The Problem With Politics

The problem with politics is that it is always Republican versus Democrat, left versus right. The issues that impact all of us daily though, go far beyond either of those arguments. We have those who are Independent or Libertarian because they don't seem to agree with either party wholeheartedly. Why is there this constant power battle? Why are we constantly at odds with each other?

We have right and wrong, left and right, up and down, Democrat and Republican. We have very rarely lived in harmony with each other. The battle actually seems to deal with two things; control, and money.

If you control the government, in some ways you could argue you control the money.

There are comments out there arguing for more local control of the minimum wage, and local tax laws. Both of those deal with money and the control of it.

You could explore the idea that if you force businesses in a small town to increase their minimum wage, while also changing the way in which you tax businesses and individuals, you are essentially dealing out a double whammy. Increasing the minimum wage for some could also result in a change of tax bracket. We're not going to get into what exactly that could mean, because there are many variables there that impact each individual differently.

A lot of people would likely agree though that some non-profit businesses that are benefiting from tax-exempt status should be paying towards the city in which their non-profit is. The behind-the-scenes is that some of these non-profits do contribute, just in ways that may not be on the radar. The most common is payment in lieu of taxes, which a few of the non-profits in Meadville do contribute to. The hospital at various times donates services, because they do not decline care based on anyone's ability or inability to pay. The college on the other hand has contributed to various beautification projects within the city.

Are their contributions enough? Maybe not, but writing scathing articles, social media posts, and sound-offs about it isn't going to solve anything, is it?

Now, those who have and still wholeheartedly support the Democrat candidates in Meadville are pushing ideas of socialism, as evidenced by their social media posts and comments. So what is the difference between capitalism and socialism? Is this what really divides us as people? Maybe yes, maybe no. Let's explore the fundamentals of these, shall we?

Capitalism is the free market of buyers and sellers that transact via a mutually voluntary exchange. Socialism is the government dictating and mandating economic transactions through control and confiscation.

In a capitalist society, if you produce, you profit. You must serve others to earn this reward. In a socialist society, they want to take what is produced by others to reward others. Government programs for all under a socialist view would be funded by higher taxes. Remember the saying, nothing in life is free. You work for what you want, but if others work harder and earn more, the government will step in and redistribute that wealth to make all equal. In turn, those producing more wonder why they work so hard to support others and begin to be less productive. Less produced, is less that can be taken.

See how we got back to control and money? The government, no matter the party, wants to control what is done with the money. Some parties want to control what you do with your money. Some may be content to use your money and are always looking for a handout (aka grants). A government unwilling to look for ways to reduce its spending, and is always looking for ways to take other people's money via an increase in taxes, fees, or redistribution of wealth, will likely not survive. Grants via the state and federal levels are still other people's money.

Not all grants are bad, not all taxes are bad. But you can't run a city on grants and you can't tax a city into prosperity. When did government become a place where money means nothing and everything all at the same time? It means nothing because they spend it like they printed it, and it means everything because without it they can't function. The fundamental issue is that the government can never seem to get enough of our money to satisfy its wants. A city needs its basic protections, its basic necessities. It doesn't need shrubs and bushes to the tune of $90,000. It doesn't need decorative flags on street poles. It needs people to want to live there. People to thrive there. It needs individuals to invest and build homes and businesses that not only support the taxes but also support the overall aesthetic of the city. Diversity and inclusion doesn't stop at black and white, it is socioeconomic status as well. If there is no class of individuals, do people strive to do better for themselves? If you could sit around and gain equally the same as someone who is working hard, would you work? Would someone who works hard and is then penalized for such via even higher taxes because of their class status be encouraged to work just as hard the following year? Probably not.

We need to actually work together, and quit fighting this wage war, class war, left/right, Donkey vs Elephant war. Be free in your thoughts, and let others be free in theirs. Respect the right of others to earn their keep, and keep what they earn. Battle the budget with a business mindset, and become mindful of what and how much you spend. We need people who understand the politics, people who understand the people, and people who understand the budget. We don't need people who are dominated by their political affiliation, we need people who are dominated by their integrity, tolerance, and understanding of others.