Fast Eddie refuses to pay PA National Guard. Pathetic, isn't it? (Philadelphia: schools, living)

[go phillies]

Originally Posted by BPP1999

It was under Ridge that the ridiculous emissions testing began. I've been paying an additional $40 or so annually for that for about 10 years now.

But Spendell expanded it. Emissions testing used to be required only in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh areas, which is understandable since there's a lot more traffic congestion in those areas. Most other cities and towns in PA rarely see a traffic jam unless there's some major road construction or an accident. Its nothing more than another tax.

[go phillies]

Originally Posted by BPP1999

Your letting your disdain of Philadelphia totally bias all of your opinions.

And honestly, no, I do not have a disdain for Philadelphia....I just wouldn't want to live there. I DO have a disdain for Ed Rendell.

[BPP1999]

Look, I'm with you on one thing: PA government is horribly run. However, I see little difference between PA Democrats and PA Republicans when it comes to running this state.

[go phillies]

Originally Posted by BPP1999

You need to show us examples of PA's Republicans taking the lead at reducing the cost of our government. I've seen no example of this.

Just because I don't like Rendell or liberal democrats, doesn't mean I'm a republican. I agree the GOP isn't exempt from corruption. I tend to look at the GOP as a "lesser of two evils" compared to the democrats, just because I dislike liberal tax-and-spend policies that burden working people and give away money to lazy people who make a living out of welfare and milking the government. But I'm registered as an independent because I'm not big on party loyalty crap.

And to be honest, I'm no bigger of a fan of the PA legislature than I am of Rendell. The legislature is too bloated and should be cut in half or more. One rep per county would be plenty. There is no reason that, for example, the city of Scranton should have 2 state reps. And about the only thing you could get the legislature to work overtime on is when they're voting themselves a raise. They meet in the middle of the night for that, but when it comes to meeting to get a budget done, they meet for 20 minutes and then take a 5 day weekend...

[BPP1999]

Originally Posted by go phillies

Just because I don't like Rendell or liberal democrats, doesn't mean I'm a republican. I agree the GOP isn't exempt from corruption. I tend to look at the GOP as a "lesser of two evils" compared to the democrats, just because I dislike liberal tax-and-spend policies that burden working people and give away money to lazy people who make a living out of welfare and milking the government. But I'm registered as an independent because I'm not big on party loyalty crap.

And to be honest, I'm no bigger of a fan of the PA legislature than I am of Rendell. The legislature is too bloated and should be cut in half or more. One rep per county would be plenty. There is no reason that, for example, the city of Scranton should have 2 state reps. And about the only thing you could get the legislature to work overtime on is when they're voting themselves a raise. They meet in the middle of the night for that, but when it comes to meeting to get a budget done, they meet for 20 minutes and then take a 5 day weekend...

I agree completely. I'm registered as an "R" because I also think they are the lesser of 2 evils when it comes to running governments. I understand why unions exist but I think that nowadays they are corrupt and cause inefficiency and/or stupidity. For example, when they built the Comcast Center in Philadelphia, which has waterless urinals, the union demanded (and won the right) to install piping. So the building has piping to each urinal for nothing; it is not used and does nothing. It's only there so John Q. Unionguy could do the work. This is beyond stupidity.

[dberger]

I just want to chime in for the minority here. I consider myself a kind of "tax-and-spend liberal." But only insofar as higher taxes result in new or improved services provided by the sate. For example, we have the 9th-highest gas tax and the 28th-highest road taxes, but the absolute worst roads. Shouldn't we at least have the 28th-worst roads or something?

I don't disagree with the government providing services to its people. I disagree with the government overcharging its people and looking the other way while everything falls to pieces -- and then blaming each other for the problem. And to be reduced to voting for the lesser of two evils isn't democracy, either. It's a compulsion in this state.

[dberger]

Also, when we define our state's elected officials as "liberal" can we please keep in mind that Dennis Kucinich is a real liberal? Ed Rendell is not a liberal. He's a moderate Democrat...really. Just like we would define Toomey or Santorum as conservative, and Tom Ridge is not so much.

[dberger]

Had an epiphany! Is it possible that the "never raise taxes!" mentality that is so prevalent in Pennsylvania is not a new mentality? I'm only 23, so I can't speak for a longer history of our state's politics. But let's just say that for years our taxes were kept really low, things were allowed to deteriorate, loans were made, things were fudged. And that was then. NOW, all of those things -- those concessions meant to keep our taxes low and our residents happy -- are coming undone? As our roads deteriorate, and our schools fail NCLB qualifications, etc. And so the money is disappearing not into a black hole, but a backlog. A backlog of road repairs, bridge repairs, computer purchases for schools, new school buildings entirely as some are in terrible shape...

And let's not forget that all the while, our state's major cities (the major drivers of our economy and revenue) have been bleeding population -- most noticeably in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. And you can talk smack on Philly all you want (does anyone here ever talk smack on the WESTERN 'ghetto city' of ours? Because people get shot at the gym there) but it's a huge economic engine for the state.

