CPA 1, Taxpayers 0

The local election is over and once again there have been lessons learned. First, let me say we lost the vote on Question 4 which was to revoke the CPA, so we will continue to incur more and more debt buying things we don’t need and can’t afford.

So what did I learn? Well, one thing is my initial thoughts on where the Tea Party movement should be concentrating hasn’t changed. It is at the local level where we need to make the first stand against spending and entitlements. Until we change this culture in our local communities we will never be able to change it at the state or national levels.

Order from
Amazon
here

Too many people have actually been convinced that there is this magic money tree where the state just gives us whatever “free” or “matching” funds for anything we want. They fail to realize that the state can stop this flow any time they want and there is always the very real possibility that this money could very easily run out. What happens when it comes down to matching CPA funds or road and bridge repairs?

It is at the local level where the culture of entitlement also has to change. Entitlement isn’t just people receiving welfare or food stamps; entitlement is using other people’s money to get what you want. The CPA is a perfect example of this, there are some, instead of coming up with less expensive ways to get what they want, perhaps through donations and fund raising, have decided they would rather take from everyone, whether these others support their agenda or not, and pay more for the same.

I learned that the average tax payer has to really pay attention to what is being done by his local officials. One needs to pay attention to where the money is going and to research any ballot question or town meeting article before making a decision. They need to hold those in charge accountable, question everything, trust no one’s agenda and motives. It’s too bad it has come to this, but this is the country we have created. I was thinking yesterday when everyone in Sturbridge pulled together to build the playground at the Burgess School. How many remember the fund raising that went into it and then the week of actual building, all with volunteer labor and no tax money? It sure was a different world now.

Believe me I don’t mean to sound bitter, I am not, well not so much at those who wanted to keep the CPA. I’ll continue to struggle to pay the higher taxes we get every year and the endless surcharges and debt payments, after all it is the price we pay these days to live in beautiful, historic, idyllic Sturbridge. No, I am more bitter at the lack of support from those who portend to be for fiscal responsibility, for smaller government and for lower taxes. Their lack of support was amazing.

But as Jesus said from the cross “Forgive them for they know not what they do.”