Lately I've had a great many interactions in which someone will say something about how Governor Snyder wants to take money away from schools, almost always accompanied by an expression of disgust with the governor and the fact that he is speaking at U-M's commencement. I find this awkward, because, well, I support the governor. The state has no money, and it has to make cuts, unfortunately. I guarantee that he doesn't want to cut education, but that the state also can't spend money it doesn't have. And in an economically depressed state, raising taxes on "the rich" or on "big business" just isn't a good policy. The problem is the tax base--everything we have that could be taxed--rather than tax levels. Until the economy here comes back, we're going to have to do more with less, educationally. I think our teachers are good enough to do that.
But...what is the best thing to do in that situation? Do I engage that in conversation and express my disagreement in a polite, respectful way? Or do I just ignore--at as I have largely been doing--smile, and move on? Among other teachers, I've learned just to smile and move on. What about my brothers and sisters in church? I don't think less of anyone who disagrees with me politically, but I sometimes get the feeling that others think less of me when they hear about my opinions. Well, that or become personally offended...
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Hey John! So I disagree with some of your "trickle-down" theories of economic stimulation. I think that taxes on the extremely rich (if they aren't completely astronomical) usually don't depress the economy because they sit on large piles of savings. Although these savings are most likely in banks, many are over-seas to reduce taxes anyway. Therefore, they don't really play a role in the economy.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I hope I don't become one of those people that you have to smile and move on. I have people that I have to do that with too. I always feel a bit like I'm lying or holding back. But, unfortunately, I think I have to with certain people. They are too engrained in a certain mindset to have an open discussion without getting mad or offended. Too be honest, this is one of the reasons I am a fan of the Methodist church right now. I like their "open-doors, open-hearts, open minds" slogan. Yes, sometimes their theology is a bit watered-down, but most of them are very loving and accepting...of all people and thoughts.
Thanks for the comment!
ReplyDeleteI should clarify in case there was a misunderstanding: I don't favor economic stimulus of any kind, whether through tax cuts, tax refunds, tax deductions, tax exemptions, or government spending. But the "extremely rich" don't have enough money to fund the government, and taxing them would depress tax revenues...by driving the "extremely rich" out of the state. Places like California are already experiencing this exodus.
Also, moving savings overseas doesn't reduce anyone's effective tax rates; only changing the place where you earn income would do that. Besides, high debt and low savings was a big part of our last economic bubble; shouldn't we be eliminating barriers to saving? High income taxes would only drive the very rich to invest in things that come with tax deductions, like housing construction. That would lead to an artificial drive to construct homes. Which is exactly what caused our last calamity.