Stephen Jester: "In my opinion, unless voted in by the taxpayers, taxes should not jump more than the rate of infaltion. To take that much money out of the private sector is going to kill the economy in the city and the county. $150 is alot of trips to Tooties!"
Consider this our gift from the suburban voters. They simply can't COMPUTE how many "trips to Tooties" are involved (how many here really have ever had a trip to Tooties? I wouldn't except it was my deceased father-in-law's favorite watering hole). On a more serious note, I think some sort of restraint on city spending might be admirable. And added to that would be an annual scientific survey on taxpayers' set of priorities so that cuts come from the LOWEST priorities, not whatever business lobbyists breathe in the council's ears about cutting. Since there are so many disgruntled messages on taxes, can we assume there will be big turnouts at the hearings listed on the truth-in-taxation statements? And by the way, who was responsible for us GETTING these advisories. Seems to me all the politicians who voted for this deserve a vote of thanks. We don't get these things sprung as surprises anymore. We know exactly what is coming down the pipeline. My only concern is that sometimes people don't realize that when they cast a certain vote in an election, they were voting FOR these increases. After all, which politicians in state government are publicly for cutting state aids to local government? Are you miffed about your local taxes and yet supported less state aid when a state politician took that position? Anyway, go to the meetings and demand an explanation why local government suddenly needs this much more money. Deal with realities, not theories. I emailed Jim Graham's protest message to Gary Schiff, since Gary came to Cafe of the Americas and defended the 8 percent "cap" on tax increases. He deserves a chance to come forward and defend these increases in light of the "cap". I originally told him that I hardly expected MY income to increase 8 percent a year. Now having said that, might I share with you that my mortage loan payment is increasing eleven percent, and the MAIN reason isn't property taxes at all. My home insurance is increasing SIXTY-FIVE PERCENT, and even at such rates State Farm (not my company) isn't even willing to take new customers for home insurance in Minnesota. Look again at those percents for government spending. You get street sweeping, policing, fire protection, sewers, etc. With insurance, all you can hope for is "peace of mind", which is contingent on whether they think your loss is covered. Given the slack condition of insurance regulation, you should have slightly LESS peace of mind about it than maybe you have. Face it, folks, in this life there IS no savior. You're really on your own. Blaming government is a fool's errand. Government ultimately is what you make it. If you want any improvement at all, figure out how to COOPERATE with your neighbors, not wage a zero-sum battle with them. Floyd Child: "And here is my political dig: The DFL - created chickens from past mayors and city council members have come home to roost. Its payback time." What a totally useless remark. Thanks awfully for lowering the tone of the discussion, Floyd. Now that you know the way, don't be such a stranger. Victoria Heller: "Stop giving NRP money to neighborhood bullies so they can pay themselves to figure out ways to spend it." Heh heh. You know, sometimes I SUPPORT you Vicky. But then you go off on one of these tears of yours. I have two NRP loans. I have to pay ALL the money back. When the works is done, not only will two very small businesses have made some money, my neighborhood will again have fought the tendency of properties to become rundown. And through all this, I haven't had a chance to meet ONE bully. Perhaps you could help by naming a few names? No? I thought not. Well, have a swell day, Vicky, and keep fighting those debt-financed handouts to corporate leeches. I just LOVE to watch you when you're doing that! Tim Neuenschwander: "That way, any downfall in their profits can be attributed to their own decision as opposed to a city-ordered mandate." Yeh, Tim, after listening to the whining of a handful of business-owners, I think it would be a good idea to let them have their way and let the custom go to more-considerate owners. Only one reservation: I think by law if anyone can smoke on a business premise, they should have to post a sign to that effect at the entry. That was all us who care about our health can NOT discover it by accident. I think they have it backwards when they post "entire premises non-smoking". Just have the places that accommodate smokers brag about it. Then we're well warned when we sit down (which some of us won't do). One question: Should we let owners use the same discernment on all health issues but let diners tour the facilities before they sit down to eat. I think the threat of a diner or two popping into the kitchen to see the REALITY of how their food is fixed could do more than city inspections to keep the place clean and healthy. ===== Jim Mork Cooper Neighborhood ------------ Progressive Minnesotans, get together at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MN_progressive_tradition/ __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Web Hosting - Let the expert host your site http://webhosting.yahoo.com _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
