Topic: Government spending

Separation of Church and State applies to the spending of our tax dollars

By Rev. Charles Moreland | August 13, 2008 |

It’s common knowledge that the taxes we pay are necessary to support our military, social services, social security, education, police and fire services, legislative salaries, teacher salaries, and myriad other programs. Our infrastructure, the basic facilities and installations on the continuance and growth of a community depends on and is driven by the taxes we pay. Taxes are essential, and on that, everyone agrees.

Periodically we need to investigate how our taxes are being spent and the organizations that are being supported by our taxes. It is our duty and responsibility to pay our taxes but also our obligation to not just request but demand and expect accountability. It is our duty to demand publication of who receives our taxes, and those religious organizations receiving tax dollars for their ministries must be expected to keep within the laws that guide how tax dollars are expended. «Read the rest of this article»

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Local government puts beauty before protection

By Scott Beasley | July 18, 2008 |

For several years now I have noticed the subpar pay that the Clarksville Police and Firefighters have received. In the past, I have done little more than shake my head and think, “that’s pathetic”. Recently the local leaders of Clarksville approved a budget that again, kept the city employees from getting a cost of living increase. That’s understandable in a “tight” budget year. The problem is they haven’t gotten a cost of living raise in 10 years. Even the study conducted by the city found the city employees were underpaid by $1.8 million to comparable markets. The study also found that CPD officers were underpaid by $5,000.

Of the $9.4 million budgeted for capital projects, $4.2 million were mandated by a lawsuit to bring the sidewalks into ADA compliance. That leaves $5.2 million being spent on projects such as the marina, fountain and river walk. All of these amenities are very nice and many people around the community desperately want them. That being said, there’s a huge difference between wants and needs. «Read the rest of this article»

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Missiles and Mortgages: How the Government Spends Your Tax Dollars

By Bill Larson | April 14, 2007 |

Good magazine put together a short video documentary showing how the Federal government allocates our tax dollars. It helps to highlight just how badly our national priorities are screwed up. We need to work together as a nation to refocus our government on its people, rather than the military industrial complex and the beneficiary corporations. If we can do that, this world will be a much better place.

The video is by Max Joseph, Erin Bosworth, and Ariel Shulman, with music by Tom Van Buskirk. «Read the rest of this article»

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