We have a recurring problem at my house where my kids do something they know they’re not supposed to do and believe they can fix it with a simple “I’m sorry” after the fact. We’ve had the whole discussion about how it doesn’t help to say that you’re sorry if you’re not going to change your behavior and yet it still persists. It’s driving me a little bit crazy.
In their defense, my kids are still young so they sometimes say things without thinking about it first – hence, the “I’m sorry.” I’m not sure what the excuse is for our politicians these days…
Consider this: A recent poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute found that most Florida taxpayers don’t believe that FL Governor Rick Scott will make good on his promise to not raise taxes. Interestingly, most taxpayers surveyed prefer a tax boost to a cut in services, so it’s not so much that Florida taxpayers are anti-tax. It is, rather, that they appear to assume that their governor is will to lie to them. Yet, they still give him a decent approval rating.
Hmm.
We have a similar problem here in Pennsylvania. The Quinnipiac University Polling Institute conducted a similar poll in the Keystone state and the results were largely the same. Residents seem to like PA Governor Tom Corbett and have high hopes for his tenure. However, most taxpayers do not believe that the governor will be able to balance the budget without raising taxes, something that Corbett has pledged to do.
The same scenario is playing out in our neighboring state of Ohio. There, voters don’t believe OH Gov. John Kasich will keep his promise not to raise taxes.
My guess is that, if Quinnipiac would keep polling, they’d find a similar vibe throughout the country. After the last bout of elections, there was a bit of a shake-up in a number of state governments. New leadership was voted in, making pledges not to raise taxes. While voters supported the leadership at the voting booths, they are oddly cynical about the promises: they don’t believe that states won’t raise taxes.
I totally understand why taxpayers are so cynical. State coffers are dry. Expenses keep rising as federal dollars slow and the costs of supporting an increasingly unemployed (and largely uninsured) public keep heading north. Deficits are growing. And revenue is shrinking.
So why make the promises in the first place? Do you think the governors believe their own rhetoric? Or is it just a ploy to get votes? And if it’s just a ploy to get votes, why do taxpayers fall for it if they don’t believe it in the first place? Are we really willing to believe a simple “I’m sorry” will make it better? What do you think?
“No New Taxes” seems to be the mantra for politicians these days. I think they believe (and possibly rightly so) that if they come clean and tell voters the truth — that there’s no way State or local governments can provide the same level of service with less money and that taxes are going to have to go up, they won’t get the votes.
Sure wish someone out there would give it a try, though. I firmly believe that most voters are smarter than the politicians give them credit for.
However, that certainly wouldn’t be the first thing I was wrong on, sigh.
Include the Governor of Texas on the promise not to increase taxes. Texas constitution does not permit deficit spending. With a 27 billion shortfall our wonderful legislators are talking about cutting education including disabled kids (which will run afoul of federal law) and health care. (Texas has one of the most uninsured children) the Republican Governor’s temporary housing is costing $10,000.00 a month and he isn’t going to give up his standard of living. Yep, the rich get richer, the poor get poorer. Since he was reelected for an unprecedented 3rd term let the votes see how budget cuts will affect them. It will be interesting. I can’t wait.