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Nov

1

Politicians Pandering to Elderly for Votes

November 1, 2005 |

“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the results that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by dictatorship.”
–Alexander Fraser Tytler, 18th century historian

Now, I know nobody wins any popularity contests by suggesting that elderly don’t deserve a break. But this is crap. You see, in a county with a high percentage of elderly, judging which way the wind blows is a politicians life’s work, and that’s precisely why County Councilman Ed Kress is proposing various ways of enabling those over 65 to cut their property tax bill. Of course, this comes at the expense of everyone else, and will be added to a break that already those over age 60 get a 35% reduction.

Now, it is that point precisely that sticks firmly in my craw. You see, those over 65 have for most of their lives as a majority, voted for the garbage government we’ve been getting served. When we look at this region — its business and consumer unfriendly practices — its high taxes and vastly bloated governments in the midst of more and more people and businesses fleeing the region for greener pastures — we ought to thank many of these elderly for voting it into existence. Indeed, we all have heard that Allegheny County is the oldest county 2nd to Dade County — the elephant graveyard of Florida. These are the voters who keep the same old garbage in power.

So, while I feel badly for elderly who got themselves into this mess with high tax bills, this is also merely payback for their own - let’s be blunt - STUPIDITY. You know, there was never a free lunch - yet these old suckers bought political promise and handout readily, election after election. Just pull the lever, and vote how your union, your precinct chief, etc. told you to vote. (Although, in defense of the oldest members, I know personally that my grandfather - a steelworker in town - was threatened by the local democrat / union (one and the same) establishment for not voting democrat like a good lackey…. Wave that flag, everyone. God Bless America… What a sham!)

So, today this does not sit well with me, now that they are — by keeping the Kress’s and the Rendell’s (property tax reform) of the world in power, in a form of quid-pro-quo, shifting the tab for their irresponsibility and mistakes — for the free lunch entitlements they enjoyed — onto younger regional residents, while also supporting politicians that will defer this mess onto the more prudent and less self-serving rural population..

So, ordinarily such a tax bills might finally get them to stop voting for more and more bloat. But politicians know how to milk this system for all its worth. You’ll always have opportunists who will send the tab to a less organized minority.

Such is the rule of law in mobocracy… So much for the esteemed republic. Thanks, Granny and Gramps.


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