how these services are provided — i.e., by public agencies or private vendors, with general taxes or direct user fees.
But there is such a thing as too few teachers, too few police officers or inadequate highways.
I further suspect that most people won’t know where that bottom limit is until they feel it. It may be this fall, when their child enters a classroom with 29 fellow pupils rather than 18.
It may be that parents will recognize crowded classrooms as a temporary trade-off at a time when everyone must cut back, government included.
Or they may ask why we have fewer teachers but the same number of well-paid superintendents. Or why traditional public schools spend more money than charters do, without better results.
Personally, I think it’s only in times like these that elected officials find the fortitude to prune back the only thing in life that grows in perpetuity.
If the cuts are too deep, voters will let us know come November.
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129 comments Add your comment
Wes
March 10th, 2010
7:28 pm
Kyle,
Atlanta traffic has been gettin progressively worse for the pa
jt
March 10th, 2010
7:30 pm
“All that said, this year’s budget and the subsequent statewide elections offer a rare moment of truth for competing ideologies about the size of the public sector.”
So true.
These times also show who the REAL fiscal conservatives are.
Ron Stephens ain’t.
Wes
March 10th, 2010
7:36 pm
Kyle,
Atlanta traffic has been gettin progressively worse for the past decade or so. I the need don’t believe our K-12 education has never been outside the bottom quintile. I can recognize the need to tighten our belts. I can also recognize that we haven’t been investing appropriately in our infrastructure when times were good andthe investment still needs to be made.
Now if you want to argue we should cut back some federal programs like Medicare, Social Security, and some of our weapons systems, I’ll get behind you.
retiredds
March 10th, 2010
8:45 pm
Kyle, while you’re at it would you address the cost to the state of laying off thousands of teachers, police, government workers, etc. who now pay taxes and will move over to the unemployment (a state expense) rolls. How will that impact the equation?
bo
March 10th, 2010
8:59 pm
it’s been small government’s time in Mississippi for some time now
Th
March 10th, 2010
9:04 pm
“All that said, this year’s budget and the subsequent statewide elections offer a rare moment of truth for competing ideologies about the size of the public sector”
I wish this was so. Unfortunately, the Georgia Democratic party does not offer any real alternative. Maybe a slight difference in scope but no real choice for voters between far right wingers and right wingers.
I wish Kyle would explain why it is that voters in Georgia repeatedly pass local option sales taxes for schools or roads when given a chance and yet he thinks “our preference for low taxes means we get less government than some others do.”
JB
March 10th, 2010
9:08 pm
Just where is all the money GA took in for the last years? How is it some state’s don’t even collect income tax and still provide basic services?
I didn’t realize this state was in this situation. They appear to have been very foolish because Georgia, unlike New York and California, has no draw without cheap cost of living.
Algonquin J. Calhoun
March 10th, 2010
9:31 pm
The Republicans have ravaged the national, state and local economies. What a bunch of fascist losers!
Hayek
March 10th, 2010
9:43 pm
@JT–yep, Stephens is no small govt type. Like Bob Dole, he’s a tax collector for the welfare state.
@retiredds–You seem to think govt employment is some sort of perpetual motion machine. Hire more workers, they pay more taxes, all is hunky dory. Just not so, b/c the workers get paid more than they pay in taxes.
@Kyle–34th means GA should probaby be characterized as middle tax rather than low tax. Kudos though for citing measures of taxes as a share of income rather than taxes per capita; the latter does not control for cost of living differences and biases rankings against low cost of living southern states.
LA
March 10th, 2010
10:08 pm
“The Republicans have ravaged the national, state and local economies. What a bunch of fascist losers!”
Yeah, ya know since the GOP has been out of power since 2006.
CJ
March 10th, 2010
10:08 pm
“I further suspect that most people won’t know where that bottom limit is until they feel it…If the cuts are too deep, voters will let us know come November.”
Although I’m usually frustrated with Kyle’s post, I have to say that I’m very impressed with the balance in this post. He’s really taken the fun out of trolling, at least temporarily, but it’s much appreciated.
