- During her six years as mayor of Wasilla, she increased general government expenditures by more than 33 percent.
- During those same six years, the amount of taxes collected by the city increased by 38 percent.
- She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a regressive sales tax, which taxed even food.
- The tax cuts that she promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more than they benefited residents.
- The huge increases in tax revenue during her mayoral administration weren't enough to fund everything on her wish list, though — borrowed money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt but left it with indebtedness of more than $22 million.
In her tenure as mayor she tried to have several books banned from the public library. When the librarian refused, Governor Palin tried to have her fired. Thankfully, the rest of the town did not support Palin in this endeavor and she was unsuccessful. I haven't been able to find a list of the books she supposedly wanted banned, due to religious reasons. There is a list out there but it may not be entirely accurate. I have to say I thought of Jonah Goldberg and chuckled when I read this part of the story.
Help me out here, folks. I thought conservatives were about less spending, lower taxes, and reduced government in people's lives. How does the information above jibe with any of those tenets?
Reading further in the article, the answer becomes clear.
She's not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideas or compromise. As mayor, she fought ideas that weren't generated by her or her staff. Ideas weren't evaluated on their merits but on the basis of who proposed them.
Ah, now I know why they like her:)
22 comments:
The modern conservative is very much like the fascist of the 1930s and this last paragraph, regarding her intolerance of divergent points of view, perfectly illustrates this. The book banning story solidifies the simple truth that this woman should not be allowed to be a heartbeat away from the presidency.
We have barely survived 8 years of one incompetent. We will not survive another 4, should something happen to John McCain. Sarah Palin's belief system, not actual facts, guide her decisions in governing and that makes her very dangerous.
markadelphia still doesn't know the difference between fact and opinion. One fact is that I haven't seen any bullet points of obamas voting record put up here by any of you. Why don't one of you report on what the communities that obama worked in look like today?
If you read the Anchorage Daily News article on the same subject, towards the bottom, you find that Palin requested the resignations not only of the librarian, but of several other township officials because they were political appointees who openly supported her political opponent. Palin requested the resignations a few days BEFORE she assumed office, apparently for political reasons, as would be routine in ALL such situations, including in the very small town of Washington, DC. I'd think people would consider the source when Emmons claims Palin wanted to ban books.
So you linked to the book list that palin supposedly wanted banned in 1996. nice list, too bad the first harry potter book wasn't even published till 1998. You got any more opinion, rumor and innuendo you want to keep spreading around as fact?
"Why don't one of you report on what the communities that obama worked in look like today?"
I live in Chicago, sw, and you are from...? The communities Senator Obama worked in are doing much better than they were before he came in. Are they perfect? No. I am sad to report that a liberal can actually succeed at something. I'm sure it keeps you up nights.
I've been to where he has worked and done legal work there. The people there honestly feel there community is a better place because of Senator Obama and that is largely due to the work ethic and sense of individual responsibility he helped to instill in them. Aren't these the values your side regularly eschews? While Obama was there he also told the residents there to not count on any help from the government. Isn't that also a good thing according to your side?
Also, correct me if I am wrong but didn't Mark say the book list MAY be inaccurate. I would like to know what books she wanted banned, sw, and so should you.
It sounds to me like he does know the difference, sw. He put a list of facts regarding her time as mayor and how she handled economic matters. She did try to have books banned from the library.
How exactly is this opinion?
Well truthgirl, as long as they feel things are better that's good enough huh? Feeling? I live in Minnesota by the way. Don't tell amrkadelphia that obama is going to neglect inner cities, he may not like that.
Now markadelphia is criticizing government expenditures? He advocates government expenditures as the solutions to problems all the time on this blog. Numerous times he has whined about people not paying their fair share in taxes and now he is using that fact that a government collected more taxes AGAINST somebody? Thanks for the laugh. Anyone else here catch those 2 whoppers? Talk about flipping back and forth when it is convenient for him to do so. Of course large corporate property benefited from the property tax cuts that happened up there - they pay more property taxes in the first place. When you cut taxes, the people who pay the most get the most cut.
Well it is nice to know that markadelphia and sara are now against increases in government expenditures and against increases in taxes collected by governments. Any other liberals on here want to come out against those 2 things now that it is convenient for you to do so? Didn't think so.
