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• No New Taxes 1 By Jim Miller like to read letters to the editor was ing s.What ght her only part of the issue is addressed.If the and online comments posted about attentionreturn and prompted her tocau write decision were as simple as whether to political issues.It's not that I always was that the man was wearing a"no raise taxes,there would be no debate. find them particularly insightful, new taxes"T-shirt.She ended her letter But taxes don't exist for taxes'sake;they but I do think they offer a glimpse, with the obvious rhetorical question of are the vehicle to achieve public goals. albeit an imperfect one,into how people are reacting to the politi- where did this person think the money That said,the public's willingness and came from to build the library and buy ability to financially support govern- cal topics of the day.Granted,these the DVDs? ment services is not insatiable.The true commentaries sometimes are placed on Something similar appeared in a dif- question,then,is not only what ser- behalf of organizations or political par- ferent paper in a letter from an individ- vices do we really need and want in our ties trying to influence readers to their ual complaining about his city's recent community but,equally importantly, perspective,but often they represent a decision to assess his property for a what can we really afford? microcosm of what society is thinking, street improvement.Nothing new there, Much has been written about the unfiltered by the media's interpretation. but my eyebrows did rise when I read "new normal."While there doesn't Sometimes these responses are long his suggestion that,rather than charg- seem to be a clear definition of this and belabored attempts to bolster the ing him for this project,the city should term,there is growing consensus that author's point with details and facts, pay for it.This reflects the odd,but not the results of the economic"upheaval of closely resembling a mini legal brief uncommon,notion that somehow the the past few years will mean that many ther times they are more an expres- sion "city"is an entity apart from those who aspects of society,including which Sion of opinion with little substantiation live in it or own businesses there.And, public services we provide and how for that perspective.But,again,they are as with the man returning the DVDs, we provide them,will be appreciably nonetheless a reflection of what issues it shows the failure or unwillingness to different.If,as it certainly seems,we people care about at any one moment, associate public services with responsi- have entered a new era with prolonged and illustrate where the divide in public bility to pay for them. unemployment and slow job growth, sentiment lies. It is perhaps natural for those of us governments will need to rethink what One topic that always generates who strongly believe in the importance services they realistically can provide numerous responses and to which I of government to smirk at or ridi- and how to best pay for them. pay particular attention is the"no new cule such examples.How can anyone The new normal also means that taxes"debate that has dominated this be so naive?Can't they see the obvi- behind the rhetoric of the"no new state's politics in recent years and now ous disconnect?We conclude that such taxes"mantra is the fact that the public's has become a plank in the Tea Party's people are conveniently avoiding the appetite (and indeed,ability) to con- platform nationally.In some ways,this reality of the need for taxes to provide tinue to pay for everything cities have intense interest in the topic should not for our common good.If we are hon- conventionally done has changed,per- be surprising;paying taxes is not some- est,however,we may be as myopic as haps for good.That may not be corn- thing most people relish and the always those arguing for fewer taxes.Because pletely obvious yet,but if you have present tension between the cost of we understand the importance of pub- doubts,read the letters to the editor. providing essential government services lic services,it is easy for us not to give Recognizing this reality is an important and how to pay for them evokes strong credence to those who claim they are first step in finding the right solutions feelings and reactions. being overtaxed,but that is shortsighted to keeping our communities viable for I found one recent letter to the edi- as witnessed by the increasing number years to come.t- tor on this topic especially insight- of letters to the editor sympathetic to ful because it so succinctly captured reducing taxes. the irony surrounding this issue.In a When public policy discussions focus few short sentences,the author noted exclusively on taxes,or for that matter, Jim Miller is executive director of the ill that she was recently at her local solely on the need for public services League of Minnesota Cities.Phone: library standing behind a man who without regard to their cost impact, (651) 281-1205.E-mail:jmiller@lmc.org. S E P T E M B E R-O C T O B E R 2 0 I 0 M I N N E S O T A CITIES 3