That’s what today’s WaPo editorial says about the House Rs’ insistence that there is no need for additional revenue for transportation.
Sorta reminds me of the method Professor Harold Hill (in Music Man) used to teach children to play music. He called it the Think Method. “I now have a revolutionary method where you don’t bother with the notes,” he promised the children in River City. Thinking was all it would take to master a musical instrument. By the time the unsuspecting parents discovered that the Think Method wouldn’t work, Professor Hill would be long gone.
The Think Method was a sham in the musical, and it’s a sham in Virginia as well. We’re going to have to make some tough decisions about whether we really want to address our transportation needs–or just think about it. But unlike Harold Hill, we’ll still be around when voters learn that the Think Method won’t get us where we want to go.
What is a sham is House Democrats’ insistence that transportation improvements can’t be funded with a tax increase. Of course, funding transportation needs within existing revenue would require choosing among competing alternatives, and the average voter, taxpayer, and productive citizen finds little representation in the modern Democrat Party, which will invariably cater to government employees, welfare recipients, and those who leech off of the government.
After all, he who robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul!
“…can’t be funded withOUT a tax increase….”
First, the word “Democrat” is a noun. Thus it cannot modify “Party.” It’s the “Democratic” Party, made up of individual “Democrats.” Second, most of the people who vote for ME are pretty solid upstanding citizens. Many do in fact work for the government (it’s the DC suburbs after all). But they just want to be able to get home to see their kids play soccer.
Well, Kris, my sneakin’ suspicion is that Democrats complain so regularly about calling their party the “Democrat Party” is the realization that “democrat” does not accurately modify the modern “Democratic Party.” I prefer accuracy.
And I notice that, like other Democrats, you choose to ignore the point that governance is about choosing among competing alternatives.
Understandable.
Were you to acknowledge the point, you would have to answer for the failure of Democrats (and not a few Republicans, for that matter) to make those choices to fund adequately transportation needs in a period of ever-increasing government revenues.
“is THE REASON that Democrats…”
Darn inability to edit!
No, James, we complain about “Democrat Party” because it betrays a juvenile snarkiness that detracts from whatever point the writer is trying to make. It is graffiti on our wall of enlightened debate ;-)
Also, I complain about “Democrat Party” because I am a Grammar Geek. You should hear me on “that” and “which.”
To your other point – we have made choices. Nobody advocates the need for additional revenue lightly. But when businesses AND citizens all tell me we have to do something, I try to respond.
Thank you Kris. For being a grammar geek, and for representing me so well in Richmond.
James, we know all about the anti-tax philosophies on how to run Virginia’s government, and my response to you is plain and simple–IT DOESN’T WORK. We’ve tried it, and it failed.
There is a point to increasing efficiencies and saving costs where they can be saved. But the nuts and bolts of the situation’s facts are plain and clear–citizens DO NOT want to reduce state support of education, or health & welfare programs (already very leanly funded), etc in order to fix another priority like transportation because it cannot all be done on the same dime.
You HAVE TO PAY for what you want. There is NO FREE LUNCH.
We are all very well acquanited with the outdated philosophies of taxation and goverment spending from the right–and I would refer you to the past 25 years of budgeting and government by the federal government, as well as, in particular, the Gilmore-Warner administrations in Virginia, for EVIDENCE of what works and what doesn’t in this realm.
If we want results in improved transportation, we need to be willing to pay for them–they are not going to spontaneously happen without investment. And that investment, as most citizens understand, cannot come at the expense of other state priorities for investment that we’ve had to fight equally hard to obtain.
I am eagerly looking forward to results form this summer’s session.
Doug,
What you meant to say is that “You HAVE TO PAY for what [Democrats] want. [Republicans] don’t need FREE LUNCH.”
If the federal government weren’t stealing so much of our tax dollars for silly things in other states, Virginia’s transportation wouldn’t be an issue. Besides, transportation isn’t really at the top of the list right now. And, the fact of the matter is, I don’t think you really want to pay for it. I know I don’t. The roads are just fine.
The best government is “that which” governs least and leaves our liberty alone. More taxes on top of an already heavy burden necessarily means less liberty. And, living within your means is a concept foreign to Democrats who love to both tax and spend. (Yes, the Republicans for the past 8 years have been acting like Democrats.)
I think it’s time to act. “The roads are fine”. WHAT!!??
Go for a ride in the Mixing Bowl during rush hour or come to my little nook of Virginia and ride the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel during rush hour. Good luck…you might want to bring a book!
I know I’m going to get flamed for this, but I’m more than happy to pay tolls to expand facilities.