That said, I think it’s worth remembering the Georgia already has among the worst k-12 education systems in the country, and the U.S. has among the worst primary and secondary education systems among industrialized nations. On the notion of waiting to do something about it until we “feel it”, it’s worth remembering the metaphor about the boiling frog.
retiredds
March 10th, 2010
11:27 pm
Hayak, I understand that they get paid more than they pay in taxes and so do you. But when you get laid off and get approved for unemployment insurance you, and me, now pay for the unemployment the laid off person gets. The go from tax payer to receiving unemployment insurance. I don’ quite understand what your comment is about the govt being a perpetual motion machine. Some people make assumptions just because they think they should. That statement is one of them, but, quite frankly, about 180 degrees off base. Sorry bud. I merely asked the question. So, do you have the answer? And by the way this happens in the private sector also, i.e. so lets say the 8,000 government employees no longer frequent their local restaurants so the owners lays off some of their workers. Those restaurant people no longer buy stuff at Best Buy, so they lay off a couple of people, and the ripple goes on. As you can see, or maybe you can’t, those government people getting laid off caused a ripple effect. That reduces GA’s tax base, etc. Well, I’m tired and am going to bed. I hope you get the picture. If not, well I’m not going to lose any sleep over it. Night, night, don’t let the bed bugs bite.
Piso Mojado
March 11th, 2010
12:24 am
Here are some statistics that provide additional food for thought. Numbers shown are the GA’s rank nationally.
Total expenditures for elementary and secondary education: 10th out of 51
Total number of elementary and secondary schools: 11th out of 51
Percent of people who have completed high school (including GED): 40th out of 51. Conclusion: We can cut a whole lot here without sliding too much further, apparently. Anyone at the capitol focusing on this?
Public transportation state funding per capita and GDP: 39th out of 50. Conclusion – I’m surprised we’re ranked this high.
Best State to Live (index): 38th out of 50. Conclusion – no surprises here.
State energy program and special expenditures: 50th out of 51. Conclusion – Energy program? We’re a red state in the deep south. Duh. However, our legislators are currently looking at ways to further relax gun laws, so at least we got that going for us.
Folks, don’t blame our legislators. You’re the ones who set the bar so low when you elected these yahoos.
Churchill's MOM
March 11th, 2010
7:15 am
This cut & paste from the insider says it all. Georgia has too many counties &^ small government units. Now is the time to cut the number of these wasteful units by 1/3.
“In suburban counties such as Cobb, Gwinnett and DeKalb, roughly 10 percent of the workforce has a government job — teaching school, patrolling streets, pushing paper.
In Coffee County, where Sims lives, nearly 20 percent depend on state, county or city jobs for salaries, insurance and pensions. In Hancock County, in east Georgia, nearly two-thirds of the workforce receives a government paycheck.
“They have no alternative,” Bachtel said. The farther from Atlanta, the greater the dependence on government jobs. South Georgia is more government-dependent than north Georgia.”
DT
March 11th, 2010
7:19 am
Piso Mojado,
We are the 9th (maybe it is 8th) most populous state, to dismiss that we are 10th and 11th in total expenditures as though that means we automatically spend ‘enough’ is faulty logic. California has about 65-70% more people than any other state, would you say they are ‘fine’ if they are 3rd or 4th in total expenditures?
Just wondering…I’m not disagreeing with you when you get to the number of graduates, although I believe that is more a matter of bad home situations (poor, single parents, crime, high dropout rates) than anything else.
neo-Carlinist
March 11th, 2010
7:32 am
the Georgia government “beast” is no different than the federal “beast”. I needs to be fed with money. it exists to serve (sustain) itself. ergo, when it needs sustanence (revenue), it behaves as aggressively as any private sector enterprise. the difference? tax payers cannot choose to “purchase” the goods and services offered by the government. good luck solving this riddle.
feeling cheated
March 11th, 2010
7:32 am
Perhaps a height requirement for elected officials. Nobody over 5 feet can hold office.
There. Small government.
Kyle reads like he’s been cliche-ridden hard and put away pee-tarded and tea-partied. He’s been reduced to sputtering lunatic fringe slogans like, “party of no”. or “small government”. or “low taxes”. His simplistically predictable attacks on Obama in the wake of random, lone-terrorist attacks are the fruition of the Bush fable, “help the terrorists win”.