A simple Google search by any of you would show that the bogus Sarah Palin Banned Book List is almost an exact copy-and-paste reproduction of a generic list of “Books Banned at One Time or Another in the United States” that has been floating around the Internet for years. I'm sure this is one of those Real Issues you all want people to focus on right? June Pinell-Stephens, chairwoman of the Alaska Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee since 1984, checked her files Wednesday and came up empty-handed. Pinell-Stephens also had no record of any phone conversations with Emmons about the issue back then. Emmons was president of the Alaska Library Association at the time.
Boy, everyone is really up in arms about that police commissioner, Walt Monegan.
Besides the fact that police commissioners serve at the behest of the executive leadership and can be replaced w/o cause just like those 90+ attorneys fired by the Clinton administration, why would you want to retain a commissioner like Monegan who fails to deal w/ staff like Wooten; drunks w/ criminal issues who’d even taser their own kid? I know liberals are not known for their business acumen, but do you actually find that type of employee desirable?
Quoting genius Victor Davis-Hanson:
“Sarah Palin is the emblem of what feminism was supposed to be all about: an unafraid, independent, audacious woman, who soared on her own merits without the aid of a patriarchal jumpstart, high-brow matrimonial tutelage and capital, and old-boy liaisons and networking.” What's not to like about a true gov't outsider to really shake things up?
…can’t say I’ve read about her tax policy, but if she’s in favor of a usage tax like you say over traditional progressive taxes, well, I just like her all the more. If you familiarize yourself w/ conservative tax policy, you’d discover that tax revenue collected is not necessarily a bad thing. Investigation will show that reduced rates actually produce greater tax revenue.
On another note, one must note your comment about Sarah Palin not showing tolerance for other viewpoints. Not that I think she’s particularly tolerant; I don’t know enough about her to say one way or another, though she does seem quite firm in her convictions. But that this comment is used at all is pretty silly since Obama is an picture of uncompromising intolerance to any view outside of his own; particularly in comparison to McCain. McCain has an entire career to reference in regards to working w/ people of diverse backgrounds and opinions; working with them in direct conflict to his own base. Not only can Obama not claim anything remotely close to that type of bipartisan workmanship, he can’t lay claim to even partisan workmanship, since what little time he’s spent in office has actually been spent trying to get out of office and into another one.
Quote of the day:
“Did you get the impression that McCain’s message was that the government needs fixing, while Obama’s message was that the country needs fixing? Quite a difference there.”
None of this stuff matters sw, sara...The Chicago Bears are back! OMG, WTF, LOLOLOLOL!!! I just bought my super bowl tickets this morning...Bears are Super Bowl bound this season!! Indianapolis better go get their shinebox!! Sure they still have a strong desire to run right up the middle for 1 yard on 3rd and 8 as well as getting those 2 point safeties but the formula could work as long as they were all born under the same astrological sign (Fish that saved Pittsburgh reference there). Monsters of the Midway rule...as long as we don't have to have a quarterback on the field!!
Regarding Now markadelphia is criticizing government expenditures? and Any other liberals on here want to come out against those 2 things now that it is convenient for you to do so? Didn't think so.
SW, I think he is simply trying to point out that may not be as conservative most fiscal conservatives want her to be.
Palin is obviously a phenomenal and bright woman who is admirable and inspiring. But I cannot ignore the fact that Republican Party has been all talk of fiscal responsibility and no action for years. Did you know that since 1970government spending increases during Republican Presidential terms. Anyone who thinks a Republican win will bring about responsible fiscal policy is delusional.
But an aware public with focus could make real change. But public is not aware they just identify with their party and are against the other guy. From what I see in this Blog, the Democrats miss the good facts that Republicans write about and the Republicans miss the good facts the Democrats write about. Most participants desire to personally win the argument, instead of fruitful discussion.
"Most participants desire to personally win the argument, instead of fruitful discussion."
Well there IS only 1 side of any argument. Ask Markadelphia about that one. and not being tolerant of divergent viewpoints describes markadelphia perfectly, he even admitted it.
Good points, Mo.
RLD, the only thing I am intolerant of is intolerance which is more or less the chief tenet of the current Republican platform.
If that is so, why is it the case that McCain is the only one running w/ a track record of working w/ the other side?
...where would you or Obama showcase your tolerance?
In what areas will Obama work w/ Repbulicans to reach a compromise?
