Promises, promises…
Most politicians over-promise but under-deliver. You know the type – they come to your door telling you that they have a solution for your every woe. And even though their solutions are always costly they solemnly promise you they’ll do it all without raising your taxes.
I’m a different sort of politician, so I’m going to make you a different sort of promise.
I pledge I’ll do less for you.
What does that mean?
It means I recognize that the government’s ability to tax us – to demand our money from us – is a fearsome power that should only be used with the greatest of restraint. We need to use it less.
It means that when it’s suggested the city buy up empty warehouses and empty lots, using our tax dollars to get into the real estate business, I’m going to say, “No, we need to spend less.”
It means that when it’s suggested we raise taxes more than the rate of inflation, I’m going to say, “No, we need to get by on less.”
It means that if I’d been on council when it was first proposed the city buy Homestead and get into the business of running a recreation
center, I would have said, “No, we need to do less.”
The government simply isn’t the answer to every problem, and it certainly shouldn’t have its fingers in every pie. So instead of ever and always expanding, our government needs to do less, but do it better. That may be more obvious on the federal level, but it is just as true here in Lynden.
Most politicians over-promise but under-deliver. You know the type – they come to your door telling you that they have a solution for your every woe. And even though their solutions are always costly they solemnly promise you they’ll do it all without raising your taxes.
I’m a different sort of politician, so I’m going to make you a different sort of promise.
I pledge I’ll do less for you.
What does that mean?
It means I recognize that the government’s ability to tax us – to demand our money from us – is a fearsome power that should only be used with the greatest of restraint. We need to use it less.
It means that when it’s suggested the city buy up empty warehouses and empty lots, using our tax dollars to get into the real estate business, I’m going to say, “No, we need to spend less.”
It means that when it’s suggested we raise taxes more than the rate of inflation, I’m going to say, “No, we need to get by on less.”
It means that if I’d been on council when it was first proposed the city buy Homestead and get into the business of running a recreation
center, I would have said, “No, we need to do less.”
The government simply isn’t the answer to every problem, and it certainly shouldn’t have its fingers in every pie. So instead of ever and always expanding, our government needs to do less, but do it better. That may be more obvious on the federal level, but it is just as true here in Lynden.
Doing less, better
The government has an important but limited role, one of protection, not provision. So my priorities for council would be to focus on our primary tasks, keeping our city streets safe, in good repair, and dry!
The city can help business too, but perhaps the best way it can do that is by simply getting out of the way of business. Cities like Bellingham seem to want to do all they can to discourage businesses by bogging them down in regulations. If we cut the red tape – like we did when City Council eliminated the old 65,000-square-foot cap for businesses along the Guide Meridian – we can create an environment in which new businesses (and old!) will thrive.
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