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June 05, 2004
Litmus Test for Local Government?
One of the many newsletters that I'm subscribed to comes from the OCPA (Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs). Although I don't agree with all their policy positions, a lot of the points that are brought up by this organization are thought provoking. I was reading through the veritable sea of information when I ran across this question and resulting answer.
Should Local Government Subsidize Business?
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not very sophisticated in the finer intricacies or inner workings of politics and quite honestly I don't really want to be. I've been described on more than one occasion as being a "calls them like he sees them" and "needs to be more diplomatic" type of person. Some people that know me probably have many other unprintable names for me as well.
In a free society and market economy, government should be limited to protecting people and their property while undertaking for people beneficial functions they cannot perform themselves. Government should provide for citizens what markets cannot readily supply. Thus government often provides public goods which markets would under-supply. Taxing some citizens to simply to give the money to another citizen, or equivalently to give someone a product or service at less than the market price, is not a legitimate function of the government in a free society.
To steal a phrase from my wife.... "I like what I like" and I happen to like the above answer to the question regarding local govenments subsidizing businesses. I guess thats why my comfort factor dwindles when I read news regarding giving businesses subsidies or breaks for locating here. When you throw in all the politics that are involved, my comfort factor dwindles even further.
A recent post at Batesline.com regarding the Bass Pro Shop that will be in Broken Arrow will maybe illustrate how local government and business subsidies might not be in the interest for *ALL* citizens. Unfortunately I have a lot of questions but no solutions. One thing I do know is that going to the "tax the citizen" well again and again can only go on for so long before the well runs dry.
I would like to encourage you to visit OCPA's website as well as Michael Bate's website for various points about policies that affect all of us.
Posted by webmaster at June 5, 2004 11:18 AM