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Taxes and government spending:
Are you tired of Lip Service? Are you ready for a Real Choice?
In the Declaration of Independence, written primarily by
Thomas Jefferson - one of the issues raised was the King's handling
of "taxes." Quoting Mr. Jefferson's words as ratified by the
Continental Congress:
"He has erected a multitude of New
Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people,
and eat out their substance."
Thomas Jefferson -
Declaration
of Independence
It does not require either a
rocket scientist nor a PhD new age economist to see our government
(at all levels) drifting back into this same "bad habit" exhibited
by King George III.
We have three levels of
government - federal, State and local - that have all established
their claim on your wallet, and further they will decide for you,
how much of your money you should keep for yourself.
Across our land, government -
elected officials, appointed officials and hired citizens - create
laws, rules, regulations, specifications, policies, court decrees
and restrictions virtually non stop. In fact there is probably not a
single person in the entire country that has a copy, much less
understand, all of these government edicts.
He has erected a
multitude of New Offices
Across our land, government has
become by far the largest employer and virtually millions of elected
officials, appointed officials and hired citizens and illegals are
charged with carrying out the edicts of these laws, rules,
regulations, specifications, policies, court decrees and
restrictions.
and sent hither
swarms of Officers to harass our people
Every one of these laws, rules,
regulations, specifications, policies, court decrees and
restrictions and every one of the elected officials, appointed
officials and hired citizens has an associated cost and it is paid
by you - or the government creates debt in your name.
and eat out their
substance."
The focus of political debate
today is not about the problems that Thomas Jefferson addressed and
which we face again. The debate is about whether the multitude of
New Offices, the
swarms of Officers and our
substance will be consumed with a
"R" or a "D." The "R's" claim that the "D's" are irresponsible and
the "D's" claim that the "R's" are irresponsible. Well they are both
partly right, both the "R's" and "D's" have been irresponsible with
our government's finances.
It is time to face the Truth. Our lack of choice by a
political system restricted to two parties has resulted in both
becoming addicted to your wallet and the credit card they have
issued in your name (See:
Some historical information on your taxes and a look ahead ...).
Both the Republican and Democratic parties have become so embedded
with special interests that you - the citizens are losing your
representation, but still have to foot the bill.
But in every campaign, you will get a lot of
Lip Service about how they are
going to be good stewards of your money. But look at the chart, they
are not good stewards of your money and show no signs of changing.
The rise in government spending continues unabated, regardless of
the various combinations of Republican/Democratic control of
government. Thomas Jefferson would be an outcast and rejected by
both major parties.
Starting with our State and local governments we need to get
the horse back in front of the cart.
This can be done without disruptive change and if started in
Georgia can be the example that
 can
start similar efforts across our land. Or we can sit back and let
the trend continue. After all we are passing a lot of the burden on
to our children and grandchildren, so it is free? Well it is free
only if this is the first generation in the history of our country
that does not care about our grandchildren!
We propose two basic modifications:
- Require all new tax increases
to be agreed to by a majority of the voters in the district to
which the increase will be applied - local or Statewide. This
includes property tax digest increases, "user fees," court fines
and all sources of taking the citizens' money.
- Place a sunset clause
(built-in expiration date) on every new law and/or regulation with
force of law that is passed. If not renewed prior to that date the
law or regulation will expire.
Suddenly with these two simple modifications, your money is
once again your money and it is up to you how much more will be
given to the government and how fast government will grow. The
endless growth of laws, rules,
regulations, specifications, policies, court decrees and
restrictions and the multitudes of government agents will be
curtailed and more selective.
These two items are very
consistent with our Founding Principles and do not in themselves
reduce the budget of a single government agency. They simply change
the future back to one of making government responsible to the
people whom all government is sworn to represent.
