City to sponsor LBGT events??? (Austin: schools, gated, office)

[atxcio]

I suppose if the city does the fee waiver for those other events, then I have no problem with them doing the same for this one.

[nickasarbata]

Umm... what's the problem? Waiving $12,000 in fees (sounds like you're not paying anything in tax dollars, they just don't have to either) in order to generate $2 million for the city? Seems like the gays are helping to boost your city, not taking your tax dollars. Like others have mentioned, it seems that your problem isn't a financial one; it's one of bigotry.

[JayBrown80]

Originally Posted by nickasarbata

it seems that your problem isn't a financial one; it's one of bigotry.

Too true. But like most bigots, they will try to wrap it in a "I am just against big goverment" smoke screen.

So, riddle me this. If these people are against big government, then they don't think citizens should have to pay taxes. The city is saying this group of citizens doesn't have to pay taxes. And these people then oppose that,....because they are against big government and taxes.

Yeah...Right.

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by nickasarbata

Umm... what's the problem? Waiving $12,000 in fees (sounds like you're not paying anything in tax dollars, they just don't have to either) in order to generate $2 million for the city? Seems like the gays are helping to boost your city, not taking your tax dollars. Like others have mentioned, it seems that your problem isn't a financial one; it's one of bigotry.

No one on this thread really has a problem with this, only the OP. And he's just a political troll, not even from Austin AFAIK. Check out one of his latest gems:

//www.city-data.com/forum/polit...clue-when.html

Bottom line, he's trying to stir up some controversy here on the Austin forum, and thus far it's not working. Pretty much everyone supports the subsidizies for this event.

[JayBrown80]

Originally Posted by mimimomx3

I don't think the city of Austin should sponsor anything....except trash collection, roads and zoning.

Makes one wonder if mimiMOM has children and whether or not they go to public school. Or if she has ever gone to a hospital. Or if she likes having 911 services, and police officers, and firemen, and....etc etc etc. Darn big government taking all of our rights away. Trying to promote the general welfare of it's citizens. IT'S DOWNRIGHT UNCONSTITUTIONAL!

oh wait.....

[SIZE=4]We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.[/SIZE]

[mimimomx3]

Originally Posted by JayBrown80

Makes one wonder if mimiMOM has children and whether or not they go to public school. Or if she has ever gone to a hospital. Or if she likes having 911 services, and police officers, and firemen, and....etc etc etc. Darn big government taking all of our rights away. Trying to promote the general welfare of it's citizens. IT'S DOWNRIGHT UNCONSTITUTIONAL!

oh wait.....

[SIZE=4]We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.[/SIZE]

No, they don't attend government schools.

Yes, I use the fire, police, 911, wastewater, garbage collection....I pay for those out of my ever increasing property taxes. I also pay for 'light rail', empty capmetro buses, six figure salaries for all kinds of city and county 'officials' and parades for everyone. I have been to the hospital, and I've paid for it in cash and through my insurance program, that I work to pay for.

Did you skip the part where I posted that I was against tax subsidies for the Domain and other private businesses.

Thanks for quoting the Constitution, but I'm always a little leery when socialists quote the Constitution- kind of like asking burglars about bank security.

[FueledByBlueBell]

I totally support it because (and I'm generalizing here) this demographic contributes to the "creative class" which brings arts, restaurants, events, and businesses that help make cities appealing. Look at cities with large LGBT populations- New Orleans, NY, San Francisco, Miami, Dallas, LA-- as a whole all great cities that people want to live in. I don't see that you are living in Des Moines, Kansas City, Omaha...

[JayBrown80]

Originally Posted by mimimomx3

No, they don't attend government schools..

Okay, they don't attend "government schools" and I guess neither did you? Not one cent of taxpayer money has ever gone to educate you or your family? No grants? Nothing? If not, okay, at least you are not hypocritical on that issue.

Originally Posted by mimimomx3

Yes, I use the fire, police, 911, wastewater, garbage collection....I pay for those out of my ever increasing property taxes. I also pay for 'light rail', empty capmetro buses, six figure salaries for all kinds of city and county 'officials' and parades for everyone. I have been to the hospital, and I've paid for it in cash and through my insurance program, that I work to pay for...

There you would be wrong. Hospitals wouldn't EXIST without federal dollars. Do any amount of research on the subject if you wish. I can tell you from experience that EVERY hosptial recieves subsidies. Without them, they couldn't keep their doors open. You benefit from "government intervention" in thousands of unseen ways.

