Where’s The Leadership In North Dakota?
The Bismarck Tribune of Feb. 16, 2008 carried this front page article; Tax-cut petition close to its goal by J. Rivoli of the Tribune. The taxpayer advocacy group Americans for Prosperity have gathered some 10,000 signatures of the needed 13,000 to get the proposal on the ballot as an initiated measure to cut personal income tax by 50 percent and corporate taxes by 15 percent.
The article lists a number of people--officials of government, legislators and advocacy groups who oppose this cut in taxes all giving vague and non-specific reasons. The question is whether a majority of voters will see this as money for their pocket and vote accordingly. Why should they not? They are aware that the State is accumulating a sizable amount of money in the treasury, which is characterized as a windfall in some quarters, in spite of set-asides for various funds--a surplus in plain words. They are also aware of the world demand for energy and of the oil boom that is in progress in western ND; it holds the potential and the promise for huge surpluses for years to come. Again why should they not vote themselves a portion of the money? Vague statements saying the initiated measure could have long term consequences or that it could cause other tax increases do not appear to be satisfactory explanations. What consequences? What taxes could increase?
Where is the Vision for North Dakota? What is the proposed use for the revenue surplus that is building in the ND treasury? It is a given that some of it will be used to assist counties and localities that have adverse effects on roads, infrastructure and services due to oil and other energy activity. These are things that must be done. Then what? Will we watch the spectacle as the State funded agencies descend upon the money tree? What is the defense to hold them to reasonable and responsible requests when the treasury is full?
At a time when the State of North Dakota has real money to invest in the future in a way that will bring continuing benefits to all localities, there is an absence of ideas, an absence of direction, an absence of vision. The central one-third of our state plus much of the southwest is diminishing, they are depopulating and the towns are dying. We bemoan the losses of family farms--what of the towns, the county seats, the schools, the services? Do we watch as helpless bystanders? Even now that we have the ability and the means to do something about it?
North Dakota stands at the threshold of opportunity. The energy industry in ND will grow of its own accord to satisfy national energy demands. The energy sector can become the source of revenue to foster the growth and investment for the long term for all areas of our state. The opportunity is upon us. Where is the vision? Where is the leadership?
Rusty
robert108
nunez
QueenZel
ellinas
thetodd