As long as our government, at all
levels, constantly adds new laws, rules, regulations,
specifications, policies, court decrees and restrictions which
accumulate forever and the number of elected officials, appointed
officials and hired citizens and illegals grows endlessly your taxes
and/or debt in your name will grow endlessly. Further special
interests will use your money to buy increased influence. It is time
to put the people back in charge. Put the
horse back in front of the cart!
Below we have listed the platform
statement of one of our candidates on this issue, if you agree-
help us offer
Georgia a Real Choice in future elections. If you agree we would
also appreciate helping by passing this on to others.
Email
This page
Taxation and Government Spending
"He has erected a multitude of New
Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people,
and eat out their substance."
Thomas Jefferson -
Declaration
of Independence
Taxation and
government spending continues to be a battle that we must fight
together and must fight continuously. When our grandfathers were
born, there was no such thing as income tax because it was illegal.
In those days sales taxes, excise and tariffs were the means for
raising money. Since the time of our grandparents we've seen
taxation and government explode into the behemoth it has become
today. As your State Senator, I pledge I will pursue fiscally
conservative representation for the citizens of north Georgia and a
return to our founding principles. I will work to enact legislation
that will give Georgians the opportunity to take away the government's
credit card by a statewide referendum.
I have signed the
American’s For Tax Reform Pledge that I will not vote for any tax
increases. To demonstrate my commitment, my signature was witnessed
by my pastor and family deacon.
I will sponsor
legislation that would require ANY tax increase OR new tax to be
approved by the voters of the district upon which the tax increase
would be levied. Government should ASK for your money stating
clearly why it is needed, IF given permission by a majority of
voters then, and only then, collect the increase and spend your
money wisely and justly for the purpose stated. Government at all
levels is addicted to the citizen’s wallet and taxes can not
increase forever.
Creeping and mushrooming property tax assessments present a never ending threat
to home owners, especially in rural areas with increasing
development. A neighbor or developer builds new higher value
structures on neighboring property thus raising a home owners
“assessed value.” The resulting higher taxation is forced on the
home owner, not for his actions, but for the actions of his neighbor
or some developer. This is not just and is not fair. I
have
and will continue to support index of homestead exemption to
effectively “freeze” assessed value for residents.
Our country was
founded on the principle of limited government. Both the major
political parties have abandoned this principle. Every year,
federal, state and local governments enact volumes of laws,
appointed agencies enact countless regulations and policies that
have the force of law. It is doubtful that anyone even knows how
many laws, regulations and policies that they violate every day. I
will sponsor legislation that would place a sunset (expiration date)
on every law and regulation enacted or currently existing in
Georgia. Let us begin the return to limited government. Reduce the
cost (thus your taxes) and get the government off your back.
Disbursements of Georgia funds should be applied in a fair and
just way, instead of being concentrated in areas such as
Atlanta.
The Congressional Districts provide a population equal geographic
division in Georgia and State funds should be as equally divided
among each of the Congressional Districts as possible. This applies to State
employment, services and expenditures. The current trend of
continuing to concentrate State disbursements provides unequal
opportunity for bypassed areas and is in effect an undesirable
subsidy.
These proposals
all have two underlying themes:
1)
Provide the opportunity for the citizens of Georgia to place control
of their money and government back in their hands, if they so
choose. If we truly believe in government of the people, by the
people and for the people then your elected representatives should
TRUST the people and listen to them.
2)
Limited Government.
The endless accumulation of laws and more importantly the endless
accumulation of regulations with the force of law are creating a
bloated and intrusive government. By placing a sunset clause on all
laws and regulations, we will have a streamlined government and a
less intrusive government. Let un-needed laws and regulations
expire. Desirable ones can be renewed.
Combined these
proposals
represent a major step toward returning to the founding principles
of our country. If you too want to see a return to our
founding principles, I urge you to consider
helping me be your voice
in the State Senate. You will not be disappointed. Click here to
help.
Presented by the Committee To Elect Mike Crane:
http://electmikecrane.com
A Real Choice for the 51st Senate District
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Reference Article:
Many ask, “Why
a Southern Party …?”
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