see http://www.heritage.org/Research/Budget/wm2787.cfm

February 20-21, 2010 – Government can not solve our problems Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

On my radio program this weekend, I discuss how the tax, borrow, and spend policies of the liberal left are destroying our wealth, our liberty, and our individual ability to pursue happiness. Our social problems can not be solved by a government that is constantly growing in size and increasing its scope of power. There are simply no angels in government. Like other people, politicians and government bureaucrats are far from perfect and make decisions that benefit and empower themselves. For this reason, power must be dispersed, not centralized.

This is precisely why Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell’s proposed budget, which imposes a host of new taxes (in the form of expanded sales taxes) to cover increased and out of control spending, will create even more economic pain for all Pennsylvanians. Rendell wants to raise Pennsylvania state government spending by over $1 billion (4.1%) in the next fiscal year when we have a $3 billion dollar deficit funded for only one more year by President Obama’s stimulus (I mean “porkulus”) plan. He then wants to fund all of this new bloat by attacking job creating and job sustaining businesses with a natural gas extraction tax that is unjust and will cripple a fledgling industry, as well as new sales taxes on all kinds of services which will move thousands of businesses out of Pennsylvania and destroy tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of jobs. Rendell’s proposals would severely damage Pennsylvania’s economy and destroy its future tax base. This is beyond self defeating; it is stupid. That’s right. These liberal, progressive policies are just stupid! Instead, Governor Rendell should follow newly elected New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s approach to balancing budgets. Enact immediate spending freezes, cut programs that are redundant and insolvent, and reform bloated public pension and health plans. This then paves the way for tax cuts and a positive business environment that can charge up future growth that benefits everyone. Anything less is irresponsible and foolish, and simply sells out our children and grandchildren.

We want Pennsylvania and all of America to be vibrant, competitive and growing, not a bloated economic basket case like Greece. Let’s save America for our children, grandchildren and the world!

Have a great week, and remember to tune in next week to hear my special radio program on Marxism. I will discuss how all forms of socialism – not just the Eastern European totalitarian model – rob people of their lives, their futures and their happiness.

Thanks for reading and for listening.
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