Economic Opportunity Institute: Citizens need long-term investment from the state
http://washingtonpolicywatch.org/
Thats why our government doesnt and shouldnt exist to turn a profit. It exists to build long-term value in people. And thats why our legislators should persist in making public investments that benefit the public as a whole.
Those averse to that idea will commonly say the state doesnt have any money, despite the fact that personal income in Washington has grown by $50 billion since 2009. Thats about $7,500 per resident but since almost all of the gains have gone to the top 1 percent, most people are no better off. Washingtons tax system doesnt touch the income of the most privileged, so even though our family income has increased dramatically, our state doesnt have sufficient funds for schools, roads, social services and other important investments.
We should challenge our state leaders to prioritize long-term investments, by asking those who have benefited the most from soaring incomes to pay their fair share toward a better future. Otherwise were looking at more of the same bad choices: increased class sizes, more college tuition increases, and additional park closures, to name just a few. That approach only digs a deeper long-term hole for us all, as hope and economic opportunity are lost for a generation or more of our citizens.
Put another way: we can either insist that our leaders repair and rebuild the ladder of opportunity that defines the American Dream, or we can let them pull the ladder up. If we want our children and grandchildren to have opportunities like or even better than we had, then we have to fund our public structures and services now. As the budget debate heats up, thats the real bottom line for our legislators, our residents, our state and our future.