2012 conventions 2012 election 2013 session 2013 special election arts arts and culture author ballot measures bomb books budget bullying business charlie hales children clackamas climate change coal courts crime culture culture club democrats drugs economy education environment family film fluoride food gay rights guns handguns health health care health insurance high school history housing immigration international internet kitzhaber law legislature lgbt literary arts living marijuana medicine mental health military minor parties mohamed mohamud movies music native americans news newspaper obama olympics oregon our town parenting pers photography police politcs politics port portland portland business journal portland mayor president prevention public safety religion republicans rnc romney rural salem sam adams sandy hook schools science shooting sports suicide supreme court taxes television terrorism theater third parties timber payments transportation union university of oregon violence washington water wildfire women

It is true that our democracy is a participatory system. If you don't vote, your opinion can't be counted. If you don't utilize your voice, you certainly will not be heard. We agree that it's important to participate- have a dialogue with your representatives. It is vital.

I think the state and federal governments, and all of us individually as well, could be more efficient with our dollars. No doubt.

It's a never-ending argument: "we all pay way too much in taxes". It's a non-starter for a discussion because you will always want to keep your money. But of course, it's not being selfish- you just don't want to fund your government. It's always the same crew that fights any taxes and true fiscal responsibilty while simultaneously wrapping themselves in conservatism and our flag.

To be a fiscal conservative means to want a balanced budget. If you don't like the budget, get involved and try to change it. But we need to cover our costs this year and looking forward. Proposing kicker reform aims to balance our budget in perpetuity and I have difficulty understanding how anyone could oppose this.

posted 3 years, 4 months ago
view in context

echolynch, the more I think about your comment, the more I am struck at how shockingly selfish it sounds.

posted 3 years, 4 months ago
view in context

We are the people of the state, with expectations of services that need to paid for.

posted 3 years, 4 months ago
view in context

This discussion is not about raising taxes at all. It's about budgeting so that when there is a shortfall on projections- there would be a "savings account" or referred to as a "rainy day fund" to make up for a short fall. The consensus seems to be that if the kicker law had been reformed years ago. measures 66 and 67 would not have been neccessary at all.

posted 3 years, 4 months ago
view in context

Of course the kicker needs reform. For the sake of fiscal responsibility and stability it is absolutely necessary to reform the kicker. As someone who considers themselves to be a fiscal conservative, I feel the state budget needs to be run how we run our own personal, family budgets... For our family, we need a rainy day fund (savings) for when when our income is short- or expenses run higher than anticipated. The fact of the matter is that projections are just that, PROJECTIONS, and we can't pay with funds that were projected but did not materialize.

posted 3 years, 4 months ago
view in context