IntenseDebate - friedman

16 years ago @ WOODTV.com - Mich OKs tax breaks fo... · 0 replies · +2 points

We possibly bring 1,000 jobs to Michigan, but it takes 85,000 people paying taxes to make it happen.

The other way to look at it--thousands of existing businesses must pay taxes to bring this one company to Michigan.

People need to realize how much $61.5 million in tax breaks actually is. It's enough to run a medium sized manufacturing company with 2,000 employees for an entire year.

But, that isn't the only cost. State funded lawyers, accountants and bureaucrats must be paid massive amounts of taxpayer money to coordinate these deals for what is really a special interest.

16 years ago @ WOODTV.com - Mich OKs tax breaks fo... · 2 replies · +3 points

"the state has approved"

I did not vote for this colossal waste of taxpayer money. $61.5 million means it will take over 85,000 people paying income taxes at an average of $716 each to fund a single company coming to Michigan.
http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/topic/36.ht...

We would be much better with lower taxes so many SMALL businesses could flourish, rather than this single large company (temporarily) moving to Michigan.

16 years ago @ Big Government - The Center Of American... · 0 replies · +1 points

People in the center believe that FREEDOM is the most important commodity in America. It is more valuable than gold. The loss of individual freedom is the end result of more government regulation and spending.

So many well intentioned people are willing to give up their own freedom and take the freedom away from other people for the supposed "benefit" of others. These people do not understand the tremendous harm they are doing.

When individuals make their own decisions and allow other people to decide things for themselves, then it benefits all people.

16 years ago @ WOODTV.com - Sundstrom more cuts wi... · 2 replies · +7 points

Sundstrom is a self-interested bureaucrat trying to protect his interests. In his opinion it would be better to add a permanent tax increase to the citizens of GR than to lay off 80 workers.

He first mentions firemen because it helps him win a political battle for more money. It costs him nothing to make these kinds of statements because it isn't his money that he is spending.

Hopefully the commission will side with voters who put them there to cut spending, not raise our taxes.

16 years ago @ WOODTV.com - Board weighs new 70m l... · 0 replies · +2 points

One other thing to consider in physical construction is that it will require prevailing wages. Adding digital libraries avoids much of this wasteful spending.

If there is doubt about future enrollment, then the money would be better spent on technology, which can be added gradually. Building is more of an all at once proposition, but technology can be added one piece at a time depending on actual enrollment.

16 years ago @ WOODTV.com - Board weighs new 70m l... · 0 replies · +2 points

It would be interesting to know what the board thinks about the movement to electronic media. Building can't be an easy decision.

So much research is done online these days. How much does this reduce the need for physical books and facilities?

16 years ago @ WOODTV.com - Granholm creating empl... · 1 reply · +2 points

I don't think it is a good thing to tax business people who have chosen to stay in Michigan and are struggling in this economy in order to try to start new businesses. Many of these new businesses are from out of state.

Lower taxes are enough incentive to stimulate the growth of businesses in any economy. Lower taxes help existing business owners who are already struggling in this economy.

I don't like to see money taken from one person's business and given to someone else. It isn't fair.

16 years ago @ WOODTV.com - Granholm creating empl... · 0 replies · +1 points

In order to provide $43 million in loans for small businesses the government first had to take $43 million from businesses.

Are people in business really desperate to learn how to run a business from people in the government? Or, are people in government desperate to tell people in business how to do things?

16 years ago @ WOODTV.com - City floats tax hike p... · 0 replies · +3 points

"But the question has to get on the ballot first. That will be up to city commissioners."

If these commissioners vote to put this tax increase on the ballot they will never receive another vote from me.

16 years ago @ WOODTV.com - $500K worth of drugs s... · 0 replies · +2 points

The vast majority of people don't do drugs and won't do them because they understand that drugs hurt them. Laws meant to stop people from doing drugs don't stop them, but they hurt other people.

The result is that drugs become very expensive and profitable because only criminals are willing to take the risk, our prisons are filled with people whose lives are ruined, and innocent people are killed by criminals trying to hide their highly profitable activities.

If some people want to hurt themselves, but cause no harm to others, then let them. It isn't ideal, but it is better than the alternative. Ideally people would be perfect, but they are not.

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