Time for some tea?
Jeff Bright, Emporia
Friday, June 26, 2009
AFTER REVIEWING state spending for the last few years, it seems a Tea Party celebration is in order this Fourth of July. In 2004, the state of Kansas had $320 million in reserves, a “rainy day fund.” At an annual increase in spending of 5 percent, we should have had $2 billion in the bank today. We came up $320 million short.
Lawmakers in Topeka were able, through spending cuts and revenue enhancements (taxes), to end the year with next to nothing in the bank. Kansas has a state statute that requires a carryover of 7.5 percent of the budget to the next year. The rainy day fund is supposed to be for unforeseen problems in the future. We are projecting bigger budget problems next year; however, the Legislature suspended the statue by an unreported voice vote and spent everything this year. In fact, we are facing an estimated deficit of close to $1 billion in 2010. Do you know how your legislator voted? Maybe our schools should try and get the Legislature to suspend a few more rules and turn loose of the $1.3 million that belongs to the schools.
The state budget increased 48 percent from 2004 to 2008 while inflation for the same period was 13 percent. If you are like many people whose pay increase or social security annuity is tied to the rate of inflation, you are falling behind fast. To compound the issue, local taxes have been going up at about the same rate as state spending.
If you would like to celebrate the Fourth of July with people who are trying to return accountability to government spending, then plan to attend the Tea Party, which will be held at the park at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Merchant Street between 10 a.m. and noon.
Jeff Bright
Emporia
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
It's interesting that that article was written in 2006.
Interesting.
I remember a lot more complaining then than I hear now.
Here is an excerpt from that article.
"I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?"
June 26, 2009 at 2:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/...
June 26, 2009 at 2:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
Will there be punch and pie?
June 26, 2009 at 2:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Will wonders never cease....crackinsack....we agree on something.....
June 26, 2009 at 2:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
under_score (anonymous) says...
Tea in the sense that it is used for these parties is actually an acronym for "Taxed Enough Already".
The problem with getting Conservatives to go to these things is that they usually are working during the week and enjoy spending time with their families in their free time.
Most liberals who organize these things get a much better turnout because they have a much larger pool of people to pick from who are basically just sitting around waiting for a government handout or are in college and think it would be cool.
Also, I'm glad to hear that you weren't one of the whiners during the Bush years complaining about how he was responsible for everything from childhood illiteracy to hurricane Katrina.
June 26, 2009 at 2:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
From seriously's article:
"Clinton didn't do it all alone. He had a lot of help from Congress. He was under pressure from a legislature controlled by laissez-faire Republicans who were hellbent on pushing Ronald Reagan's ideology of deregulation and free markets. The repeal of Glass-Steagall passed 90-8 in the Senate and 362-57 in the House. '
There was some guy named McCain that was intrumental in this. And lets not forget Bush could have pushed legislation on Fannie and Freddie that could have prevented a great deal of the housing meltdown, but he was too busy working on being the best president "to have a beer with".
Faults on both sides, no ones hands are clean, its a lost cause to throw blame. But there is plenty to spread around.
June 26, 2009 at 2:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
"The problem with getting Conservatives to go to these things is that they usually are working during the week and enjoy spending time with their families in their free time."
Who let Rush in here? Contrary to your narrow minded views there are quite a few liberals out there that work and pay taxes(gasp).
June 26, 2009 at 2:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
under_score (anonymous) says...
Most inmates in federal prisons are Democrats.
Things that make you go hmmmm.
June 26, 2009 at 2:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
under_score (anonymous) says...
An overwhelming majority of people on food stamps and welfare are Democrats.
Things that make you go hmmmmm.
June 26, 2009 at 2:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
under_score (anonymous) says...
Of course I have no data to back those last 2 statements up but I'll bet they are true.
June 26, 2009 at 2:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
Right or left, if we vote for them to represent us and then they fail to do so, isn't that the equivalent of taxation without representation. Don't we need to do something about it DURING their term rather than to wait and gamble on the next guy? If it's broke, FIX IT!!! Don't wait to see if the next guy is noble enough to follow through after watching the guy before him left mostly unaccountable.
