All ye who read this, repeat after me : “The problem is excessive spending, nothing more.” If you agree with this proposition, you probably have your own example(s) to support it. But for the purposes of this post, let’s focus on the state of Minnesota, and use it as a metaphor for local, state, and even national government spending habits.
In the immediate aftermath of the tragic Minnesota bridge collapse, numerous politicians cynically and predictably chose to exploit the issue by suggesting that higher gas taxes would fix the problem of decaying/neglected infrastructure. (See links below for specifics). A cursory analysis would seem to reinforce this view: bridge falls down, raise taxes/spend more money to fix it. However, a close examination of reality dictates the following facts:
1) Minnesota spent $1.6 billion on transportation/infrastructure “needs” in its latest fiscal period. It used the bulk of these monies to fund the state’s light rail network. Apparently, roads and bridges don’t count as transportation/infrastructure needs in Minnesota.
2) In 2006, a dedicated road and bridge sales tax revenue stream was diverted (as opposed to dedicated to road and bridge repair) to “mass transit” funding instead. Apparently in Minnesota, dedicated means spend the money anyway you want, except for road and bridge repair.
3) US Congressman James Oberstar (D,Minnesota), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (Oink,oink, oink. Make way for porkbarrel gorging), secured $12 million of transportation funding for his home state. It was appropriated as follows: $10 MILLION – Commuter Rail Line. $250,000 Bike/Walk trail; $200,000 to bus services(????); $150,000 to “Mesabi Academy of Kidspeace(????); $0 to Road and Bridges. In case you hadn’t guessed by now, chairman Obsterstar was among those shamelessly exploiting the bridge collapse for the purpose of securing an increase in the federal gas tax to “fix roads and bridges”.
And Oberstar is hardly alone; his thoughts and actions are reflected in such illustrious fiscal luminaries as John Murtha, Ted “Bridge to Nowhere” Stevens , Robert Byrd, Trent Lott, etc. , all of whom want a piece of the pork for themselves.
It should be clear, increasingly clear to one and all that unless and until politicians such as these are thrown out of office, headfirst, there is no end to the spending lunacy, waste, and inefficiency permeating nearly every level of government. The moral of this story, whenever a politician argues in behalf of a tax or spending increase, Just say NO!!!! and vote accordingly.
Special thanks to The Tax Foundation for a heads up on this. The link below will take you to the August 18, 2007 Wall Street Journal editorial entitled “Of Bridges and Taxes”. I will ad their link to my blogroll and am also including it here: http://www.taxfoundation.org/
