You Get Your Schools for Free... so some think

Written by: Alan Willis on Aug 16, 2008 11:55 PM EDT

Following the forum hosted by Rick Warren, an anonymous commentator on Netscape wrote:

Obama just said, that "if we believe in good schools, ect...." then we need a way to pay for them...so then he goes on to say, that he is going to raise taxes. Great. with the gas prices, food prices...and now....taxes! why do we work two jobs? to pay government?

I find this to be indicative of one of the greatest “mental lapses” that plagues much of the American electorate, and one that has contributed substantially to Republican electoral success—and policy disasters—since Reagan.

It represents those people who somehow believe that schools, and other government services, are free. Here in Michigan, the rate of school budget increase is far behind the rate of inflation. That means, our schools cannot maintain their current levels, much less improve. I have no doubt that the person who wrote the comment believes that we should have good schools. He or she also, apparently, believes that schools don’t cost money to operate. He or she apparently believes that schools don’t have electric bills, heating bills, that they clean themselves and that teachers should work for free. He or she apparently believes science equipment is free and textbooks cost nothing. Similarly, apparently roads pave themselves. Firefighting equipment must simply appear from nowhere.

We must combat this idea. We must demonstrate that people can get value for their tax dollars. But to do that, the government has to provide value for tax dollars. The Republicans have provided skyrocketing defense budgets and tax cuts for the rich while destroying those things which give most Americans value for the tax dollars. The Republicans have launched a war which greatly benefits Big Oil (and the Vice President’s “former” company).

Obama stands for the policies which will bring value for tax dollars: health care, education, energy and infrastructure.

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