Losing the next election (or the threat of) no longer seems to be enough to keep these politicians in line. One term's worth of income plus all the other money to be made by dishonest means, seems to outweigh the possible career threat, but to be honest, their careers seem to flourish with their abandonment of the voters, thereby canceling any actual career threat. These tea parties are an attempt to correct this dichotomy by strengthening the peoples' voice. If you have no problem with the way things are, simply voice that by not attending or being involved.
June 26, 2009 at 3:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
90-8? Wow, I never knew there were only 8 Democrats in the Senate that year! LOL
So..... if the American people feel one way..... and our politicians act another....... is that true "Representation"? How many people (show of hands, please) voted on Obama to "go thru the budget line-by-line and cut waste"? Do you feel you're being well represented now?
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/06/...
June 26, 2009 at 3:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Conservatives "usually are working during the week and enjoy spending time with their families in their free time".....oh...you mean like that AWOL governor down there in South Carolina?
An overwhelming majority of people who pick their nose and eat it are republicans. Of course I have no data to prove that but I'm sure that it's true.
Get real for once!
June 26, 2009 at 3:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
I thought being deemed right or left meant which hand you pick your nose with? Either way, whichever hand you use (vote with), you basically end up with something......... undesirable........ and the deeper you dig........ the uglier it gets......
June 26, 2009 at 3:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
open-eyes.....I agree with you....right or left.....makes no difference. But this claiming that everything right is wonderful...and everything left is evil, lazy, and ignorant is nothing but bull kaka. I'm getting sick of listening to it.
June 26, 2009 at 3:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
giggles (anonymous) says...
I for one hate the idea that I and my children are going to be paying for someone else's stupidity for the rest of time. Pass the buck till the system crashes. Great idea.
Represented the way I want to be represented? A lot of people agree with me that it isn't even close, but I'm supposed to sit and wait for the next election to get better representatives of gov't? They always end up doing the same as the rest anyway. Some actually try to do better at first but fall away because everyone else is already corrupt. Why aren't people allowed to speak up about their representation, and what we are being taxed for?
June 26, 2009 at 3:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
Well, to answer questions like "Are Democrats more tolerant than Republicans? Are they more educated? Who spends more time at work and who spends more time watching TV? Why are Republicans happier? Who really benefits the most from Social Security?"
Here is a book.... Democrats and Republicans - Rhetoric and Reality: Comparing the Voters in Statistics and Anecdotes (Paperback)
http://www.amazon.com/Democrats-Repub...
Here's an interview with a few points summed up: (Interesting stat on "tolerance" but then again, we've already seen the other study....)
http://www.frontpagemag.com/readArtic...
FYI
June 26, 2009 at 3:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
Would it ever be humanly possible that we, the people, could somehow force term limits on our congresspersons? Or would it have to be approved by their own vote? (Fat Chance - sarcasm)....
June 26, 2009 at 4:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
giggles (anonymous) says...
I think that they should be rated by the number of angry phone calls after a couple of votes on the capitol floor. When their rating hits a certain point they are automatically out. We put a new one in and see how quickly he figures out that if he wants a paycheck, he has to abide by his constituents.
I don't know how effective it would be but it would be funny to watch them scramble to make the right choice.
June 26, 2009 at 4:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
giggles.....your idea about angry phone calls has some merit and would come about as close to a real democracy as we could ever be.....but with republican approval numbers so low at the moment, I doubt if you will find much support for the idea here.
Of course in a few years.....after the democrats have gotten as arrogant as the republicaans were a few short years ago....all that will change and it will be a great idea until the numbers change again.
June 26, 2009 at 4:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
open-eyes.....your link to the survey on tolerence explained methodology like this....
It would ask how much do you give to charity then rank your tolerence by the amount.
It would not ask if you believed the government should help people in need.
Loaded question designed to elicit favorable scores for republicans and to ignore responses making democrats look more tolerent.
That was where I declared it propoganda and quit reading.
June 26, 2009 at 5:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
For once I agree with you, crack. The 4th of July is for celebrating our country's independence not bitching about taxes. I'm having hot dogs and potato salad and baked beans and ice cold beer and fireworks. Yum, that sounds good.
