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The only way to improve the living conditions of our residents in the long term is to promote job growth, cheaper energy prices, cut all taxes and grow the economy!
This is more welfare than anything else. The nannies in this state will do anything for more votes on the back of the few taxpayers that are left here. Every year, we just borrow more bond monies and every year, we are asked for more. This has to stop!
The only way to improve the living conditions of our residents in the long term is to promote job growth, cheaper energy prices, cut all taxes and grow the economy!
This is more welfare than anything else. The nannies in this state will do anything for more votes on the back of the few taxpayers that are left here. Every year, we just borrow more bond monies and every year, we are asked for more. This has to stop!
I also agree with this. Maine will be, what some have used as a term, a "welfare state" until it does something about it's tax structure, brings industry and business here and promotes the idea of creating jobs. Not just temp jobs but permanent long term work.
Some may not like the idea of industry or businesses growing and becoming an intrical part of the state, but reality is, they are much needed. The average person who still is able to pay the taxes soon won't or will refuse to do so and make their way to other states. Some may say "cya and don't let the door hit ya on the way out", yet those paying the taxes are the ones absorbing the costs of programs that keep growing.
Yes, I know, you can get along just fine and make do with the bare essentials but this is the 21st century and Maine could be a leader in bringing jobs and industries in. Make it attractive for businesses to be here and maybe more folks won't be so dependant on the govt who evidently feels by controlling and spending money they don't have, they keep people from bettering themself and make them feel obligated to them. Come election time, the nice pol can say..look at the food stamps I got you! I would much rather them say, look at the JOB I got you.
Lastly, if they want "green" technology to take hold, then I wish they would make it cost competitive now and not tell us pay through the nose up front and that you MAY recoup your initial outlay in 10-15 years.
I thought this might generate some debate, however I think most of us are on the same page.
1st thing is...200 million is a lot of money to put on the backs of Maine taxpayers, however it is very little when considering the scope of the "problem" or alleged problem if you prefer.
2nd thing.. What happens to an already depressed housing pool when you build more houses??? HHHMMM! Since I own rental property I have to say that I am very much against this kind of socialist welfare CRAP! And I do all that I can to keep everything I own in excellent condition...just in the last 5 years I have replaced 120 windows, 2 heating systems, 3 roofs, insulated siding, and buko dollars worth of updates to everything I own. And I just spent 6 months with a vacancy trying to fill it with someone who can afford the ridiculous cheap rent I charge which barely covers my expenses. So nothing steams me more than to see government come in using their own coercive powers to basically take the business from the private sector to create more government bureaucratic BS that will only hurt people in the long run!!!!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flycessna
2nd thing.. What happens to an already depressed housing pool when you build more houses??? HHHMMM! Since I own rental property I have to say that I am very much against this kind of socialist welfare CRAP! And I do all that I can to keep everything I own in excellent condition...just in the last 5 years I have replaced 120 windows, 2 heating systems, 3 roofs, insulated siding, and buko dollars worth of updates to everything I own. And I just spent 6 months with a vacancy trying to fill it with someone who can afford the ridiculous cheap rent I charge which barely covers my expenses. So nothing steams me more than to see government come in using their own coercive powers to basically take the business from the private sector to create more government bureaucratic BS that will only hurt people in the long run!!!!
I agree (mostly) with you. I have rental property too and no one offers me a leg up with the roof replacements, windows, storms, and this week, a new veranda roof. This is an entittlement nation. Everyone thinks they have the right to own a home. Well maybe, but you have to be able to afford one also. The lenders have the right to be paid and not to foreclose. Owning a home is the American Dream not part of the Bill of Rights. It is not an entitlement. Some people need to rent. And there is nothing wrong or downgrading about that. I did it fro 20+ years. (The following commentary is the opinion of the speaker and not this staion.)
Maine will be, what some have used as a term, a "welfare state" until it does something about it's tax structure, brings industry and business here and promotes the idea of creating jobs. Not just temp jobs but permanent long term work.
Some may not like the idea of industry or businesses growing and becoming an intrical part of the state, but reality is, they are much needed. The average person who still is able to pay the taxes soon won't or will refuse to do so and make their way to other states. Some may say "cya and don't let the door hit ya on the way out", yet those paying the taxes are the ones absorbing the costs of programs that keep growing.
Maine already is a welfare state, literally. The ease of which a person can get Government Assistance in this state is fairly easy, but that is not the real problem. The real problem is that Maine offers no alternative to weening those on welfare off of it while seemingly allowing those on it to stay on it for an indefinite amount of time. Why would someone want to get off welfare in this state?
Quote:
Originally Posted by JC3
Yes, I know, you can get along just fine and make do with the bare essentials but this is the 21st century and Maine could be a leader in bringing jobs and industries in.
I fully agree with this, however you will be hard pressed to find any support from 'real' Mainers. More business means more money and more people moving in from out of state. These new people will bring with them all of the 'problems' that most Mainers don't want, even if it means that the quality of their lives (the Mainers) would improve.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JC3
Lastly, if they want "green" technology to take hold, then I wish they would make it cost competitive now and not tell us pay through the nose up front and that you MAY recoup your initial outlay in 10-15 years.
