Who's To Blame? Get in Line.

In today's papers, I finally got to read what I've been saying to anyone who will listen since the Gulf Coast disaster became apparent. While many should be held accountable, one thing is primarily to blame: our citizen's aversion to paying taxes. (The whole leadership void is a close second but more on that another time.) And while we should be angy at what happened down South, I hope some of that anger is directed inward. Because we have seen the enemy, and it is us.

Just so I have this straight: levees that have been in need of repair for years failed; a region's poorest and oldest suffer the brunt of the storm and levee flooding. Hmmm - why must we always be surprised by things that a few have been warning us about for years?

The fact is that for decades, government spending on infrastructure and other services has steadily and markedly declined.

Now don't get me wrong. I curse the IRS and hate April 15 as much as the next person. But what I also do is reconcile the fact that my taxes are collected to enable services that are desperately needed and the government SHOULD provide. But when it comes to government, our culture - and our entire political system - is geared toward cutting not growing; reducing not expanding; saving not investing. For decades, the label of "tax and spend" usually means the death knell of a candidacy.
But the fact is taxes are essential for democracy to work. And too few candidates are willing to be honest with voters - likely because the few who vote don't want honesty. (Walter Mondale's expirement in 1984 proved that conclusively.)

Most people only hear what they want to hear. And now we have the president we have as a consequence of that. In almost every community across the United States, local journalists could point out dozens of services that no longer exist, roadway projects that languish, bond referendums that fail or infrastructure projects that are shelved year after year. Due almost always to a fear and loathing of raising taxes to pay for them. But the shamefulness is there is no escape - someone always pays the price. We should be focusing our energies on making sure those who can most afford to pay start paying -- and ease the burden on those who can least afford it.

But the anti-tax advocates are already at it. Scores of articles show that no one is willing to admit this basic fact: government can't provide services if it's not funded properly.

So I guess, in a way, we're all to blame for what happened in the Gulf Coast since we all in some way loath paying taxes. Nevertheless, let the finger pointing begin. That way we don't have to deal with reality. Or better yet, make sure that Bush II's federal tax refund doesn't become codified. And if it does, send it back. Who knows -- the life you save may be your own one day.