I'm no Philly booster. I'm not even from Philly. I come from the central part of the state which loves to insult Philly twice per person who lives there. But it's an invaluable resource for our state. It's at the middle of the Bos-Wash corridor, it's home to numerous excellent universities, it provides a lot of tax revenue from corporations headquartered there (let's say it together: COMCAST). Philly needs money to operate -- SEPTA really IS a driving force in the region. If this state were to ever stop funding SEPTA, it would be like revoking a significant chunk of Philadelphia's money also.

Having lived in both the central/conservative part of the state and the Philadelphia/Democratic part of the state, it just sometimes seems to me that the people outside our two biggest cities don't grasp what it's like to live in a city. While they feel free to complain about the poor roads, they feel that additional funding for SEPTA is out of the question. While they hate the thought of being in Philadelphia's state, they surely wouldn't like having to rely on the cow pastures in Northumberland county for their state's main revenue source.

I just think people need to appreciate what's here. Get out of Scranton for a while. Get out of Snyder County for a while. Experience both side of the debate and then evaluate it separately.

And P.S., not only did I move to Philadelphia, I went to Temple University and lived in the hood. And no one I knew got killed. I don't suspect any of you would, either. Unless you're in the drug business.

Originally Posted by go phillies

The personal income tax is not the only tax that Fat Ed has raised...yes he did raise it to 3.07% and he wants another 16% jump. And if you believe the mullarkey about it being temporary, I have a some oceanfront property in Nebraska for sale. Have you ever seen a temporary tax hike? Me neither. He almost doubled the gas tax from 18 cents to 33 cents. People pay less for gas in NJ and the stations there also have to pay someone to pump your gas. Turnpike tolls went through the roof. He imposed an "emissions inspection" for cars, which is really nothing more than paying $35 to have your gas cap checked. Tobacco taxes went through the roof, and they don't spend a penny of that money to help people quit smoking. At least NY uses its cigarette taxes to give people free nicotine patches, gum, etc, to help them quit. And I'd love to know where are that property tax reform is that he promised from the casino money? So we're getting all the social ills of casinos in our communities, and I haven't seen a penny of this tax relief. Not to mention the "gaming board" which oversees the casinos is stocked full of political cronies earning six-figure salaries for a part-time job, and they gave a casino license to someone with mob ties (Louie DeNaples). It seems a lot of money is going into his black hole in Philly....SEPTA namely. Also the schools, but I don't notice any improvements in test grades or school facilities, even with Eddie supposedly dumping money into the schools.

As for your last comment, Scranton is Beverly Hills compared to Killadelphia. If Philly is so great, why are you living in the suburbs?

[HeadedWest]

Originally Posted by dberger

Ed Rendell is not a liberal. He's a moderate Democrat...really.

Ed Rendell is a pompous jerk ... really.

[danwxman]

Originally Posted by dberger

Had an epiphany! Is it possible that the "never raise taxes!" mentality that is so prevalent in Pennsylvania is not a new mentality? I'm only 23, so I can't speak for a longer history of our state's politics. But let's just say that for years our taxes were kept really low, things were allowed to deteriorate, loans were made, things were fudged. And that was then. NOW, all of those things -- those concessions meant to keep our taxes low and our residents happy -- are coming undone? As our roads deteriorate, and our schools fail NCLB qualifications, etc. And so the money is disappearing not into a black hole, but a backlog. A backlog of road repairs, bridge repairs, computer purchases for schools, new school buildings entirely as some are in terrible shape...

And let's not forget that all the while, our state's major cities (the major drivers of our economy and revenue) have been bleeding population -- most noticeably in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. And you can talk smack on Philly all you want (does anyone here ever talk smack on the WESTERN 'ghetto city' of ours? Because people get shot at the gym there) but it's a huge economic engine for the state.

I'm no Philly booster. I'm not even from Philly. I come from the central part of the state which loves to insult Philly twice per person who lives there. But it's an invaluable resource for our state. It's at the middle of the Bos-Wash corridor, it's home to numerous excellent universities, it provides a lot of tax revenue from corporations headquartered there (let's say it together: COMCAST). Philly needs money to operate -- SEPTA really IS a driving force in the region. If this state were to ever stop funding SEPTA, it would be like revoking a significant chunk of Philadelphia's money also.

Having lived in both the central/conservative part of the state and the Philadelphia/Democratic part of the state, it just sometimes seems to me that the people outside our two biggest cities don't grasp what it's like to live in a city. While they feel free to complain about the poor roads, they feel that additional funding for SEPTA is out of the question. While they hate the thought of being in Philadelphia's state, they surely wouldn't like having to rely on the cow pastures in Northumberland county for their state's main revenue source.

I just think people need to appreciate what's here. Get out of Scranton for a while. Get out of Snyder County for a while. Experience both side of the debate and then evaluate it separately.

And P.S., not only did I move to Philadelphia, I went to Temple University and lived in the hood. And no one I knew got killed. I don't suspect any of you would, either. Unless you're in the drug business.

Excellent post! I'm from the central part of the state (but plan on moving to Philadelphia next year) and disdain the anti-Philadelphia knuckle-dragging mentality that permeates this part of the state.