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Friday, October 31, 2003
One thing I find interesting about the political climate in the Northeast as opposed to the South is the lack of distinguishing features between the Republican and Democratic parties, especially on a local level. Next week is the general election for town officers, and both sides have been typically partisan.
Most amusing to me, though, has been the platform of the Democrats. Basically, their main plank is one of "fiscal discipline, and responsibility". Their main complaint: Republicans have raised property taxes too high, too often.
Am I in some kind of Bizarro world, where the parties have swapped identities? Well, not really. In the Northeast, Republicans are really lightweight Democrats. They are more liberal on social issues. They do not shy away from taxes. They pander to unions, and voting blocs. And on a local level, they rarely run have any ideas of "fiscal discipline". In fact, two candidates who call themselves members of the "Enfield Taxpayer's Party" have some compelling ideas, such as an automatic referendum when spending exceeds the rate of inflation, get laughed out of town for such proposals. The Hartford Courant calls them "impractical". It is just fundamentally contrary to the very being of Northeastern politicians on all levels to equate themselves to conservative ideas, especially pragmatism and thrift in spending.
Whether it is a Republican or a Democrat in local office, the mill rates will continue to climb, spending on public services, and education will continue to outpace inflation, and the other party (whomever is not in power at the time) will cry "foul" during the next election. At some point, tax rates will reach a saturation point, and there will be an outcry by the electorate. Until then, I can only dream about a device such as California's Proposition 13.Labels: Archives_2003
.: posted by
Dave
10:23 AM
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