I’ve noticed in the past few years that some local
newspapers dedicate one or more full pages listing foreclosures and sheriff
sales on local properties. These listings occur one or more times per month and
it may be a regular service that the newspapers provide. That is not however
the point that I wish to make in this article.
Some of the good folks in these united states of America
are struggling to make mortgage and tax payments after they have lost their
income due to the loss of a job, a cut in pay, a drop in sales receipts, etc.
And unfortunately some have lost or will lose their property and homes due to a
foreclosure.
So various towns and states are
losing revenue due to the above and that is caused by a slacking economy. When
the income stream of a private company or “ma and pa” business starts to
decline, what do they do? Well most would attempt to reduce their costs and
overhead by doing such things as: stream line their operations more, negotiate
for a reduced cost in raw materials, and sadly, sometimes make reduction in
staff. Do these businesses raise the price of their finished goods for their
remaining customer base? No. Oh there may be some instances where the market
can stand a higher end cost depending on the rarity of the product. But if the
customer can go get the same widget somewhere else for less cash, then that is
where they will usually go.
So what does the local town,
county, and state, do? Reduce spending? Cut new and worthless programs? Well,
sometimes they do, a little. But the first and foremost agenda always seems to
squeeze more revenue out of the public. This is attempted by increasing the
rates of existing taxes for the remaining few (the tax base). This would
include property taxes, licensing taxes, registration taxes and the like. If a
sales tax already exists, they will be itching to increase the take. If it does
not exist, someone will come up with the brilliant idea of initiating one with
the pretext that it will solve all of the revenue problems. And there are
always “creative” new tax revenue streams that are proposed like special taxes
on private water wells, soft drinks and others even more outrageous. So the state (all
government levels) always makes an attempt to maintain the status quo at the
expense of whoever is left to fund them.
When I read the local news, it
seems that most public schools are on a continuous quest for more funding even though most public schools
are already over-funded and not doing a very good job with our children. And
they waste money for highly architectured buildings with flashy marquees at the
grounds entrance. But that is another subject altogether.
Yes there is upkeep. Yes there
are improvements and someone’s pet project that are in the works. But it is
past time for our governments at all levels to realize that the public is
squeezed dry. There is no more money. There are not enough jobs. Our villages,
towns and states are barely supporting us in the form of paid work. This is
causing an exodus of the people. That is, the states “tax base”. They are
seeking their fortune and means of survival elsewhere. And who can blame them?
So what people are thankfully
beginning to realize is that concerning “our” government, there is too much
waste and little or no accountability for the waste. The public schools
continue to expand with frivolous amenities for the school building and
classroom. And the staff, being under the wings of the teachers unions (NEA, AFT,
EFA) continue to receive unmerited increases in pay and perks.
When will “our trusted governments” become responsible to
the people at large and do what must be done (or not done). Any special
projects should be put on hold for awhile. Expenses should be slashed they
should make do with what they already have. Allow some time for a recovery. “O
spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.”(Psalm 39:13)
That is what we the people at
large have always had to do.
“And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” I Timothy, 6:8
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