Kyle reads like the tree rings of a potted plant that spent it’s life absorbing partisan methane gas.
.
.
.
.
.
ew
Road Scholar
March 11th, 2010
7:38 am
LA: the Repubs have been in power in this state and locally (except Fulton, Dekalb, and Clayton counties) since 2002. All conservatives rale that the states should dictate what happens, with a “weaker” national government. So where is Sonny’s job strategy? Where is the conservative strategy on improving transportation and infrastructure?Addressing healthcare? Do nothing is not a strategy to meet this state’s needs.
Kyle, Ive seen 3 or 4 numbers in the blogs concerning where Ga ranks in State taxes (bloggers seem to have a reference) (as low as 46 up to 34), now 16th with combined state and local taxes. With the plethora of local transportation, local option, HOST, etc taxes, what are your sources for your numbers? I am not disputing them, just want to understand whose “version” you are using.
And just think of the revenue shortfall if the alledged fair tax was reality.
What is the legislature doing to collect (and assign the revenue to the correct account) uncollected taxes and fees?
jt
March 11th, 2010
7:41 am
“Georgia’s budget problems are a crisis today due to the excesses of the past,” says Jason Pye, Legislative Director for the Libertarian Party of Georgia. “Our legislators have become addicted to spending, and when economic times get tough, it’s necessary to quit that addiction cold turkey. It’s obvious they can’t.”
To solve the budget crisis, The Libertarian Party of Georgia advocates spending cuts, privatization of services and state parks, zero-based budgeting and a justification for all new spending programs.
The Libertarian Party is Georgia’s third largest political party and the only party in Georgia promoting fewer taxes, less government and personal liberty for all Georgians. To learn more, please visit http://www.LPGeorgia.com.
Road Scholar
March 11th, 2010
7:45 am
How about the state chicken vote yesterday? Big government telling its citizens that they can grow select animals and vegey gardens at home if they do it for food purposes. Local covenants would still control. Why is this a state issue? Something we already have? And it was introduced by a Repub and the tie breaking vote was by a Repub. Yeah, Repubs really are concerned with small government!
dj
March 11th, 2010
7:46 am
once again, a republican gets it wrong. you don’t shrink or expand government because of the size of government.
like any organization, the size of government should be determined by the efficiency of the government not the sheer numbers employed.
is government inefficient? under further examination, the answer will most likely be yes. can the inefficiencies be cut by cutting sheer numbers of people? Probably not. The remedy is examining how government operates, identifying the inefficiencies and resolving those inefficiencies until productivity increases.
In closing, people especially republicans hate government until they need government.
Aquagirl
March 11th, 2010
8:05 am
Smaller government? Huh? What about our silly restriction on Sunday alcohol sales and other socially conservative indulgences? Georgia is tops among fake conservatives, who use “smaller government” as an excuse to be greedy.
I notice the top AJC story is on flood warnings. Lots of people made money while the government allowed developers to run wild under this idiotic thinking, now we see the results.
Jack
March 11th, 2010
8:10 am
You are a pretty smart fellow!
Real republican fiscal conservatives will be separated from republican politicians who call themselves fiscal conservatives by the time this session of the General Assembly ends.
This is why, even though the democrat party does not offer a viable alternative, I abandoned the republican party and find myself more closely alligned with tea party advocates.
Republican members of the General Assembly who support tax increases do so at the very real risk of thousands of others like me siting on their hands on election day this fall.
Brain
March 11th, 2010
8:24 am
Kyle,
You make the serious mistake every republican in GA makes concerning the reason behind GA’s explosive population growth.First, let me remind you that democrats ran the state for the years during which our state’s population rose so quickly.
Second, GA’s population exploded for 3 reasons: cheap labor, cheap housing , good weather.
California’s population also soared during the last 30 years. And we all know California does not enjoy a limited government or small tax burden.
So, to suggest, as you have, that there is a direct correlation between taxation and growth is simply unknowable. The reasons for growth are multiple.
However, we’ve consistently seen limited infrastructure and a poorly-educated workforce as a significant impediment to growth. Georgia will likely still grow in spite of it’s horrid educational performance and absolutely abysmal infrastructure; just not as fast as places like Charlotte who have invested heavily in both while we prayed for rain.
