come on, bobby, we shouldn't use comic books as references. Stick with legitimate news sources.
Letters
TABOR was crippling, now irresponsible
Oct 23, 2009 10:00 am
This is response to the editorial of Oct. 18, "Question 4: The time for TABOR."
In their efforts to provide for public safety, Maine's first responders are always evolving to the threats facing our communities. For those in law enforcement, it's not the crime that changes; it's the person and the way they perpetrate it that changes.
Today, it's as likely that we will be robbed at the end of an Internet connection rather than a weapon, burglarized for our identity rather than our TV, or defrauded by a junk stock or mortgage sold "legitimately" rather than by an easy-to-spot con man.
Today, we're debating and preparing to vote on TABOR II, a restrictive and damaging idea already defeated by Maine voters in 2006. The difference today is that we could not be in a worse situation in our economy, employment and way of life. Just as savvy criminals change to meet the times, so has the effort to bring TABOR to Maine. The adage is true: "Everything old is new again".
We have the rare opportunity to not be doomed to repeat history. We need only look to Colorado's suffering under TABOR for the past 15 years. Colorado enacted TABOR at the height of their economic, employment and educational achievements, only to fall to last in the country in most .
TABOR in Colorado forced the state and municipalities to make devastating decisions about what services and infrastructure they needed to survive, rather than what they needed to thrive. They have realized the effects of TABOR and in no uncertain terms have warned us against it.
In Maine, it is easy to see the effects of the recession. Hardworking Mainers are losing their jobs, homes, businesses and services once provided by their municipalities. When our state, municipalities and citizens are most vulnerable, why would we embark on Colorado's path? We should demand our federal, state and local governments act responsibly when it comes to taxes and spending. But to do so through bad policies like TABOR, when Maine's tax revenues are declining at historic rates, makes TABOR the poison pill; plain and simple.
Regardless of the vote on Nov. 3, Maine's first responders will continue to protect their communities. The reality, however, is the drastic cuts and limits forced by TABOR will have a direct effect on the way and priority all municipal services are delivered.
Please vote no on Question 4. TABOR was crippling in 2006 and it is irresponsible in 2009.
Paul D. Gaspar, South Portland
Executive Director, Maine Association of Police
Comments
tron, are you saying that
Submitted by Robert61 on Sat, 10/24/2009 - 00:08.
tron, are you saying that the Givernor of Colorado for 8 years doesn't know a good thing when he sees it? He served from 1999-2007, the biggest years of TABOR in Colorado, or are you questioning the Twin City Times, simply because you cannot read at the higher level writing in that particular newspaper? Or perhaps if even those two points fall on deaf ears, here's what the Wall Street Journal had to say (which is the leading financial reporting newspaper in the WORLD):
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB108232838808486067.html?mod=opinion
I beleive this qualifies as a legitimate news source?
Eat crow my friend!
"the Givernor of Colorado ",
Submitted by tron on Sat, 10/24/2009 - 08:36.
"the Givernor of Colorado ", talk about a Freudian Slip. Yeah he "gives" the voters the shaft, he "gives" businesses the people's money for a few crumbs, he "gives"the TCT exactly what it wants. The TCT is not a "news" paper, it is a political tabloid. Not that there's anything wrong with that except it calls itself a "news" paper. It doesn't do interviews, it publishes rants. It doesn't do fact checking, it prints rumors. Half the "columnist" write under pseudonyms. Call it what it is and we'd have no problem with it. Just don't rely on it as a "news" paper.
I see you completely ignored
Submitted by Robert61 on Sat, 10/24/2009 - 11:47.
I see you completely ignored my post from the Wall STreet Journal., \guess I win!
Not since Murdoch bought
Submitted by Lil on Sat, 10/24/2009 - 08:07.
Not since Murdoch bought it.
______________________
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Jal, the problem is if no
Submitted by Publikwerks on Fri, 10/23/2009 - 11:15.
Jal, the problem is if no TABOR, then what? I'm not saying it's perfect, but I remember in 06 that when TABOR was defeated, the Baldacci administration said that budget reform was a top priority. Then after the sound bite was over, it fell off the map. Maybe if spending had been curbed, we would be in as much of a mess as we are right now.
While TABOR might not be perfect, it is needed. And Augusta has proven once again they cannot control their spending.
I'm voting for TABOR. The
Submitted by Ron on Fri, 10/23/2009 - 10:49.
I'm voting for TABOR. The Dem controlled Blaine House and Legislature have had chance after chance, through good times as well as bad, to signficantly reduce spending (either responsibly or not) and have simply refused to do it. Putting a limit on the increase in spending (which is NOT a cut, no matter how some try to portray it), while allowing additional spending IF permitted by voters, seems reasonable to me. If higher spending is critical, government can make its case and let us decide. I have faith in the citizens that they will approve what is necessary. Why do the anti-TABOR individuals have such little faith in citizens, but such great faith in State and local governments that continually fail to operate more responsibly?
Great letter. And Arse's
Submitted by jalbrecht1 on Fri, 10/23/2009 - 10:23.
Great letter. And Arse's comment shows what the supporters of TABOR are really after. They want taxes cut no matter what damage it does to the state or to their communities. Apparently they can't get better jobs or stop their wasteful spending habits so they want to force everyone else to cut back so they pay less in taxes and can use the savings on their SUV, 4-wheeler, or trips to florida. TABOR will cost thousands of jobs especially if Question 2 passes. Its sets the baseline at recession reduced spending levels. It uses the CPI to calculate spending growth when government do not buy the basket of goods and services that the CPI is derived from. Its nonsensical to use CPI.
The only people who will benefit from TABOR are the super-rich.
Jon Albrecht Dixfield
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IN yesterday's Twin City
IN yesterday's Twin City Times, the gentleman who was governor of Colorado from 1997-2007 clearly indicated TABOR had been the best thing that could have ever happened In Colorado, for much the same reasons people in Maine support it. All you hacve to do is look at who is against it and understand the point. Maine Municipal Association should be prevented from charging towns and cities for the work on this matter. Thats not what the towns should be paying for.