04-16-2018, 06:16 AM
The "anti-science/anti-technology/anti-development" attitude has gotten really old, at least for me.
It's pretty clear that "most people" don't want any progress, especially if it infringes on their "country lifestyle".
Which would be fine -- if it were clearly stated as a policy (so people didn't have to waste their time/money trying to build things that aren't welcome) and if there were some way to pay the ever-increasing cost of government worker salary/benefits packages.
Somewhat (not) ironically, many people who resist progress are also elder resident homeowners -- their retirement benefits aren't taxed, and their property taxes aren't going up, so failure to expand the tax base doesn't really cost them anything extra.
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em: I'm investing in a transition to ag/tourism, because that's the only acceptable business around here, and structuring some "income stripping" to avoid the high taxes. I could make a bigger contribution to the economy, but it's not worth the fight.
It's pretty clear that "most people" don't want any progress, especially if it infringes on their "country lifestyle".
Which would be fine -- if it were clearly stated as a policy (so people didn't have to waste their time/money trying to build things that aren't welcome) and if there were some way to pay the ever-increasing cost of government worker salary/benefits packages.
Somewhat (not) ironically, many people who resist progress are also elder resident homeowners -- their retirement benefits aren't taxed, and their property taxes aren't going up, so failure to expand the tax base doesn't really cost them anything extra.
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em: I'm investing in a transition to ag/tourism, because that's the only acceptable business around here, and structuring some "income stripping" to avoid the high taxes. I could make a bigger contribution to the economy, but it's not worth the fight.