I don't like my tax money being wasted -- whether it's on a needless social program or in the form of a big tax break for companies that are reporting record profits in the billions of dollars.
But I am sick of politicians who have literally nothing to offer other than the promise of "No new taxes."
That's just a mindless mantra when you fail to offer any alternative to fund the many worthwhile things we do need. And it just panders to that block of clueless voters who actually believe there is a way to get everything we want for nothing.
Example: The state legislature refused to make smokers pay an extra 25 cents per pack.
Big victory for the "No New Taxes" crowd!
But why is that 25 cents a pack so much more sacred than the extra hundreds of dollars our college students will have to pay for tuition in the coming years?
It's all money coming out of someone's pocket. Who cares what it's called?
And which would be wiser for Kentucky to promote? Affordable smoking? Or affordable college education?
It all boils down to this:
When you make things we all need cost a lot more because you stood by your pledge of "no new taxes," don't claim you've done me a favor.
That's not leadership. That's just the old shell game.
I'm Bill Lamb, and that's my...Point of View.
