Anti-tax Craziness in Congressional Race

Yes, it is your money. But isn't it also wise to invest in your community?

Even WalMart claims the tax revenues they deliver will help each community that green-lights their infestation.

So are taxes "good" only as a rhetorical point in arguing for your view of government's responsibilities? No.

They actually serve a purpose as each citizens' investment in their community.

It is government's duty to spend that tax money wisely, legally, and for the benefit of all. It is almost as serious a duty, maybe even more serious, than our nation's defense: if our leaders let Halliburton run the war, or buy the wrong bullets for the guns our soldiers use, they have failed both those duties.

There is inefficiency in all organizations; that should not be an excuse to revoke government's essential tool of taxation.

Everyone would have to agree taxes serve a valid purpose in our society. Everyone should agree that each citizen should pay their fair share of taxes. [Republicans, you can leave now if this is bothering you.] And most will agree that we can't give tax cut after tax cut without hurting our society, neglecting those most in need, and starving government of money it needs to provide critical services.

Most agree except for our Repubican Congressional candidates in CD-5:

A political ad attacking two of the Republican candidates for the 5th Congressional District [was pulled] after one of the campaigns argued it was untruthful.

The ad, paid for by the political action committee Club for Growth, accused candidates Jeff Crank and Lionel Rivera of being in favor of higher taxes and against tax and spending cuts.

Six Republicans are vying to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Joel Hefley in Tuesday’s GOP primary election. The Club for Growth supports Doug Lamborn, a state senator.

None of them want to be seen as anti-anti-tax. Some will count on an appeal to our base selfishness by promising taxes can be cut to zero.

All taxes are bad according to Club for Growth's Tax Anti-tax Evangelist Pat Toomey:

"Crank is on the record in more than one newspaper article talking at some length about his opposition to initiatives that would have cut taxes," said Pat Toomey, Club for Growth president.

And Crank, to his credit, did say -

"he and other business leaders are concerned about a drop in city services if so much revenue is taken away. He said he plans to get together with some groups to talk about opposing the initiatives.”

We'll have to see who wins the Republican primary. I'm sure we'll continue to see the Irresponsible Anti-tax Rhetoric coming from the Republican Party.

Will our citizens see that we can't cut taxes to zero and still have a civil society? Or will those who reject Darwin as a 19th Century crank embrace Social Darwinism as the ideal code for our community?

I dare say "compassionate conservatism" is probably dead as a philosophy. Will local voters continue to believe it?