PeopleFlockingHere
March 11th, 2010
8:35 am
Kyle writes “People flocked here for varied reasons, but they wouldn’t have come if a lack of government were inhibiting prosperity and opportunity.” Sorry, but I don’t understand what this is saying. Can Kyle or anyone else please translate this sentence? Thanks.
Ragnar Danneskjöld
March 11th, 2010
8:42 am
Why is Texas so much healthier than the rest of the country? Why are California and New York and New Jersey and Michigan in such worse shape than the rest of the country. It does seem that there is a difference in the direction of government spending between those two groups.
Casey D
March 11th, 2010
8:43 am
They can raise income tax all they want, I don’t pay any, and neither do my friends. We are all dead beats….
Not so casual observer
March 11th, 2010
8:45 am
“What about our silly restriction on Sunday alcohol sales and other socially conservative indulgences? Georgia is tops among fake conservatives, who use “smaller government” as an excuse to be greedy. Lots of people made money while the government allowed developers to run wild under this idiotic thinking, now we see the results.”
Shallow, poorly constructed thought only affirms the view of liberals as under-educated, envy-filled, leeches.
So “fake conservatives” use smaller government as an excuse to be greedy? An example would be good for those of us who prefer not to read between the lines. Are these fantasy conservatives of yours taking advantage of someone due to small government? Exactly where is there an example of this “small government”?
Is the government of Texas small? That would be the state with the legislature that meets for 90 days EVERY OTHER YEAR! That would also be the state with the 2nd largest population in the US, the state without an income tax, the state among the lowest in costs of medical care (due to actual reform – not the Obama fake reform), – so where exactly is this small government allowing greed among the “fake conservatives”?
Based upon the earlier post are we to assume only conservatives made money from development? Do you shop at Costco? The founder is a leading contributor to the Democrats and Costco builds huge stores with even larger parking lots all of which means more impervious surface and more runoff into streams and rivers.
Fulton County and Atlanta have flooding problems and these 2 governments are dominated by Democrats. So, are the “fake Democrats” the problem?
The problem is career politicians and bureaucrats, the over-paid school superintendants, the over-built school systems and the rampant waste created by ever growing government. The Obama jobs stimulus plan created jobs at a reported cost of $250,000+ per job and the private sector creates jobs at a cost of $30,000+ per job. So the efficiency is clearly in the private sector.
By the way, until government intervention in the economy destroyed the housing market, and with that the home building business, and with that the job market, and the banking business (I will admit the bankers contributed to their demise with criminal investment strategies and should have been allowed to all go under), the country had experienced steady but sustainable growth.
The leaders at Fannie and Freddie were given a pass on their shady accounting practices and their bogus bonuses because of their Democrat connections and today we learn there is yet another $125 Billion of losses dropped at the feet of taxpayers. “Fake conservatives” I guess are the culprits.
LA
March 11th, 2010
8:49 am
“Folks, don’t blame our legislators. You’re the ones who set the bar so low when you elected these yahoos.”
Yet Georgia is in better financial shape than Michigan, California, NY, Illinois and other democratically controlled states.
LA
March 11th, 2010
8:52 am
“the Repubs have been in power in this state and locally (except Fulton, Dekalb, and Clayton counties) since 2002. All conservatives rale that the states should dictate what happens, with a “weaker” national government. So where is Sonny’s job strategy? Where is the conservative strategy on improving transportation and infrastructure?Addressing healthcare? Do nothing is not a strategy to meet this state’s needs.”
Sonny can’t do anything about jobs when the president of the US is killing jobs in this country. You should point the finger at Hussein Obama. As far as health care goes, how does Sonny get blamed for that?
Bottom line: November is going to a blood bath for democrats. Obama is officially a lame duck.
One
Big
Ass
Mistake
America
LA
March 11th, 2010
8:53 am
Even democrats are running from Hussein Obama.
Some Democrats shun Obama event in St. Louis
The Show Me State temporarily became the No-Show State on Wednesday as some prominent Missouri Democrats decided they’d rather be somewhere else when President Obama came to push his massive health care overhaul plan.
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/10/some-democrats-shun-obama-event-st-louis/
LA
March 11th, 2010
8:55 am
Three Things Liberals Can’t Admit
Not everything has been said in the health-care debate.