June 26, 2009 at 7:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
I'm for freedom of speech. If people want to complain about taxes I reckon they can do it on what ever day they want.
June 26, 2009 at 8:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
Funny you would pick a park maintained by taxpayer dollars, I bet you will walk on or drive on streets or sidewalks funded with taxpayer monies and will expect police funded with taxpayer monies to protect you from all those liberal folks who like to tax and spend. I find that a bit amusing. And before you label me, I'm as conservative as they come. I'd just like to leave a better legacy for my kids and grandkids other than teabags and "no new taxes" slogans. Seems like the debt gets higher because of lack of revenue and special interests and NIMBY. l consider it an obligation and privilege to help fund my government. Seems like don't raise my taxes is fine until it hits the person in their pocket or where they live and then it's a whole different picture.
June 26, 2009 at 11:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
justthefacts.....very good post and so true. A lot of the people attending these rallies are also ones that are themselves already receiving some pretty good write offs and tax payer funded subsidies.
June 27, 2009 at 4:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
....an overwhelming number of people in prison are criminals and don't vote at all.
June 27, 2009 at 4:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
justthefacts, excellent post, especially "Seems like the debt gets higher because of lack of revenue and special interests and NIMBY. l consider it an obligation and privilege to help fund my government."
Too many have owed too little for too long. We must all put our shoulders to the wheel.
And we don't need another regulation! Those who don't want potato salad can simply go elsewhere where potato salad is not being served.
June 27, 2009 at 7:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
I'm for freedom of assembly. If people want to get together and complain about taxes I reckon they can do it on public property.
"A lot of the people attending these rallies are also ones that are themselves already receiving some pretty good write offs and tax payer funded subsidies."
Assume much?
June 27, 2009 at 9:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
http://www.bikesagainstbush.com/blog/
June 27, 2009 at 9:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Let me rephrase.....I know at least two of the people that attended the last rally.....one gets some pretrty good write-offs.....and the other gets' both. Now I'm not assuming anything. But since when has assumptions been forbidden here. That being the case I guess this will soon be a vast empty waste land.
It appears the only time assumptions are frowned on is when the rock your boat.
June 27, 2009 at 9:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
......should have read.....when they rock your boat.
June 27, 2009 at 9:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
I'm a poor uneducated workin' class man. I got no boat to rock. I just think that if people want to complain they should be able to do it when and where they want. It's constitutional. Being a veteran that's important to me. I don't think the complaining should just stop now that the other party is in charge and they've got nothing to complain about. It doesn't seem fair somehow. People complain(very loudly) for 8 years and now that they are happy all of a sudden complaining is a no no? Weird how things work sometimes. Some would call it hypocrisy, I would call it .....................well, I'd call it hypocrisy too.
June 27, 2009 at 10:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
historian1982 (Nick Gronseth) says...
many are protesting, because they are slowly realizing that this nation was founded as having a limited indirect government "of the people, by the people, and for the people"...not a nation full of meddling regulations and faceless bureaucrats bent on nothing but the bottom line. We are fed up with the fact that the federal government has done nothing truly significant and helpful in years, and yet for the past century it has done nothing but increase exponentially. We are sick and tired of it from both sides. I voted for Bush twice but did not agree with him on immigration reform, No Child Left Behind, Medicare part D. I also voted against Obama and for Palin (yes the vice-presidential candidate) in '08 because I knew from researching his own limited record and his quotes on things that he is for ever increased federal intervention....And six months later what do we have? more bail outs, gov't run car companies, dictation of how much compensation businesses can give to their execs., hard pressed attempt to completely change the relationship of the citizen to government with federal run health care, and the just passed "climate/green energy" bill in the house which will cost Americans, money, jobs, and prestige all to help combat that evil thing Carbon Dioxide...you know the thing that plants need to survive and we exhale...guess we might as well just kill all the humans, that would be better for Gaia, right?
