Comments on: Are we in bizarro world? (2) (2) http://www.fiestyturtles.com/pete/2007/09/27/are-we-in-bizarro-world/ What's this about? Wed, 06 May 2009 02:17:05 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Pete http://www.fiestyturtles.com/pete/2007/09/27/are-we-in-bizarro-world/comment-page-1/#comment-364 Pete Thu, 27 Sep 2007 19:05:53 +0000 http://blogs.fiestyturtles.com/pete/?p=453#comment-364 Mostly, I think I'm just asking 'why'. If cuts need to be made, then they should be made. If taxes need to be raised, then they should be raised. I think my point is that there must be some sort of comparison between Michigan and other states with similar economies. If we're grossly underpaying for something that everyone else in the country is paying for at a higher level, then I don't see why that couldn't be exercised for a higher revenue. Likewise, if we're grossly overspending for programs than other states in comparable situations, then that seems like it would be looked into to pull back some. I don't necessarily think spending money is bad, but wasteful use of funds definitely is a big cause of the problem. I DO NOT think cutting funding of inner city schools is going to HELP things, though, but that's a whole other issue. Schools have always complained about being short on funds, no matter where they are. Why? Are they misspending what they get, or are they really not getting enough? Don't we have people auditing and watching this stuff?? I'm on the fence about massive privatization. The free market only works when there is an interest in profit to be made. Some government programs are inevitably needed for the good of the citizens, but a private company would never touch them because they can't run at a profit. Privatizing schools would unload things from the government, but how do you address the possible problems of haves vs have-nots? Education is one of those things that needs to be available to EVERYBODY. How do you guarantee ANY CHILD is able to participate in at least some sort of baseline education (read: free) in a completely private environment? I would say that all in all I would support a smaller government that is as minimally intrusive as possible. Personally, my solution for this whole thing is to start from the top down and make the whole thing a part-time volunteer government! Mostly, I think I’m just asking ‘why’. If cuts need to be made, then they should be made. If taxes need to be raised, then they should be raised. I think my point is that there must be some sort of comparison between Michigan and other states with similar economies. If we’re grossly underpaying for something that everyone else in the country is paying for at a higher level, then I don’t see why that couldn’t be exercised for a higher revenue. Likewise, if we’re grossly overspending for programs than other states in comparable situations, then that seems like it would be looked into to pull back some.

I don’t necessarily think spending money is bad, but wasteful use of funds definitely is a big cause of the problem. I DO NOT think cutting funding of inner city schools is going to HELP things, though, but that’s a whole other issue. Schools have always complained about being short on funds, no matter where they are. Why? Are they misspending what they get, or are they really not getting enough? Don’t we have people auditing and watching this stuff??

I’m on the fence about massive privatization. The free market only works when there is an interest in profit to be made. Some government programs are inevitably needed for the good of the citizens, but a private company would never touch them because they can’t run at a profit. Privatizing schools would unload things from the government, but how do you address the possible problems of haves vs have-nots? Education is one of those things that needs to be available to EVERYBODY. How do you guarantee ANY CHILD is able to participate in at least some sort of baseline education (read: free) in a completely private environment?

I would say that all in all I would support a smaller government that is as minimally intrusive as possible. Personally, my solution for this whole thing is to start from the top down and make the whole thing a part-time volunteer government!

]]> By: Jeff http://www.fiestyturtles.com/pete/2007/09/27/are-we-in-bizarro-world/comment-page-1/#comment-363 Jeff Thu, 27 Sep 2007 17:54:08 +0000 http://blogs.fiestyturtles.com/pete/?p=453#comment-363 So despite your denial.... You are conservative... Atleast on fiscal issues. Spending obviously needs to be cut. Part of the problem is that we keep dumping money into intercity schools, and that doesn't gurantee a fix.... Money doesn't fix things, yet these schools continue to perform poorly and they keep getting more money... and when they don't people bitch about education being cut. Thats the problem with governement agencies is that they are not the most cost effective means... they are the only organizations that can continually loose money, and yet they continue to reamains in "business" and get funding. Also the fact that Granholm refused to put a 4 year limit on wellfare a few years back doesn't help either. The solutioin, cut spending, and let the private sector fill in were government can't. So despite your denial…. You are conservative… Atleast on fiscal issues.

Spending obviously needs to be cut. Part of the problem is that we keep dumping money into intercity schools, and that doesn’t gurantee a fix…. Money doesn’t fix things, yet these schools continue to perform poorly and they keep getting more money… and when they don’t people bitch about education being cut. Thats the problem with governement agencies is that they are not the most cost effective means… they are the only organizations that can continually loose money, and yet they continue to reamains in “business” and get funding. Also the fact that Granholm refused to put a 4 year limit on wellfare a few years back doesn’t help either.

The solutioin, cut spending, and let the private sector fill in were government can’t.

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