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“States’ budget crises land on children”
Here’s a troubling story by the AP about the consequences of huge budget cuts by state government across the country. These consequences clearly demonstrate the need for fiscal responsibility and investment in public services.
“CHICAGO – Now the crisis is reaching the children
In Arizona, a program that helped blind high school students care for themselves and find jobs is suspended. In South Carolina, all five state-run group homes for kids closed and a program that helped paroled youths get jobs is shuttered. And in Hawaii, a program to reduce child abuse and neglect was cut so much that two years after serving 4,000 families, it now serves 100.
All over the country, the financial crisis has forced states to make historic cuts to close what the National Conference of State Legislatures found was an overall budget gap of $174.1 billion this fiscal year and has lawmakers looking to trim another $89 billion next year. That means slashing services to the one population they’ve long protected: children.” Read More.
“Taxes are what we pay for a civilized society”
As citizens we are all benefit from public programs and services. We’ve decided that public safety, education, and transportation play an important role in our prosperity. Sometimes, however, we fail to recognize that taxes are how we fund those services.
Here’s an excerpt from a great blog post on Alliance for a Better Minnesota, written by Eliot Seide, the executive director of AFSCME Council 5 in Minnesota, that puts it all in perspective.
“I started my day with a warm shower and I’m thankful for clean water and indoor plumbing. For much of the world, that’s a luxury. But not here, where we pay taxes.
I enjoy driving on smooth highways. The lines and lights keep me and other drivers safe. I also like to leave the car in the garage and ride the train to a ballgame.
I’m grateful for the teacher who taught my sons to read “Where the Wild Things Are” and for the bus driver who got them to school safely each day. I appreciate the lunch lady who filled their tummies with broccoli and the coach who boosted their confidence.
I love the library workers who help minds soar. They open the doors to a world of information that helps us learn, prosper and have fun. Where else can you get free and equal access to knowledge?
I treasure our state parks for affordable family vacations. Nothing can match a campfire along the North Shore or a hike on a well-groomed nature trail. Rent a canoe, and if you’re lucky, you might even catch a walleye stocked in a lake by your tax dollars.
Whatever you think about the war in Iraq, I’m grateful for our soldiers and a strong military that can fight for peace. I also deeply appreciate the caregivers who heal the veterans who risked everything to serve our country.
I’m grateful that our society provides a safety net, however imperfect, for those less fortunate than me.
Finally, I’m blessed with a good job that I enjoy. Without work, there are no taxes. This year, there are 212,000 unemployed Minnesotans who cannot pay taxes. Those of us who can pay should consider ourselves lucky. “
Read the full blog here.