June 27, 2009 at 10:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
Just seems like it is relative. The commission cut the fireworks last year and people screamed. Not at the commission meeting when the discussion was held but two weeks before the 4th. So the county footed the bill for the fireworks and then promptly dropped the ball and now the city is paying police, fire, and public works to manage it again. It just seems like when there is a 1/2 million projected revenue shortfall we either have to cut the frills or ante up more money. We will all go out and enjoy the celebration of our freedom while there are children in our community who will be home without out food or proper medical treatment. I just think our priorities are a bit misplaced, that's all. Why did we need to repalce chairs in the auditorium when they are cutting back police officer positions and firefighter positions? Public works has only 5 employees for the entire management of the department. Did we spruce up the auditorium so three of our commissioners can sit there and look pretty at ESU games? The rest of the building is a disgrace, look how dirty the outside is and the mortar is falling out and sewage is leaking into basement offices at the police department and judges chambers.
I took a tour of the building the other day. I would suggest you do likewise. Our commissioners are fiddling while Rome burns.
Rather than serving tea, I would suggest constructive dialogue and holding them accountable for their actions.
June 27, 2009 at 11:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Why not both.
June 27, 2009 at 11:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
?
June 27, 2009 at 11:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
historian1982 ,
You lost all credibility when you voted for Palin. Nevermind she is joke, but more to the point, the candidate was McCain, voting for someone based primarily on their VP pick is just insane, its should be a factor, never a decider, odds are that she likely never would have had much of chance to do anything anyways other than that what Biden does now(entertain us).
As for the rest? Everything your complaining about happening on Obama's watch was already happening under Bush. You don't think for a second he would not have bailed out the big three like he was for bailing out the banks? Slippery slope? You voted for him right? But Palin as a VP could have made everything OK. Uh ok, unsound logic is indeed unsound. I am not a fan of everything Obama but I can say with a great degree of certainty that he did in fact inherit one of the biggest messes ever, and that it is too early to tell if he failed. We made our choice now we have to live with it, if your right then you have every right to crow "I told you so" in a year or two.
June 27, 2009 at 11:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
historian1982 (Nick Gronseth) says...
good ole
I lost credibility when I voted for someone who actually works to return government to the people and reduce the size of it, plus has unblemished credentials in support of life? I think she would have made a difference, Cheney changed the roll of VP for all time by actually making it a worthwhile office. I think Palin would have continued that tradition had she and McCain been elected. Biden was just chosen so all those liberal comics would have someone to make fun of so as not to offend the chosen one (he who's name must not be mentioned, and all that). Bush may have done that as well, and I would have been just as fed up about it. I voted for Bush both times because Gore was a blathering ningcumpoop, and Kerry was a lying cuckold neither of which did I want anywhere near the reins of power. Plus Bush is Pro-life and believes in supporting freedom wherever it may be found on the Earth.
I really don't think it is ever to early to complain and make my voice heard in opposition, the left did it from the moment Bush was elected...how is it any different now?
June 27, 2009 at 12:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Meanwhile you have every right to complain.....but when you complain you have to be complaining about something. So complain away...on what ever day you like.....but keep in mind that I have every bit as much right to complain about your complaining. And as far as I'm concerned all this complaining i'm hearing about Obama's policies should be directed at the policies of the people preceeding him that made the mess he is now trying to dig us out of.
I don't agree with everything he has done.....but he did not dig this hole. And while I'm complaining....let me add my belief that this country is falling apart.....we have the most dysfunctional health care system is the first world.....our educational system lags and distrust and division grows daily among out people. It appears to me less complaining, higher taxes, and a little working together is what we need at this time.
June 27, 2009 at 12:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
historian1982,
Wait, wait, wait! So your telling me in your posts that you are for shrinking government and its role, then you talk about Cheney and his expansion of the role of the VP and how Palin should continue that tradition? ROFLMAO! Seriously do hear what you are saying? The role of the VP is defined in our constitution, and to expand it would take LEGISLATION and AMENDMENTS, anything else is just blantant disregard for our countries doctrine. Sounds like you about as clear as the role of the VP as Palin was when asked by elementary students:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/polit...
Why don't you blindly vote for whoever agrees with your Pro-Life agenda, that is clearly paramount here. BTW ole' Sarah's approval ratings were around %90 this time last year, they are in the 40's now, suppose the people of Alaska that have dealt with her for the last years are figuring it out? Hmmm.
