Truth or Politics?

“For half a dozen years, the motto of state government and particularly that of Gov. Tim Pawlenty has been No New Taxes. It's been popular with a lot of voters and it has mostly prevailed. So much so that Pawlenty vetoed a 5-cent gas tax increase - the first in 20 years - last spring and millions were lost that might have gone to road repair. And yes, [the bridge] would have fallen even if the gas tax had gone through, because we are years behind a dangerous curve when it comes to the replacement of infrastructure that everyone but wingnuts in coonskin caps agree is one of the basic duties of government.”

--Nick Coleman

Nick Coleman is taking a lot of flack about this article. My unfortunately response is “the truth hurts.”

The slogan has been “No New Taxes.” I’ve lived permanently in MN since 1992. Actually, I first came up here in 1985. Up until Pawlenty I felt my tax dollars were being put to good use. (As someone born in Pennsylvania and who attended college in New York, this is high praise not given lightly.) When we found that our boys had autism we also found the state sponsored services that helped them and us. Then the services began to be cut. The taxes (or the doublespeak “fees”) went up.

Am I politicizing this tragedy? Is it politics to point out the mindset (that Progressives have been foretelling, like Cassandra) will lead to tragedy?

Our society is like a bridge. A bridge stands through the balance of forces thrust upon it. If a link in the bridge fails, it can fall. It is not enough if a section stands while the rest of the bridge falls.

“We need a new slogan and we needed it yesterday:

‘No More Collapses.’”

--Nick Coleman.