BREWER: Those Opposing Tax-Hike "in Denial."

The Arizona Republic today reported that Gov. Jan Brewer said lawmakers opposing a tax hike are in denial of the severity of the state's fiscal crisis, she urged legislators from both parties to rally behind her "budget-rescue plan."


The American Conservative Republican respectfully disagrees with the governor, lawmakers are not "in denial" of the severity of the fiscal crisis, they just disagree with the governor's solution of a temporary tax hike.


There are some very good reasons why members of the legislature may disagree with Brewer. The state government of Arizona may be hurting and in a financial crisis because of the recession , however, the taxpayer is also hurting and many are themselves suffering a financial crisis caused by the recession.


Is it right that government empties the pocket of the taxpayer to help solve its financial crisis simply because, it can? Kings once had such power to tax, now they don't and the people elect legislators to represent their interest.


Taxes are the price we pay for civilization. If we want a government to protect our rights and provide those things that we can't do ourselves, we must pay for it. Nobody likes taxes, but people are willing to pay them, if taxes become overly burdensome however, taxes should be cut and the size and scope of government should be reduced to what the taxpayer can pay for without depriving and hurting their own families.


The average citizen doesn't have the time to study the intricacies of the state budget. The determination of the balance between the amount of government and how much to tax is the duty of the people's elected representatives. If the citizen disagrees with their elected representatives, they have the power to replace them. To throw the responsibility of making the difficult decision of a tax hike to the ballot, where the spending special interest would dominate the debate, would be a dereliction of duty by the people's representatives.


The legislature should have the power to cut the size of government down to what the people can easily afford, however, if we have to hike taxes to pay for the essential services that the people need, then do it and the people will let their representatives know on election day if they agree or not.

Bob Haran,

American Conservative Republican