BCT Editorial – 8/7/08

This page was last updated on August 10, 2008.

A fine whine; Editorial; Beaver County Times; August 7, 2008.

The editorial subtitle is “It’s hard to lead when nobody wants to follow.”

The editorial leads off with “One problem with politics in America today is that people want it all, but they don’t want to pay for it. The most recent poll statewide poll by Connecticut-based Quinnipiac University revealed a disheartening failure to grasp reality when it comes to much-needed funding for highways, bridges and mass transit in Pennsylvania.”

Again the implication is we’re selfish for opposing tax increases. As is a habit of the Times, this editorial fails to note current overall taxes (32.7% of income) are nearly at their historical high (34% in 2000). What else was omitted? As noted in a recent Times article, Gov. Rendell is on a statewide glad handing tour giving out $642 million of taxpayer earnings for so-called “economic development.” The problem isn’t insufficient tax revenue. The problem is we’re spending tax revenue on the wrong things.