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danblaker's comments:
on Measures 63 and 64
I wonder if Mr. Sizemore can point to an example of a single city or county with a population greater than 10,000 that has eliminated permit requirements. It seems pretty obvious that building regulations are specifically designed for the needs of a growing population. But perhaps there's a "Libertyville" somewhere that has dropped all such regulations, instead allowing its residents freedom to endanger their fellow citizens with impunity.
posted 4 years, 6 months ago
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on Measures 56 and 59: Tax Policy
The "government is inefficient" myth needs to stop. Anyone who has spent work time replying to emails or sat through a three-hour status meeting knows that the private sector is plenty inefficient.
At the same time, the government cannot afford to be too efficient, because efficiency introduces risk. For example, let's imagine a road construction project. Without any government involvement, a private contractor could do a very efficient job and the quality could be very good; on the other hand, what if the road falls apart in 2 years because the contractor cut corners? What if that contractor is already out of business when the road falls apart? Without government involvement, there's no oversight on the job and there's no accountability down the road.
Ultimately, government spending may not be EFFICIENT but it is generally EFFECTIVE, because government is accountable to us and our elected officials. And the "special interest" groups that anti-tax folks rail against actually work to make the government MORE effective?nobody pays closer attention than those groups on BOTH SIDES of every issue.
At the same time, the government cannot afford to be too efficient, because efficiency introduces risk. For example, let's imagine a road construction project. Without any government involvement, a private contractor could do a very efficient job and the quality could be very good; on the other hand, what if the road falls apart in 2 years because the contractor cut corners? What if that contractor is already out of business when the road falls apart? Without government involvement, there's no oversight on the job and there's no accountability down the road.
Ultimately, government spending may not be EFFICIENT but it is generally EFFECTIVE, because government is accountable to us and our elected officials. And the "special interest" groups that anti-tax folks rail against actually work to make the government MORE effective?nobody pays closer attention than those groups on BOTH SIDES of every issue.
posted 4 years, 7 months ago
view in context