President Obama said last week, “Everything there is to say about health care has been said, and just about everybody has said it.” It does feel as though we’ve been arguing over health care forever and keep circling back over the same ground. But Obama’s wrong. There are three things that most liberals haven’t said and can’t admit to the public or to themselves:
1) They have a moral passion to cover the uninsured, and everything else is lip service. David Brooks was good on this yesterday, and David Ignatius made a similar point in the Washington Post the other day. Never underestimate the power of ideology and conviction in politics. Democrats are persisting in their present course because, more than anything else, they think it’s the right thing to do. That’s an admirable impulse, even if it’s woefully misapplied.
http://article.nationalreview.com/427452/three-things-liberals-cant-admit/rich-lowry
LA
March 11th, 2010
8:57 am
AMEN!!!!!
Unemployment Rate Needs to Rise in House, Senate: Caroline Baum
The public is mad as hell at Washington: at the corruption, the underhanded deals, the earmarks, the sense of entitlement that comes with lifetime employment. If we don’t want to take it anymore, we can do something about it.
We the People of the United States need to make clear to our representatives in Congress, or their challengers, that our vote in November is contingent on what’s-his-name’s support for term limits. No support, no vote. Got it?
Senator Jim DeMint, Republican of South Carolina, introduced a “Term Limits for All” constitutional amendment in November. The amendment, co-sponsored by Senators Tom Coburn, Kay Bailey Hutchison and Sam Brownback, Republicans of Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas, respectively, would limit every House member to three terms and every Senator to two. Only with an end to the “era of permanent politicians” will real change come to Washington, DeMint said.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=aBLsdok30×6M
LA
March 11th, 2010
8:59 am
YES WE CAN!!!!!! CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN!!!!!!!
30 States Report Higher Unemployment in January
Unemployment rose in 30 states in January, the Labor Department said Wednesday, evidence that jobs remain scarce in most regions of the country.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03/10/states-report-higher-unemployment-january/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%253A+foxnews%252Fpolitics+%2528Text+-+Politics%2529
LA
March 11th, 2010
9:00 am
Newsmax/Zogby Poll: Nearly Half of Americans Believe Nation ‘Less Safe’ Under Obama
Nearly half of Americans believe the U.S. is less safe against terrorism since President Barack Obama took office — and 35 percent say the nation is “much less safe,” a Newsmax/Zogby poll reveals.
The exclusive poll asked: “Do you believe Barack Obama’s policies have made America more or less safe against terrorism?”
The results (figures rounded):
* Much more safe, 16 percent
* Somewhat more safe, 20 percent
* Somewhat less safe, 11 percent
* Much less safe, 35 percent
* No difference, 16 percent
* Not sure, 3 percent
http://newsmax.com/Headline/poll-terrorism-nation-less/2010/03/10/id/352283
justthefacts
March 11th, 2010
9:04 am
You are misleading your readers, the Tax Foundation’s study is very flawed. It is not validated. All the others showing GA is in the bottom of what people pay on state and local taxes have been vetted and the research is solid. Perhaps those of us in Atlanta and other regions with high sales tax feel the pinch beause it’s a regressive tax. The state should pull it’s money, even out the burden so the wealthy don’t pay less than the poor, and start funding this great state better.
The Giant Generation
March 11th, 2010
9:11 am
Clearly LA is unemployed, and most likely unemployable, since he/she/it spends all day blogging nonsense on the internet. On the off chance he is a government worker, I have filed complaints with the State of Georgia and the Federal Executive Board complaining that LA is using government computers, and government paid time to post political speech on the internet. It is up to the State and the Feds to search their computer records to see who has been spending work time on this and other related web sites. Punishment is usually termination.
CJ
March 11th, 2010
9:12 am
McClatchy: “31 states added jobs in January, though jobless rates rose” Note: Georgia isn’t among those 31 states.
LA
March 11th, 2010
9:14 am
“Clearly LA is unemployed, and most likely unemployable, since he/she/it spends all day blogging nonsense on the internet.”
I own my own biz! I have several windows open and can easily maneuver between them. It’s called multitasking.