Now, keep in mind, if you want the government to tax you less, but also lessen the amount of benefits you recieve, then more power to you. We would simply have a difference of opinion there. But I think you are rather naive to think "the government doesn't help me!! Everything I recieve I pay cash for or support with my taxes!!"

First, if you support it with your taxes, then you are contributing to a social program. Second, you aren't very smart if you think the amount you have paid in taxes over the entire course of your life comes even CLOSE to the amount that the government has returned to you. In the seen and the unseen; roads, hospitals, the FDA, the very internet you are using to unload your opinions, the infrastructure that supports your life cost the government BILLIONS upon BILLIONS. And you, me, and every other American gets to benefit from it because we shared the cost.

It's one thing to say "I think I am taxed too much". It's another thing to say "I am taxed too much, BUT I still want to live in a 1st world country and have TVs and DVD players and Cars and roads and an American standard of living".

And that's the problem I have with you mimimom. It's not that you are so anti-government, that's fine with me. It's that you want to return to a 3rd world way of life. You want America to go back to the way it was in the 1800's. Where there were no social programs, and no american infrastructure. Where people died of tuberculosis. Where you didn't have a home unless you knew how to build a log cabin. Where the police were corrupt. Where if you had a run of bad luck and your corn crop died, then your family starved thru the winter.

And in your arrogance, you assume that your "work ethic" would spare you this fate. Hell, if the government went away, you would be sitting pretty. Because you are so much better than all these lazy people that depend on the government. You are under the false impression that everything you have you earned on your own. And while I am sure you work hard for your lifestyle, don't delude yourself into thinking that you did all that without any help. You were basically born on third base, and are convinced you hit a triple.

Originally Posted by mimimomx3

Did you skip the part where I posted that I was against tax subsidies for the Domain and other private businesses...

I did. Perhaps YOU should re-read what you wrote. And I Quote...

I don't think the city of Austin should sponsor anything....except trash collection, roads and zoning.

Your words, not mine. If you want to go to those extremes, fine. But don't cry because someone challenges you on them. When someone challenges you on your extremism, then you change your tune and say you were only talking about PRIVATE businesses. If you would read I specifically mentioned schools, the fire department, and the police department. None of these are private buisness. They are public. And they were not included on your list of instituions worthy of tax dollars. So you didn't say you were only against subsidies for private buisness. See!! I can read.

Originally Posted by mimimomx3

Thanks for quoting the Constitution, but I'm always a little leery when socialists quote the Constitution- kind of like asking burglars about bank security.

And then we hit the typical anti-government, jingoist response. I suppose being a socialist means you can't be an American? That is what you are saying. That being socialist is anti-thetical to being American. So, you are one of those people that thinks if anyone disagrees with you, they are unpatriotic? Are you like Sarah Palin? Only concerned with "those pockets of what I like to call Real America". So, because I love my neighbor, I don't love my country? Get a new rap mimimom. The "if you don't agree with me, you aren't patriotic" argument doesn't hold water.

I love America, I wish it would do better in some respects, but I also recognize that I have one of the best qualities of life as any human being has had in the history of the planet. And I, unlike you, respect the fact that my government had a hand in providing that for me.

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by FueledByBlueBell

I totally support it because (and I'm generalizing here) this demographic contributes to the "creative class" which brings arts, restaurants, events, and businesses that help make cities appealing. Look at cities with large LGBT populations- New Orleans, NY, San Francisco, Miami, Dallas, LA-- as a whole all great cities that people want to live in. I don't see that you are living in Des Moines, Kansas City, Omaha...

Your generalization is just that. A large LGBT population doesn't make those cities desirable any more than a hundred other things. You seem to assume that many want to live in LA or Miami. Just because 5M live in LA doesn't mean many more want to live there.

I have no problem with incentives (which I think is a better phrase than subsidies in this case) for a LGBT event. In my view it is good business. It sends a message - considered good by most (but not all) in Austin. If the KKK wanted to host an event that generated $2M I think I would strongly oppose. But otherwise I am no more concerned about the creative class than I am any other.

[passionatearts]

Originally Posted by mimimomx3

$12,000 is a lot of money, as are the Domain subsidies.

Suggesting that the city's waiving of $12,000 in fees for a one-time event is tantamount to the city offering millions of dollars in tax subsidies for a multi-million dollar building project is absolutely ridiculous.

$12,000 really isn't that much money for a city with a multi-million dollar budget like Austin's. I don't think that subsidizing an event like this is a "slippery slope" to "socialism" any more than the city sponsoring events like SXSW.