When Is Enough- Enough?

By John Vlahakis

When does a taxpayer say enough is enough? The enough being when will we see our current local, state, and federal governments find the political back bone to solve their financial irresponsibility? This really isn’t about the over taxation that exists in this nation, but more on the lack of fiscal solvency. Fiscal solvency does not exist at the majority of local, state and federal governments. Let’s forget about the largeness of the federal debt for one moment. Every local and state government is in trouble. Every politician talks about having the will to put more of the burden on tax payers. But, most of them say not to do it in an election year. Are we that stupid? Are we nothing but sheep being led to slaughter? I find it distressing that politicians talk about raising our income tax level, or raising sales tax, or placing another tax on a service. None of them discuss putting their houses in order. What would it take? Well let’s start with the basics. You cannot spend money that you do not have. You can borrow short term to make ends meet, knowing that down the road the economy will pick up and tax revenues will increase; but, what are they to do about it now that money coming in is way short of what’s going out? What would you do? Simple- cut costs to make ends meet. What would that entail? Would that entail public employee layoffs? Eliminating pension funding, (maybe they could get 401K like the rest of us)? Sharing resources with other government agencies to reduce costs and overhead? Maybe simplifying government services so they are not confusing to the public? Some local governments have begun to pool together their resources, primarily in policing and fire protection. Makes sense. How often is the fire department called upon in your town to put out a fire? In my town all I see are police cars setting up speed traps to produce revenue. Must nail that poor parent who’s rushing to take care of the home and kids. They are a threat to society. Government needs to put their house in order and make the painful cuts everyone else had to endure these past few years. If not, eventually we will have enough of this, and we may do something our founding fathers would be proud of.