Aquagirl
March 11th, 2010
9:15 am
@ casual, no, I don’t shop at Costco. I don’t need a 2.5 lb. box of Cheerios.Where in my post did I mention Republicans? I think your reading was interrupted by your talk-radio programmed brain, hon.
Regardless of the political contributions, the mantra of less restriction of those poor, starving developers has led to flooding and other issues. Unless you don’t consider our traffic, air quality, empty shopping centers, etc. a problem. Most of us do.
LA
March 11th, 2010
9:16 am
“It is up to the State and the Feds to search their computer records to see who has been spending work time on this and other related web sites.”
Yeah, and that never happens.
LA
March 11th, 2010
9:18 am
““31 states added jobs in January, though jobless rates rose” Note: Georgia isn’t among those 31 states.”
Neither are liberal democrat states.
LA
March 11th, 2010
9:19 am
“McClatchy: “31 states added jobs in January, though jobless rates rose” Note: Georgia isn’t among those 31 states.”
LOL!!! You really shot yourself in the foot with this one. Out of all the states that are in recovery, 90% of those states have a Republican governor.
Not so casual observer
March 11th, 2010
9:22 am
justthefacts,
“even out the burden so the wealthy don’t pay less than the poor”
I doubt the wealthy pay less for “anything” than the poor. Most likely the wealthy pay more in auto sales tax each year than the poor pay in total annual sales tax. If the average sales tax on a Mercedes is $5,000 at the dealers in Fulton County then if the poor paid sales tax on every penny they earn – they would have to earn over $70,000 to pay more and they would no longer qualify as “poor”.
Morrus
March 11th, 2010
9:23 am
Vote out the incumbents and start over
Not so casual observer
March 11th, 2010
9:29 am
All of the employment and unemployment figures are bogus. The numbers are “adjusted” to meet the needs of the administration.
An individual who looks for work for 3 months and fails to even have an interview is dropped from the “unemployed” statistics. Rates as high as 25% are dropped as commonly as the 9-10% rate the Administration likes to cite. Once again, FIGURES LIE AND LIARS FIGURE.
As national unemployment rates rose steadily we heard from the Obama administration that the stimulus program “saved” xxxxxxx number of jobs. Nothing, and I repeat, NOTHING this administration says or publishes should be believed.
Not so casual observer
March 11th, 2010
9:34 am
Morrus,
You speak my language.
And after kicking them all out of Congress we take away thier golden pensions and their life time perks and put them under Social Security and Medicare along with the members of the Executive and Judicial branches.
You would see an entirely new HC proposal if the Congress knew all Senators and House Members would follow the same rules as the peons who elected them.
LA
March 11th, 2010
9:38 am
“Nothing, and I repeat, NOTHING this administration says or publishes should be believed.”
Remember in 2008 when liberals like Bookman, Matthews, Olbermann etc. said that the GOP is going the way of the whig party? Funny how things change in a matter of one year. James Carville wrote a book, that sold a whopping 10,000, about how the Democrats will be in power for another 40 years. My point is liberals are morons. Plain and simple. Nothing they say can be backed up with facts and they constantly contradict themselves. I heard Gillibrand on PMSNBC this morning talking about how the health care bill would not raise taxes and that it would lower costs. When asked HOW it would do that she went off on some other tangent. These people are running the country into the ground and yet they try to blame others for their own stupidity.
Kyle Wingfield
March 11th, 2010
9:52 am
justthefacts: Perhaps you could be so kind as to explain what’s wrong with the Tax Foundation study rather than flatly saying that it’s flawed and others — presumably which have results you find more agreeable — are solid. And perhaps you could point to another study that presents taxes paid as a proportion of income, since absolute taxes collected tell us nothing about what the population can afford.
And perhaps you could explain how a population that’s cutting back its spending because of the economy can afford to pay more taxes. And why we should protect public-sector jobs at the expense of private-sector ones.
All of that would be substantive, as opposed to coming on here and smearing a study by a well-respected organization.
LA
March 11th, 2010
10:00 am
Some more bad news for liberal cult followers.
Americans’ Global Warming Concerns Continue to Drop
Multiple indicators show less concern, more feelings that global warming is exaggerated
http://www.gallup.com/poll/126560/Americans-Global-Warming-Concerns-Continue-Drop.aspx