Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

What we want our government to do and how we pay for it

By

Dear Just Asking

I’m sure you’ve noticed that every press story about every initiative announcement includes a quote or three from a legislative leader or a “state house observer” asking the same question. And the answer will come to everyone on the 23rd or sooner.

Will these new initiatives be funded by going into the state’s 2.3 billion dollar rainy day fund, or by cutting other programs somewhere else, or from his revenue proposals (gambling and corporate loophole proposals) even if they haven’t passed the legislature yet? You’ll find out soon enough.

Let me repeat by the way, it’s perfectly legal and appropriate for the Administration to submit an annual budget estimating income from various sources even if they haven’t passed the legislature yet. Of course such a move might really irritate everyone opposed to those revenue sources, but all they have to do is continue their fight in the legislature.

BTW your description of the essential task for concerned citizens is right, excuse me, perfect.      

Please share widely!
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Comments

  1. My understanding is that the “job” of government is to do competently and transparently what individuals cannot do for themselves.  Amount those items I include:

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    p>1.  Controlling and eliminating infectious diseases.

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    p>2.  Maintaining the infrastructure, which includes roads, bridges, dams, and public buildings such as court houses and schools.

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    p>3.  Providing a free and appropriate education to lead to informed and financially independent citizens.

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    p>I believe in the axiom that just as it is the job of adults to protect and nurture children before gratifying adult whims and desires, it is the duty of the strong to protect and nurture the weak.

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    p>When did these ideas get demoted in favor of the culture of the tax cutting frenzy?  How did government, which is the sole levee against chaos, get demonized anyway?

  2. After 40 years of focused anti-tax anti-goverment rhetoric from various forces of darkness and evil, that’s how.

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    p>The Demos Center for the Public Works has done lots of serious research documenting the trend, and suggesting ways we can all begin to rebuild the public’s confidence in government by talking about it as the way we all work together to accomplish things we can’t do alone — from educating our children, to protecting our water supply, to growing the economy, to defending our borders to ……………the list does go on doesn’t it?

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    p>All of the public structures we’ve built up to accomplish those things always need support, repair and retooling or they fail us. Witness Katrina, witness child protection systems, witness broken bridges. How? Through focused, informed, civic engagement.

  3. as a fair adequate and stable revenue stream.

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    p>In today’s Herald Leslie Kirwin demonstrates a good way to argue for it as an option. Of course it’s also the way to argue for other possible revenue sources.

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    We need money to pay for the priorities we all share,” Kirwan said. “Everyone would like us to spend more money on better schools, health care and more local aid, but we need to deal with the (deficit) to make those investments.

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