Our view: Inflexibility can poison the political process

State budget deliberations will continue this week, most significantly with a Monday meeting of Gov.

[Duncan]

Could that intrepid few Liberals known as the editorial board explain what a "humane" budget is? That needs to be defined and given a lucid explanation. Being humane to a great many taxpayers would be cutting spending. Sure there are opportunities to pare the $29 billions. The governor and legislature do not have to make a tax increase if they make sufficient cuts in spending. If a "humane" budget is one that takes away less money out of the citizens' pockets, that's the one for me.

[a little late]

A "humane budget" is one when Fat Eddy sits his butt down and refuses to budge.
Why is it that we cannot reduce the size of our legislature? Why is it when Pennsylvanians scream about reducing the legislature, they ignore us. We don't need 253 representatives. 70 would suffice. One for each of the 67 counties, and we'll throw in 1 extra each for Harrisburg, Pittsburg, and Philadelphia. We have 183 too many reps in Harrisburg now as it is. Get rid of them, their staff, two offices each, all the perks....problem solved.

[TaxAndSpend]

Stop the spending, we are tapped out. Can I get ahold of some bail out money to send back to pay these rediculous taxes?

[Mike Peterson]

I'm confused. Is Matthew Major an opinion page writer or press secretary for Gov. Rendell? Nice job, Matthew. You're now officially a shill for Fast Eddy.

[Doris]

Mike Peterson wrote:

I'm confused. Is Matthew Major an opinion page writer or press secretary for Gov. Rendell? Nice job, Matthew. You're now officially a shill for Fast Eddy.

The editorial board serves as propagandists for all things Liberal. Rendell is a devout Progressive, a Liberal who vigorously supported Hillary Clinton in her quest last year. He wants to boost the tax rate on income tax, and that's music to Liberal ears.

[Harry]

It does not seem to occur to M. Major and others on the editorial board that the man at the bottom of the ladder, "The Forgotten Man", is hit with all taxes: state and federal. The cumulative effect of all taxation has to be taken into account, not just those levied by the state. It would be helpful if the editorial board would make a list of all taxes that taxpayers in Franklin County are now obliged to pay. Not all citizens pay taxes. So the P.O. should indicate what percent of citizens in the county do not pay any taxes at all.

[Grumpy]

While I think that the governor and the Public Opinion are incorrect on the issues surrounding the budget the Glenn Beck apostles aren't helping good guys in any way. Loose the "forgotten man" and "progressive" labeling and start justifying your positions with original thought instead of quoting a media personality as gospel.

[AllTaxes]

Harry wrote:

It does not seem to occur to M. Major and others on the editorial board that the man at the bottom of the ladder, "The Forgotten Man", is hit with all taxes: state and federal. The cumulative effect of all taxation has to be taken into account, not just those levied by the state. It would be helpful if the editorial board would make a list of all taxes that taxpayers in Franklin County are now obliged to pay. Not all citizens pay taxes. So the P.O. should indicate what percent of citizens in the county do not pay any taxes at all.

The list only grows:
Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table
At which he's fed.

Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.

Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.

Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.

Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries, then
Tax his tears.

Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his you know what.

Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.

When he screams and hollers,
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He's good and sore.

Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid.

Put these words
upon his tomb,
"Taxes drove me
to my doom..."

When he's gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax.
++++++++++

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax

Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax

Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax

Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax

Food License Tax,
Fuel permit tax

Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)
Hunting License Tax

Inheritance Tax
Interest expense

Inventory tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax

Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax

Medicare Tax
Property Tax

Real Estate Tax
Service charge taxes

Social Security Tax (Thank Clinton )
Road usage taxes

Sales Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax

School Tax
State Income Tax

State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone federal excise tax
Telephone federal universal service fee tax
Telephone federal, state and local surcharge taxes
Telephone minimum usage surcharge tax
Telephone recurring and non-recurring charges tax
Telephone state and local tax
Telephone usage charge tax
Utility Taxes

Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax

Watercraft registration Tax
Well Permit Tax

Workers Compensation Tax

COMMENTS: Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago,
and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.
We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class
in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What happened?

[Edwin]

Grumpy wrote:

While I think that the governor and the Public Opinion are incorrect on the issues surrounding the budget the Glenn Beck apostles aren't helping good guys in any way. Loose the "forgotten man" and "progressive" labeling and start justifying your positions with original thought instead of quoting a media personality as gospel.

