Will all of our "friends" vote to invest in Michigan's future or will they chicken out?

Suicide (1.00 / 1)

Thats right, call your marginal democratic freshman lawmaker and urge them to commit political suicide.

Why must Democrats live up to the stereotype of raising taxes the first chance they get.  Slash the programs. Make people feel pain before they will accept an increase.

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by: Fezzie @ Wed May 23, 2007 at 17:19:00 PM UTC

suicide (3.25 / 4)

Why must some Democrats promote the stereotype that Democrats jump at "raising taxes the first chance they get"?

Oh, I forgot, I have no right to ask that because I'm a filthy hippie.

Check out my mediocre blog.

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by: nirmal @ Wed May 23, 2007 at 20:28:03 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

It's not political suicide (4.00 / 1)

if it means saving our state. What would you rather them do, watch us slide down the fiscal drain?

Last time I checked, we elected them and pay them to do what's right, and sometimes, that means making tough decisions.

I want to change the world, not help people adjust to it. - Millie Jeffrey, MI - National Women's labor and Democratic activist, Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient

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by: LiberalLucy @ Wed May 23, 2007 at 21:21:33 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I am all for saving the state (1.00 / 1)

Lets save the state but you have to make a political case to Joe and  Jane Sixpack and to do that you have to have credibility on cuts.  Cut first, cut second, cut third, cut until these folks understand that government costs money. 

Don't reflexively defend every government program and by all means do not sacrifice freshman reps from places like Jackson and Plymouth and Grand Rapids and the Thumb.

Raising taxes needs to be a last resort not the first things Democrats do when getting in office. 

 

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by: Fezzie @ Wed May 23, 2007 at 22:52:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I absolutely agree... (3.00 / 3)

The first year of the Granholm administration, the budget was balanced by cuts ... not tax hikes*.  In fact, no one mentioned it.

The second year of the Granholm administration, the budget was balanced by cuts ... not tax hikes*.  In fact, no one mentioned it.

The third years of the Granholm administration, the budget was balanced by cuts ... not tax hikes*.  In fact, no one mentioned it.

The fourth years of the Granholm administration, the budget was balanced by cuts ... not tax hikes*.  In fact, no one mentioned it.

This is the fifth year, not the first year that a Democrat has gotten into office.

*--A personal disclaimer ... for the past five years, I've advocated considering alternatives to balancing the budget other than by cutting because it became increasingly clear that we were headed to serious problems.

Among the Trees

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by: Eric B. @ Wed May 23, 2007 at 23:22:11 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

If that is true.... (0.00 / 0)

Some may vote in opposition because they can, and the bill will still pass.  It is important to keep the majority...and the only way to keep the majority is to protect the targeted members.....and let them vote in opposition of a tax hike as such a vote would kill their re-election ability.
Think broader.....big picture....

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by: ProgressiveFemale @ Wed May 23, 2007 at 23:03:40 PM UTC

to clarify (4.00 / 1)

I'm not saying that the targeted Democrats should vote one way or the other -- I don't know how many votes the revenue enhancement has or what the electoral consequences are for voting for it, so I'm not really in a position to say.

Here's what I'm saying:  When other Democrats advance the idea that Dems are about "raising taxes the first chance they get" (even though it clearly isn't true), it is harmful to our party.

Check out my mediocre blog.

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by: nirmal @ Wed May 23, 2007 at 23:42:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Suicide? (4.00 / 1)

Um.....what?

70% of Michigan voters want an increase.  That's not just a majority, it's a fucking mandate!

What's political suicide is assuming that Michigan voters want less police and fire protection, shitty roads, laid off government workers, and a bad economy.

I'd expect old fossils living with the "no new taxes" CW to be old guys living in Lansing, way too inside the Michigan beltway to be listening to the people.  But not on here.  Show some spine, people!

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by: djtyg @ Thu May 24, 2007 at 13:25:48 PM UTC

Tell Carl Levin to bring the Iraq war money home (0.00 / 0)

before we ask the hard strapped people of Michigan to increase their taxes. We all know the war is costing the states money. It's become an unfunded mandate.

Carl Levin owes Michigan an explanation on why he puts Bush first and Michigan last.

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by: left of liberal @ Thu May 24, 2007 at 15:40:46 PM UTC