Be forewarned . . . there
could be some cussin? goin? on.
I’m gonna? preface this gem of an opinion with a wee-little disclaimer to all those employed in public education. You do not have to read on; what follows is a tirade, an exercise in ranting and raving. Eggheads and those who resemble Spock, may also not get it. Being logical won’t be the order of the day. Venting will.
Don’t read on, because it won’t change your thinking, just elevate your blood pressure.
However, should you dare continue down this path, remember it is not an attack on you, just your perceptions. You’re still ‘good people,? regardless if you agree with the following emotional outburst or not.
* * *
Dear Reader, I have to get this off my Sasquatch-like chest (read: hairy).
Smackin? frackin? blizen rizen #@$&*!
Okay, I am starting to feel better.
What has got me in this frenzied state? It is the all too regular call from schools to parents that a vote is needed to increase non-homestead taxes. Non-homestead taxes being those levied on business, vacation and rental type-properties.
I hate it when school districts (and they all do it) ask their constituents to raise these ‘non-homestead? tax rates . . . well, that’s not exactly true. The law says these properties can be taxed at a certain level which is fine. I get red-faced when school districts present the tax hike as an ‘Us? versus ‘Them? mission.
Us, schools and the community together in perfect harmony (under the banner of God, and only for the kids) against Them, the local businessman and businesswoman (mean, profit-driven and often too wealthy for public good).
District literature and propaganda usually quells the voting populace’s overtaxed sensitivities with a line something like this: Successful passage of this additional millage will result in No Cost Increase to Ordinary Homeowners.
Pure and simple, the school-way of thinking is in a word: pure bunk, baloney.
(Okay, that was three words.) That’s my gripe, short and sweet. Now, I shall pontificate.
I know Gary Nustead no longer teaches economics at Clarkston High School (I don’t know why he is not, only that he isn’t), but I did have his class during second hour back in 1980. While that was way too early to listen to theories on monetary values, supply and demand, and though I barely earned a ‘C? grade from the curly haired one, (something that still irks me) I did learn about economics.
Readers, just because non-homestead millages are not levied to primary homeowners, contrary to what school districts say, they do affect all local homeowners.
What say you?
How can this be, Mr. Smarty Pants?
Read and learn, young cub ? Local businesses, the ones who pay local taxes, give to local school groups and assist local charities are the ones whose taxes will cost more. Economics 101, which I hope is still taught in schools, tells us if the cost of running a business goes up, so does the price of the goods or services that business produces.
‘Ordinary? local homeowners buy goods and services from local businesses — so if prices rise, ‘ordinary? homeowners are, in reality, affected.
And another thing ?
Let me say this, I do not own a business, I just help run this one. I was president of the Oxford Chamber of Commerce for three years and I have talked to many business owners. I am here to testify that many feel they can never object to a rise in their school taxes, nor turn away school groups hitting them up for donations, for fear of retribution.
I am going to ask, how many school districts actively promote a ‘Shop Local? campaign? How many PTOs, teachers and administrators all work together with parents to buy local goods and services, versus going to the box stores down the road in some other community?
Also, many small business owners live in the community where they do business, and as a rule, they are community-minded folks. It would be nice if only once in a while, public education employees would show appreciation and not employ the ‘Us? versus ‘Them? mentality.
Comments for the evil and obviously child-hating Rush can be e-mailed to: dontrushmedon@charter.net.