So you watch Beck's show on TV. The Progressive label is one preferred by Liberals who aschew the word "Liberal". Hillary Clinton said that she is a Progressive during her campaign. Perhaps your knowledge of Progressivism can be expanded if you'll read more. If you do not believe Rendell is also a Progressive, then offer your "original thought" to make your case.

[Dave]

So Edwin, are you a regressive? Regress to What? The spending of Bush & the Republicans?

If we are to regress, perhaps we should regress to the late 90's when we had a surplus & the economy was good. But hey, Edwin, that would mean adjusting the income tax tables back to where they were & ending the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan. OMG - redistribution of wealth!!!

BTW, a Humane budget is one where we do not make cuts that will hurt the population. Cuts in services to those caught up in the recession. Cuts to education. Cuts to other services that people depend on. Cutting someone's unemployment benefits off or denying them medical care or food stamps causes much more pain to those effective than an extra $25 bucks a month out of your wallet. So please, don't compare the two.

It is ignorant to think that we can get by on cuts alone. Income is down & expenses are up - all due to the recession.

Matt is right. We need both parties to sacrifice & get the budget done.

[Barry]

Dave wrote:

So Edwin, are you a regressive? Regress to What? The spending of Bush & the Republicans?
If we are to regress, perhaps we should regress to the late 90's when we had a surplus & the economy was good. But hey, Edwin, that would mean adjusting the income tax tables back to where they were & ending the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan. OMG - redistribution of wealth!!!
BTW, a Humane budget is one where we do not make cuts that will hurt the population. Cuts in services to those caught up in the recession. Cuts to education. Cuts to other services that people depend on. Cutting someone's unemployment benefits off or denying them medical care or food stamps causes much more pain to those effective than an extra $25 bucks a month out of your wallet. So please, don't compare the two.
It is ignorant to think that we can get by on cuts alone. Income is down & expenses are up - all due to the recession.
Matt is right. We need both parties to sacrifice & get the budget done.

Dave are you ever going to give up the blame Bush crap?

Democrats took over Cpngress in 2006 - and since Jan 2007 they are the ones who have written every spending bill and approved every cent in federal spending

Reid and Pelosi lied about cutting pork, lied about going back to Paygo, lied about draining the swamp of corruption, and lied about cutting perks

Yet everytime I turn around, when confronted with theses facts and Obama's insane excessive spending - they want to talk about Bush

Is this the change you were talking about Dave? You will change the subject when you can't defend Obama and the Dem Congress?

[Jim]

Dave wrote:

So Edwin, are you a regressive? Regress to What? The spending of Bush & the Republicans?
If we are to regress, perhaps we should regress to the late 90's when we had a surplus & the economy was good. But hey, Edwin, that would mean adjusting the income tax tables back to where they were & ending the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan. OMG - redistribution of wealth!!!
BTW, a Humane budget is one where we do not make cuts that will hurt the population. Cuts in services to those caught up in the recession. Cuts to education. Cuts to other services that people depend on. Cutting someone's unemployment benefits off or denying them medical care or food stamps causes much more pain to those effective than an extra $25 bucks a month out of your wallet. So please, don't compare the two.
It is ignorant to think that we can get by on cuts alone. Income is down & expenses are up - all due to the recession.
Matt is right. We need both parties to sacrifice & get the budget done.

Dave the Lib, did you make up the term: Regressive. Have not seen that used and do not believe there is, or ever was, a Regressive Movement in America. Perhaps you can enlighten.
Beyond that the remainder of your post is the usual claptrap that you offer daily.

[Pat]

Dave wrote:

So Edwin, are you a regressive? Regress to What? The spending of Bush & the Republicans?
If we are to regress, perhaps we should regress to the late 90's when we had a surplus & the economy was good. But hey, Edwin, that would mean adjusting the income tax tables back to where they were & ending the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan. OMG - redistribution of wealth!!!
BTW, a Humane budget is one where we do not make cuts that will hurt the population. Cuts in services to those caught up in the recession. Cuts to education. Cuts to other services that people depend on. Cutting someone's unemployment benefits off or denying them medical care or food stamps causes much more pain to those effective than an extra $25 bucks a month out of your wallet. So please, don't compare the two.
It is ignorant to think that we can get by on cuts alone. Income is down & expenses are up - all due to the recession.
Matt is right. We need both parties to sacrifice & get the budget done.