First of all, I think the people that are going to have the biggest problems with an Obama presidency will be on the left, not the right. We have seen this already with Jesse Jackson. Obama does not favor entitlements which would spell the end of Jesse Jackson. Life is not a free handout and if you look at Obama's record, he does not advocate a nanny government. An open working government, yes, but not one in which people are lazy and don't work.
The link I put up recently regarding Obamanomics, something I want to get back to, showcases his understanding and acceptance of some of the tenets of Milton Friedman. He taught at the Chicago school so its only fitting that some of those ideas would rub off on him.
You can also see this in his health care plan. It does not go as far as the left would like (not mandatory, not single payer). So there's another area.
He wants to reduce abortions in this country and has actually done something about it through education programs that he has supported which have reduced abortions nation wide by around 13 percent.
He is against gay marriage but for civil unions.
He favors increasing faith based initiatives in this country.
He was in favor of the Vitter amendment which said that the government, in a time of crisis, can't come into your home and seize your weapons.
Those are just a few things off the top of my head and I am with him on all of them.
yeah but what legislation has he passed so far? What republicans has he worked with to get legislation passed into law?
Fair enough; there's your list. But, of this list, how has he acted on any of it? We all know that he's produced no meaningful legislation. Does he at least have votes cast in favor of bipartisan issues such as these on your list? I don't know, but I suspect not. And if I'm correct in that suspicion, is blind faith appropriate when electing the leader of the free world?
SW, I would point to the Vitter amendment and the GI Bill of Jim Webb's, which had broad Republican support.
I would also point to his work with Richard Lugar regarding tracking loose nukes. Not a hugely controversial bill that passed on a voice only vote but still something I think should be recognized as Obama said he learned a lot from Lugar on their travels and in composing the legislation.
Dave, you can join Karl Rove in thinking that the loose nuke legislation was unimportant. I find this odd considering the weight you place on national security. I think the GI bill and Vitter (votes cast by Obama) represent shared ideals with Republicans values as all of us want to give our troops the most we can for their service and no one in this country should have their means of protecting themselves taken away by the government.
Rounding up loose nukes is important (was nothing being done about it before this??) but it's also so obvious that it only took a voice vote and made the Congressional Record only as a footnote. It's like a bill banning the clubbing of baby seals. Who's going to oppose that? The point is, something that easy is just show and shouldn't have the weight for one to actually claim it as a feather in their cap.
"But I cannot ignore the fact that Republican Party has been all talk of fiscal responsibility and no action for years. Did you know that since 1970government spending increases during Republican Presidential terms. Anyone who thinks a Republican win will bring about responsible fiscal policy is delusional."
You are correct that they have not been fiscally responsible even when the platform is fiscal responsibility. HOWEVER, the big difference is that while the Republicans have not been controlling spending well, they at least understand economic principles of lowering taxes to increase revenue with more favorable economic environment. Democrats have no such understanding and tend to run along socialistic lines which has proven to retard growth and economic development.
Basic Economics:
Raising taxes on businesses and disenchanting the entrepreneurs/innovators reduces the overall tax revenue by stifling growth.
There is no doubt that both parties are causing this government bloat but the Democrats continue to push for more government intervention and all should recognize that government does nothing efficiently - ever! You can look at the post office or Amtrack as an example.
Why would anyone get behind a party that wants government to create more of a mess?
6Kings, The Republican Party has participated in too much Government Intervention too.
Example, June of 2002, The Bush Administration expanded HUD
Read this link for the details
http://www.policyalmanac.org/social_welfare/archive/wh_minority_housing.shtml
The above intervention is a factor in the current mortgage crises. The Bush administration wants to fix it with another intervention, Bailing Bear Stearns, Freddie & Fannie.
Ironically, extensive deregulation in the lending industry is a factor in the mortgage crises as well. There was a time when banks could not lend to someone who did not have 20% down and specific income requirements.
So, both parties have flaws and I wouldn't be completely identified by either. I hate when people completely identify with a political party. Instead of being informed voters, we have become cheerleaders of a team and that team loyalty is fogging our vision and judgement.
No shit, MO. Well said. I have a laundry list full of complaints about Democrats. People call me a liberal but I don't really think of myself as one at all.
Isn't it true that when Clinton was in office you used to source the Drudge Report and beat up on Clinton? I thought you were a Conservative. I have seen a departure from that.
No, that wasn't me. I have a fairly positive view of Bill Clinton...my biggest complaint being that he should have told the right to fuck off and stay out of his personal life while attended to matters of more national importance.
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