Green technology is still in its infancy for the most part and much of it is in an R&D phase. Until it becomes a main-stay (which it will in time) it is pretty much a money pit at the moment.
Maine is doing some good things with wind power, however, every time they want to put up more turbines someone whines. Some say that the turbines will endanger birds while those who could care less about the birds claim that they are, now get this, too noisy or a blight to their view. I think that the proposed idea of installing turbines 20 miles off the coast of Maine is a good idea. It is a huge project that will give many a job. Maine is also doing some serious studies into harnessing the ocean for energy. Unfortunately, both of these endeavors cost money. It is either going to come from the tax-payer or from the private sector. The private sector is only willing to invest money if it will be proven to be profitable. So, once again, you just can't win.
Quote:
Originally Posted by flycessna
2nd thing.. What happens to an already depressed housing pool when you build more houses???
I don't know why Maine would want to build more subsidized housing since it seems that half the rentals in Portland are subsidized anyways (even some of the nicer apartments). The only reasoning I can come up with on this at the moment is that maybe it is an attempt to keep the homeless off the street. I dunno.
If there were more jobs, or at the very least more better paying jobs, than I don't think that there would be much of a need for subsidized housing.
I fully agree with this, however you will be hard pressed to find any support from 'real' Mainers. More business means more money and more people moving in from out of state. These new people will bring with them all of the 'problems' that most Mainers don't want, even if it means that the quality of their lives (the Mainers) would improve.
[I
Agreed. I will add however, that new people who bring all of the "problems" that most Mainers don't want are already moving this way since the benefits from their "home state" are exhausted.[/i]
Green technology is still in its infancy for the most part and much of it is in an R&D phase. Until it becomes a main-stay (which it will in time) it is pretty much a money pit at the moment.
Maine is doing some good things with wind power, however, every time they want to put up more turbines someone whines. Some say that the turbines will endanger birds while those who could care less about the birds claim that they are, now get this, too noisy or a blight to their view. I think that the proposed idea of installing turbines 20 miles off the coast of Maine is a good idea. It is a huge project that will give many a job. Maine is also doing some serious studies into harnessing the ocean for energy. Unfortunately, both of these endeavors cost money. It is either going to come from the tax-payer or from the private sector. The private sector is only willing to invest money if it will be proven to be profitable. So, once again, you just can't win.
As a taxpayer, I'm always for jobs that are sustainable. I do realize that there are many who would rather leave Maine the way it is.
I don't know why Maine would want to build more subsidized housing since it seems that half the rentals in Portland are subsidized anyways (even some of the nicer apartments). The only reasoning I can come up with on this at the moment is that maybe it is an attempt to keep the homeless off the street. I dunno.
There are a lot of "homeless" families now. The Ranger Inn on outer Hammond street is one place they stay.
If there were more jobs, or at the very least more better paying jobs, than I don't think that there would be much of a need for subsidized housing.
I agree - completely! Where does this get "lost in translation?"
Maine does not need Government to create jobs! It has had ample opportunities to improve its job outlook but has flatly turned down those opportunities through the ballet and in other areas.
I think if the state government would just stop tampering with things and let the free market economy to take over then our demographics would improve and there would be jobs. I am sure there are a great many people who are educated and love to work who would love to move their young families here, but cannot!
Maine has a serious demographic issue... too old and poorly educated our work force does not attract larger employers.. smaller employers are turned away from our tax structure and anti business climate. The old time residences are shooting themselves in the foot! Fear of change and becoming like their distorted views of other places they pigeon holed the state. The state is changing regardless of whether or not you vote down a casino..
Has anyone seen the latest updated census bureau statistics for Maine and its cities for 2007 (last one was 2000, and the next major one will be 2010). It is very disturbing!! go ahead and compare our demographics to the year 2000. I do not want to get into some Politically correct debate so i will just say go and look and see what has changed, and what has not changed. Our demographics are getting worse. The rest of the country is moving forward while we move backwards....and I do not mean "the way life used to be"!
Until Maine moves forward with serious tax, insurance and State Government reforms, we will just continue to have a population demanding, and receiving more and more services rather than letting the individual and families determine their needs and wants.
The next census will be an eye opener. The citizenry is tapped out and pissed off. The Menotomy Moonbats have nothing on the Legislature in Augusta. The wagon pullers are quickly reaching the breaking point with the wagon riders in this State.
as one poster alluded to...if there wasnt so much fraud in the welfare system, they'd be enough to go to those that really need it..
when government starts to subsidize/socialize, it punishes and undermines business owners and taxpayers that play by the rules.
good intentions are great....as long as someone else is paying for it (democrat party logo)
Was it Margaret Thatcher that said, "The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of someone else's money."
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to create jobs! It has had ample opportunities to improve its job outlook but has flatly turned down those opportunities through the ballet and in other areas.
