Comments on: For Now, Teflon Governor Unmarked http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/09/24/for-now-teflon-governor-unmarked/ Here are my thoughts; share yours Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:52:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 By: LHKMAN http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/09/24/for-now-teflon-governor-unmarked/#comment-398 LHKMAN Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:31:15 +0000 http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/09/24/for-now-teflon-governor-unmarked/#comment-398 Here's a fundamental truth: It costs money (taxes) to run a government. Unless one believes in alchemy there is no way to provide health care, build transportation infrastructure, or educate children without collecting taxes to do so. In the 13 years that I have lived in Colorado, I have seen a total of four new lanes of I-25 added to the highway network, while the population and traffic have increased exponentially. Perhaps what Gov. Ritter has tapped into is that the vast majority of citizens want their governments at all levels to perform with some degree of efficiency. "You're doin' a heckuva job, Brownie." Politicians are elected to figure out which functions of government should get the highest priorities and the money. Colorado Republicans, in their continuing rhetoric, would have us believe that there should be no government at all, therefore there should be no taxes at all. Ayn Rand died some years ago, but they hang on to the Libertarian/Populist rhetoric that she espoused. Oh, one other thing: Ayn Rand wrote novels, not non-fiction. Here’s a fundamental truth: It costs money (taxes) to run a government. Unless one believes in alchemy there is no way to provide health care, build transportation infrastructure, or educate children without collecting taxes to do so. In the 13 years that I have lived in Colorado, I have seen a total of four new lanes of I-25 added to the highway network, while the population and traffic have increased exponentially. Perhaps what Gov. Ritter has tapped into is that the vast majority of citizens want their governments at all levels to perform with some degree of efficiency. “You’re doin’ a heckuva job, Brownie.” Politicians are elected to figure out which functions of government should get the highest priorities and the money. Colorado Republicans, in their continuing rhetoric, would have us believe that there should be no government at all, therefore there should be no taxes at all. Ayn Rand died some years ago, but they hang on to the Libertarian/Populist rhetoric that she espoused. Oh, one other thing: Ayn Rand wrote novels, not non-fiction.

]]> By: The Alchemist http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/09/24/for-now-teflon-governor-unmarked/#comment-399 The Alchemist Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:42:46 +0000 http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/09/24/for-now-teflon-governor-unmarked/#comment-399 Let's try alchemy. Let’s try alchemy.

]]> By: noidea http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/09/24/for-now-teflon-governor-unmarked/#comment-400 noidea Tue, 25 Sep 2007 01:02:00 +0000 http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/09/24/for-now-teflon-governor-unmarked/#comment-400 lhkman, What percentage of a taxation should a person's income, purchases and property be fair to tax? We just raised taxes with C and D...I am not opposed to taxation, but what percentage should it be capped at? 70%? 80%? Ritter is well liked because he is a rational man, not a knee jerk.... lhkman,

What percentage of a taxation should a person’s income, purchases and property be fair to tax? We just raised taxes with C and D…I am not opposed to taxation, but what percentage should it be capped at? 70%? 80%? Ritter is well liked because he is a rational man, not a knee jerk….

]]> By: LHKMAN http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/09/24/for-now-teflon-governor-unmarked/#comment-401 LHKMAN Tue, 25 Sep 2007 14:35:02 +0000 http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/09/24/for-now-teflon-governor-unmarked/#comment-401 Noidea: You ask an unanswerable question. I certainly do not know what percentage of a person's income should be taxed, and unless you argue for "0", I doubt you do either. Some of us who have a reasonable command of the English language do not consider C and D to have been tax increases, either. I pay no more in taxes today than before C was passed (you are aware, are you not, that D was defeated?) Nice try, with your rhetorical question about what percentage should be capped. My answer is 100% of income should be subject to taxation, but the rate of taxation should be considerably less. Again, I believe the elected representatives of the people should make those decisions, subject to referendum and the ultimate check - defeat in their bid for reelection. Because of this state's term limits silliness, politicians can urge the most extreme positions because those doing the urging know they will leave office before long so there is no electoral penalty for stupidity or small-mindedness. Ritter does appear to be rational, so I guess you and I agree on one thing, at least. Noidea: You ask an unanswerable question. I certainly do not know what percentage of a person’s income should be taxed, and unless you argue for “0″, I doubt you do either. Some of us who have a reasonable command of the English language do not consider C and D to have been tax increases, either. I pay no more in taxes today than before C was passed (you are aware, are you not, that D was defeated?) Nice try, with your rhetorical question about what percentage should be capped. My answer is 100% of income should be subject to taxation, but the rate of taxation should be considerably less. Again, I believe the elected representatives of the people should make those decisions, subject to referendum and the ultimate check - defeat in their bid for reelection. Because of this state’s term limits silliness, politicians can urge the most extreme positions because those doing the urging know they will leave office before long so there is no electoral penalty for stupidity or small-mindedness. Ritter does appear to be rational, so I guess you and I agree on one thing, at least.

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