Really weak. Sophomoric invention, regressive, in a feeble attempt to put up an argument so his obsession with Bush can be posted.
This guy embarasses Liberals.

[James Jones]

Dave wrote:

So Edwin, are you a regressive? Regress to What? The spending of Bush & the Republicans?
If we are to regress, perhaps we should regress to the late 90's when we had a surplus & the economy was good. But hey, Edwin, that would mean adjusting the income tax tables back to where they were & ending the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan. OMG - redistribution of wealth!!!
BTW, a Humane budget is one where we do not make cuts that will hurt the population. Cuts in services to those caught up in the recession. Cuts to education. Cuts to other services that people depend on. Cutting someone's unemployment benefits off or denying them medical care or food stamps causes much more pain to those effective than an extra $25 bucks a month out of your wallet. So please, don't compare the two.
It is ignorant to think that we can get by on cuts alone. Income is down & expenses are up - all due to the recession.
Matt is right. We need both parties to sacrifice & get the budget done.

There is enough fat in Philadelphia alone to balance the budget. The place is infested with porch dwellers with their fistsfull of ACCESS cards, food stamps, free day care, and up until this year a free pass to SSVC for their offspring. The taxpayers have had it with the puke libs(Dave) and their ilk. NO MORE TAXES!!

[Barry]

James Jones wrote:

<quoted text>There is enough fat in Philadelphia alone to balance the budget. The place is infested with porch dwellers with their fistsfull of ACCESS cards, food stamps, free day care, and up until this year a free pass to SSVC for their offspring. The taxpayers have had it with the puke libs(Dave) and their ilk. NO MORE TAXES!!

Sounds like the perfect budget created liberal Democrat stronghold

The more dependent on government - the more loyal Democrat voters

I have a bumber sticker that sums it up perfectly

"Vote Democrat - It is Easier Then Working"

[peckerheads]

James Jones wrote:

<quoted text>There is enough fat in Philadelphia alone to balance the budget. The place is infested with porch dwellers with their fistsfull of ACCESS cards, food stamps, free day care, and up until this year a free pass to SSVC for their offspring. The taxpayers have had it with the puke libs(Dave) and their ilk. NO MORE TAXES!!

Right. fed up. That is why an overwhelming majority of the american people voted for Obama. Sore losers, got no power in the house or senate, just sit there and whine. GOOD ON ALL OF YOU PUKE NEOCON FAILURES!! Time to puke up what you gluttons swallowed for the last 8 years! So eat it!!

[Ruby]

Read the front-page AP story in today's P.O., "New light shed on lawmakers' secretive grants". Reporter Marc Levy tells that both Democrat and Republican Pennsylvania lawmakers are culpable. Some areas of the state got larger amounts of taxpayers' money than others in grants delivered by their senators or representatives. Of course, Philadelphia got one-forth of the total grant money and even though it constitutes only 12% of the state's population.

[Close everything]

So Mr. Major...Are you for or against the closing of SSVC. Either you want spending cut or you don't. You spoke out against the closure of SSVC yet now you are saying we need to reduce spending. Which side of your mouth are you talking out of today?

[Barry]

Close everything wrote:

So Mr. Major...Are you for or against the closing of SSVC. Either you want spending cut or you don't. You spoke out against the closure of SSVC yet now you are saying we need to reduce spending. Which side of your mouth are you talking out of today?

I doubt if Mr Majors will answer you. With most liberals in the media, they consider themselves above talking directly to the unwashed masses

Since the election, Mr Majors opeds have moved much frther to the left. perhaps Matt is bucking for a job with the Washington Post or NY Times

Being a liberal, he must really hate having to live in this area and this is his SOS to his fellow liberals in the media

[James Jones]

peckerheads wrote:

<quoted text>
Right. fed up. That is why an overwhelming majority of the american people voted for Obama. Sore losers, got no power in the house or senate, just sit there and whine. GOOD ON ALL OF YOU PUKE NEOCON FAILURES!! Time to puke up what you gluttons swallowed for the last 8 years! So eat it!!

Based on your use of the English language it would suggest that you were educated at SSVC. "got no education,but good on youens too!"