Less Does Not Equal More

I love politics...and I love to talk/debate/argue politics.  And I generally have pretty strong opinions about politics.  But, generally, I choose not to write too much about them.  While I love having these conversations with friends and family, my role is quirky enough that I don't want to take a chance on a political view getting in the way of an important (and often ministry-based) relationship that I want to maintain.

So, all that being said, I'm going to now break my rule, though I'm going to do this in as non-partisan a way as I possibly can.

I've watched with some amazement in the past year as government has operated more and more from a scarcity mentality, instead of from an abundance mentality.  

"No new taxes.  No new fees.  The answer is to cut/reduce spending...only."

"We can stimulate the economy by cutting taxes."

Why do we really think this might work?  Has it ever?  (hint: the answer is 'no')

So now, because the state has cut funding to education, forcing school districts to rely on referendums, and when the referendums fail, my son's first grade class (which has 19 people in it this year) will have 33 next year.

I believe that you get what you pay for.  I have no problem paying taxes...even paying more than my fair share (assuming some can't pay their fair share) if it ensures a quality standard of living, which means education/health/human services/etc...  Don't get me wrong...I'm as anti-waste as anyone.  But that's not what we're talking about.  We're talking about 33 2nd graders in a class designed for 22-24 max.  We're talking about 188 teachers being cut.  We're talking about services for special education, and for early childhood education, being slashed.

Less does not equal more.  Less equals less.  It's simple.

I'd rather be about the more; and our society is definitely a culture of abundance.  Let's steward that abundance instead of acting like it needs to be defended.