http://www.backseatbudgeter.com/forums/3.aspxenCommunityServer 2008.5 SP2 (Debug Build: 40407.4157)http://www.backseatbudgeter.com/forums/thread/26.aspxTue, 15 Mar 2011 03:34:17 GMT01f1ed31-2bc4-4583-bdbd-4a3f947fa0f1:26Hudson Haley0http://www.backseatbudgeter.com/forums/thread/26.aspxhttp://www.backseatbudgeter.com/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=3&PostID=26<p>I agree with just about all you have articulated, here.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div>http://www.backseatbudgeter.com/forums/thread/25.aspxSat, 12 Mar 2011 16:08:43 GMT01f1ed31-2bc4-4583-bdbd-4a3f947fa0f1:25Jake0http://www.backseatbudgeter.com/forums/thread/25.aspxhttp://www.backseatbudgeter.com/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=3&PostID=25<p>My approach to the budget issue is long term sustainability.&nbsp; Too many things we do now only benefit a few, are short-sighted or a combination of both.</p> <p>First is the tax code -- the tax code that benefits the wealthy.&nbsp; We need to be realistic that increasing taxes on the revenue side is necessary.&nbsp; This means increasing taxes on those who can most afford it, and from corporations who have benefited from current energy and military policy.&nbsp;&nbsp; Since I don&#39;t use euphemisms here, I mean eliminating tax breaks, subsidies, and corporate welfare, as well as adjustments to the rates for income levels.</p> <p>Our education must be top-notch in Colorado.&nbsp; Our K-12 public schools need to be teaching the engineers, and scientists of the future.&nbsp; Our public schools and rural colleges needs to stay well-funded, and probably increase.&nbsp; We do not need to keep increasing funding to our large state universities, as they already have the tools.&nbsp; If anything, our state universities need to scale back athletic departments and focus on education.</p> <p>To have successful education, we need healthy children.&nbsp; We must have a caring attitude that all people in Colorado deserve health, and deserve a sustainable health care system.&nbsp; Our health care costs are rising, due to the unsustainable economic model of a for-profit health care industry.&nbsp; We need a new approach such as cooperatives and single payer models.</p> <p>Our corrections system is based on an antiquated, revenge-based punitive model.&nbsp; We need to recognise that most (not all) people in our prisons and jails have a potential to be good citizens.&nbsp; As&nbsp; a primary &#39;supplier&#39; to the correction department, we need to stop the drug war, and start thinking about the roots of drug abuse and the side effects - mental health.&nbsp; Again, I emphasise that there are truly bad people that unfortunately need to be kept from society, and this is a small percentage of the prison population. &nbsp; Our direct prison money should focus there, and have a mental health system that addresses crime.</p> <p>Finally, we need an honest conversation about growth.&nbsp; Every problem we face now has its roots in population growth.&nbsp; We need to have a discussion about whether we need new housing developments or fix the ones we have.&nbsp; We need to have honest discussions about how we treat the environment, how to live in a sustainable world, instead of a depletion model.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p><div style="clear:both;"></div>