The Shadow rails against the poor spending habits of the elected officials, but really that isn’t where the objection is. If the citizens really want to spend money on the “bells and whistles”, then the government should provide that because it is the will of the people. However, the government has the responsibility to set the priorities on those things it is most responsible for and what is left over can be spent on the extras. It is when a city is facing crime problems, bad roads, poor city services, failing schools, and a poor job market that raising taxes to meet these obligations is most irresponsible. It’s like the family budget; you fund your food, clothes, house, and car first; and then you can enjoy a movie, dinner out, and a new whatever. The city needs to follow that same policy. You fund the infrastructure, police, fire, and basic services first and then you can pay for parks, lakes, and community programs. The burden of making tough decisions in regards to government funding needs to be off the businesses and residents, and onto the elected officials. I shouldn’t have to ask if I could make a car payment or my tax payment.
The city is the highest concentration of population, and should be a gold mind for business to find available labor. Instead, it is the city that you find the highest rates leveled against people and business. If the elected officials reverse that trend you’ll find more available jobs and workforce to draw from. Businesses will setup shop where they can best afford to, and people will live where they can afford, free safe, and enjoy the extras. Following this recipe will raise income and not require raised taxes.
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Some facts to consider (this is just the tip of the iceburg, well said Shadow...)
"The cost of rent in Minnesota has outpaced incomes for most Minnesotans. The average rent costs are up 34% in the past ten years, while the average rental income has increased only 9%...21,000 people in Minnesota are without stable housing, that number does not include people are staying with friends or family members." -- Dakota Woodlands
http://dakotawoodlands.org/abouthomelessness.html
"In Minnesota, an estimated 7,000 people a night seek emergency shelter by homeless service providers. Another 1,000 are turned away due to lack of space and/or resources. (This often includes women and children fleeing domestic violence)... 51% of homeless youth have been physically or sexually abused."
Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless: http://www.mnhomelesscoalition.org/?page_id=17
"Twenty women and twelve children were murdered in Minnesota in 2006 as the result of domestic violence or child abuse."
Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women 2006 Femicide Report
"In fiscal year 2006, 5,295 battered women and 5,131 children in Minnesota utilized emergency shelter services."
Office of Justice Programs, Minnesota Department of Public Safety
Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women: http://www.mcbw.org/dvfacts.htm
"There were 20,189 calls to 9-1-1 in Minneapolis in 2000 identified as “domestic” calls. Of those, 450 were “domestic fight with weapons” calls."
Minneapolis Police Department
"Employers lose between $3 billion and $5 billion every year in absenteeism, lower productivity, higher turnover and health and safety costs associated with battered workers"
American Institute on Domestic Violence, 2001
Tubman Family Alliance: http://www.tubmanfamilyalliance.org/need_help/being_abused/violence_facts.html
"There are 320 food shelves in Minnesota that serve as many as 7,000 families. In 2004, there were over 1.8 million food shelf visits and over 36 million pounds of food distributed. Several suburban food shelves have seen the numbers it serves double in the past five years and overall, food shelf visits are rising about 10 percent per year." Source: Star Tribune, 2-2-05
http://www.finnegans.org/sitepages/pid46.php
Considering these facts, would you change the state constitution of Minnesota to dedicate $54 million to the arts and $39 million to parks and trails by increasing the sales tax?
Or a $22 million dollar increase in the already over priced Twins stadium bid of $390 million? Are Mankato limestone, additional port a potties and concession stands more important than the cost of human lives, than the needed necessities to survive in our communities?
There is a 5 year lifetime limit for anyone receive MFIP--not that anyone can survive on the pitiful amount expected to transition them to stability--why then are there not lifetime limits for corporate welfare? No limits on government spending? At least we know a receipt on MFIP is investing in their family, in their community. A life may be changed for the better. Can the same be said for the wasteful selected few who greedily spend our tax dollars?
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