Op-Ed - Rotting from within by Douglas Amy

[texpatriot2004]

<large snip>

Let's be clear about the source of these problems. It is not that America does not have the money to spend. We remain the richest country in the world. The problem is the relentless efforts by Republicans to cut taxes and reduce spending. For years, Republican lawmakers on the state and federal levels have been slashing taxes and cutting budgets -- all in the apparent belief that this would do no harm to people. But in the case of our infrastructure facilities they are disastrously wrong. We need to elect officials who understand the important role that government plays in providing for the public interest and who are not averse to raising the taxes and spending the money necessary to do so.

In addition, we Americans need to change the way we think about taxes. We need to resist the Republicans' siren song that the less we pay in taxes, the better off we all are. The fact is that paying taxes is actually a good thing when the money goes to meeting essential public needs like maintaining an adequate national infrastructure. And in this area, it is clear that we need more taxes and more government -- not less. Reducing government often means reducing our ability to act collectively to meet our nation's needs. Until we acknowledge this, the risks to all Americans will only continue to rise.

Meanwhile, the Bush administration continues blindly on its ideological crusade to trim government and cut the budgets for domestic spending. When the president thinks of threats to Americans' wellbeing, he only seems to see those dangers coming from abroad.

But as is becoming clear at home, there is also a serious threat that we are rotting from within.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=54035

[Dunvegan]

1. Even "pothole infrastructure" isn't an issue GOP supporters have to...

...support spending on.

Just buy a wide-tire SUV.

Problem solved!

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Crafting Message

and thanks to Paul Krugman

Taxes are not taxes, (word too dirty) They are service fees, the fees you pay to live in this society, you don't want to pay, move.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. "in an apparent belief this would do no harm to people"

Sorry, but I don't think the neo-cons, at least, even thought about this. Their agenda is to use the government to gain as much for themselves as possible, the rest of humanity be damned.

I know the old argument-there's waste and corruption in government, and if we cut taxes, it will magically go away. This administration has proved that waste and corruption never goes away-it is the one constant you can count on, especially when one party rules all branches of government.