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This is a self reinforcing system. Public services (including law enforcement) are starved for resources by conservative (small government) politicians who can
by mrunkel 8y ago
This is a self reinforcing system.
Public services (including law enforcement) are starved for resources by conservative (small government) politicians who can then say "see, government doesn't work, why should they get all this money" and proceed to reduce funding further.
This leads to the populace accepting that "government doesn't work" and that "taxes are too high."
This cycle has been going on for about 40 years now.
It appears it may be ending with the rise of "leftist" politicians like Bernie Sanders gaining some traction.
It also leads to terrible things like civil asset forfeiture which literally turns police officers into highway bandits. (But it's ok, they only steal from the bad guys).
- cotelletta 8y agoIs the situation any better in guaranteed blue states? California seems like a perfect example of government overreach and wasteful spending that enables the exact same abuse that supposedly only greedy capitalists engage in. Is the high speed train done yet?
- mrunkel 8y agoThe idea that you espouse in that California exhibits government overreach and wasteful spending is exactly what I'm talking about. California has been extremely budget constrained ever since the Prop 13 passed in 1978. They've been fighting against that ever since. Your very words shout this ingrained bias. "wasteful spending" and "government overreach"... I think you mean "provide services" and "regulation." I lived a great deal of my life in California and now live in Germany. The difference in people's relationship with the government and taxes is palpable. > Is the high speed train done yet? It's my understanding the project was cancelled.