June 27, 2009 at 1:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
The constant bashing of her in the media(even though she is irrelevant) has nothing to do with her 40% approval rating I'm sure.(rolls eyes)
40% ain't too bad for "the worst person ever" as she is portrayed in the media. She was a flash in the pan and not a very bright one at that. I am still amazed that we hear anything about her at all. With the country on a fast track to socialism the media distracts us with tabloid stories about beauty queens from Alaska. Pathetic.
June 27, 2009 at 2:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
Yep its all the media, no part of her own.
June 27, 2009 at 2:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
I believe what distracted us to palin was historian1982's going on about what a great leader she would have been. I fail to see how that is the "media's" fault. One thing appears obvious however.....some folks would vote for a smooth flat river rock as long as the rock was oppossed to abortions of any kind and for any reason.....which I refuse to call "pro" anything.
June 27, 2009 at 2:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
She IS still in the media.
Why?
She is irrelevant.
You betcha!
June 27, 2009 at 2:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
Why?
She was a Vp candidate? Therefore relevant on a national level. The press have a field day with her because she allows them to. Most politicians have learned to deal with the press by now.
June 27, 2009 at 3:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
I do find it humorous that the pro-life crowd is predominately conservative, yet these are the same folks that whine about welfare and social programs, if abortion was ever outlawed all it would mean is that those that could afford it would go out of the country to do it and those that cannot will just end up inflating the cost of those "socialism" type programs even furthur. Kinda shooting yourself in the foot is it not?
June 27, 2009 at 3:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
What other vice presidential candidate have we ever heard about after they lost? Oh yeah there was ......................... no. Oh what about ............... no. Huh?
"if abortion was ever outlawed all it would mean is that those that could afford it would go out of the country to do it and those that cannot will just end up inflating the cost of those "socialism" type programs even further."
Or people could exercise their freedom of choice and not "do it". WOW! What a concept! Problem solved. Next!
June 27, 2009 at 3:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
These are generally the same people who have a cow about any talk of subsidiezing alternative energy source development......but are willing to give more tax breaks to foreign controlled big oil companies to "drill baby drill".
June 27, 2009 at 3:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Therein lies the core of the whole anti-abortion argument. It all goes back to pre-marital sex somehow being a sin.....and we either stop the sinner from sinning...or we punish the hell out of her if she doesn't.
And her is exactly what I meant to say... for this argument leaves no way or reason to punish the man.....after all it was eve that brought us original sin. lol
June 27, 2009 at 3:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
What's all that got to do with self control?
June 27, 2009 at 3:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
But why is it so important that they just not do it. What makes sex within marriage wonderful.....and sex out of marriage so wrong that people with any self-control just won't do it. The answer to who wrote this rule and why might go along way toward defining our concept of right and wrong.
And does this rule only apply to people under the age of eighteen.....or does it apply to people over the age of sixty as well. Then what about sex within marriage....should it just not be done except to procreate...the Catholic church taught this for years.
Every rule and every law that has ever been written was written for a reason.....sometimes the reasons were good.....sometimes they were written with self-serving evil intent. But they were still rules and laws that we were excpected to obey.....and punished if we didn't.
But you know what. I'm now argueing the other post on forums.....sorry for going adrift.
June 27, 2009 at 3:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
It's not so important. It's just a suggestion that seems to have been forgotten for some reason.
As far as premarital or post marital you'll have to figure that out. You are the only one talking about that.
I hope our little debates don't cause any hard feelings on your end. They won't on mine.
June 27, 2009 at 4:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
historian1982 (Nick Gronseth) says...
wow, so easy to get people off track from what is actually being discussed....
June 27, 2009 at 4:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
We do tend to drift off topic. LOL
Logjam never drifted off topic.
Long live Chaps!
June 27, 2009 at 4:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
No hard feelings here either......You are one of the best....
June 27, 2009 at 5:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
glarson (anonymous) says...
moved to a forum:
http://www.emporiagazette.com/forums/...
June 27, 2009 at 5:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )