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LittleLightShining
02-12-2010, 02:42 PM
The ancaps have been helping me with some political activism :) We haven't been sitting around for 2 days bashing the Constitution. We've been crafting a pointed message to the VT legislature to limit the size and scope of government. This started as a local project, I shared the idea with MsD, others got involved and I think it turned out great.

This message will be sent to almost 600 Vermonters today. That doesn't include a similar email blasted out from the VT C4L interim State coordinator. I'm damn proud of this and I hope it inspires people to take a look at some of the ridiculous things your states are spending money on and taking a pro-active approach to changing it.

This is a prime example of political activism that can appeal to minarchists and ancaps alike. Not all political activism is electoral in nature.


Last April we came together as a united voice to tell the legislature “No new taxes, we’re taxed enough already.” Since that time our pleas have gone unrecognized. We have in front of us right now an opportunity to say it again. This time we have to be much more direct in what we mean when we say this. We can’t argue “no new taxes” unless spending is reduced. I’m offering a letter below, a collaborative effort from individuals across Vermont, to send a pointed message about what we mean when we say this. We have been accused of being greedy and uncaring, that if spending is reduced we will harm the “most vulnerable” people in our state. I’m asking everyone who receives this email to read and consider what is presented below. If you agree please send a copy to your legislator and the folks on the Ways and Means and Appropriations committees. Feel free to make changes as you see fit, or send it as is, but please send it. Please forward this to your friends so that they, too, can send it on if they agree with it. The legislature can’t hear us if we don’t speak up.

For liberty,

__________



**********************************************


As a citizen and tax payer of this State, I have become concerned that the Legislature is seriously considering a significant tax hike that will effect all Vermonters. I am writing to you and your colleagues to demand that before raising anyone’s taxes or fees that drastic and necessary action be taken to reduce the size of our state government and eliminate unnecessary agencies and programs. I suggest the following be considered for elimination from the current and future budgets:


Arts Council (http://www.vermontartscouncil.org/)- While a worthy undertaking in times of plenty the service the Arts Council provides is not essential.


Office of Chief Marketing Officer (http://cmo.vermont.gov/)- The purpose of this office is to market state agencies and services to other agencies and departments within the state. Why do we need an additional level of bureaucracy to assist the state in marketing itself to itself?


Office of Economic Opportunity (http://dcf.vermont.gov/oeo/) - This bureaucracy is self-perpetuating. Increasing taxes on Vermonters who are now just able to squeak by will increase the customer base this agency serves.


Department of Education (http://education.vermont.gov/)- This department has more to do with bureaucracy than it does direct education. Cut the red tape that local school boards must comply with by cutting the makers of that tape!


Elevator Board (http://www.dps.state.vt.us/fire/elevator/)- This appointed board purports to assess safety of elevators by employing an elevator manufacturer representative and an elevator service technician. Each major city has a safety inspector/housing inspector who could certify an inspection. For industrial buildings, vosha/osha can inspect. Remember, licensing doesn't equal safety.


Film Commission (http://www.vermontfilm.com/)- This a duplication of efforts in marketing and has no quantifiable benefit in terms of additional revenue brought into the state. It does, however, give a couple of people a job hob-nobbing with the Hollywood set.


Commission on the Future of Economic Development (http://www.snellingcenter.org/cfed/)- Is a "make work" project akin to those study groups and "environmental consulting" businesses that survive only by the grace of government grants.


Department of Information & Innovation (http://dii.vermont.gov/)- Do we really need to increase taxes on Vermonters in order to duplicate services already provided by the telephone companies and internet service providers?


Department of Libraries (http://libraries.vermont.gov/)- Most functions of this department can now be done for little to no cost utilizing the internet and telephone, and can easily be streamlined into an existing department.


Council on Physical Fitness & Sports (http://www.state.vt.us/gcpfs/)- Physical fitness programs are instituted in schools, and localities have various sports leagues for children and adults. Private charitable organizations often set up community runs/walks, etc. Fitness is ultimately the responsibility of the citizen.


Vermont Scenic Preservation Council (http://www.vermont-byways.us/)- How is this necessary given the number of local and state boards overseeing land use that already exist?


Department of Tourism & Marketing (http://www.vermont-byways.us/)- Tourist attractions should be encouraged to utilize other marketing endeavors which provide private sector jobs and additional tax revenue to the state. These businesses can and will survive without subsidization.


Vermont Life Magazine (http://www.vtlife.com/)- Most magazines are supported by advertising and sales.


Vermont Public Television Grant- Most television stations rely on advertising and fund raising.


The Council on the Humanities, Early Education, the numerous (and often ignored) legislative studies, and land use planning grants are more examples of luxuries that we simply cannot afford.


When families face a reduction of income due to a lay-off or cut hours they are forced to make unpleasant changes to their spending habits. Most people do not have the option of reducing their expenditures in the areas of mortgage, rent, car payment or auto insurance. Instead they cut out the little luxuries—the $2 coffee they buy on the way to work, the expanded basic cable, the new shoes, the weekly pizza night.

The State of Vermont has been micro-managing functions which belong to local government and subsidizing specific businesses and industries. Not only does this hamper the health of communities, but discourages competition and innovation. As this budget crisis indicates we can no longer attempt to pay for everything under the sun. The present course is not sustainable.


I included a list of all of the committee members and links to all of the Representatives and Senators.

fisharmor
02-12-2010, 02:53 PM
Office of Economic Opportunity? That sounds positively Orwellian.
But Jeez, even Orwell's nightmare only had three departments.

Good finds. I wonder what kind of crap goes on in VA.

MRoCkEd
02-12-2010, 03:02 PM
Good work!

LittleLightShining
02-12-2010, 03:02 PM
Office of Economic Opportunity? That sounds positively Orwellian.
But Jeez, even Orwell's nightmare only had three departments.

Good finds. I wonder what kind of crap goes on in VA.

It most certainly does. You should have something like this on your state webpage: Agency A-Z (http://www.vermont.gov/portal/government/atoz.php)

Dizzying. I mean, really these are just the tip of the iceberg.

jmdrake
02-12-2010, 03:13 PM
Wow! Good idea.

rancher89
02-12-2010, 03:16 PM
Here's NC's list

http://www.ncgov.com/NCAgency.aspx

It is quite a list.....

good job LLS

LittleLightShining
02-12-2010, 03:20 PM
Good work!Thanks :) Is it what you expected?


really? could have swore you just berated CFL all the time.See what happens when you assume? As I said to someone else earlier, this ^ is but one arrow in my quiver.


Here's NC's list

http://www.ncgov.com/NCAgency.aspx

It is quite a list.....

good job LLSThanks, rancher :)

We ALL want to decrease the size of government.

Annihilia
02-12-2010, 03:20 PM
It's ridiculous that in a state with just over 620,000 people, there seems to be a government program or service targeting every freaking niche interest. I'm wondering when they're going to just break down and create a separate department for every single citizen.

LittleLightShining
02-12-2010, 03:21 PM
It's ridiculous that in a state with just over 620,000 people, there seems to be a government program or service targeting every freaking niche interest. I'm wondering when they're going to just break down and create a separate department for every single citizen.

Bwahahaha! I think that's what the Office of Economic Opportunity is for!

rancher89
02-12-2010, 03:24 PM
I want to run the Department of Individual #1:D

disorderlyvision
02-12-2010, 03:25 PM
I think it turned out good LLS and I will have to take a look at my state. thanks for the inspiration

dannno
02-12-2010, 03:39 PM
It's ridiculous that in a state with just over 620,000 people, there seems to be a government program or service targeting every freaking niche interest. I'm wondering when they're going to just break down and create a separate department for every single citizen.

LOL, seriously..


soo... anybody want to help me w/ California :o


http://ca.gov/About/Government/agencyindex.html


......ya......

muzzled dogg
02-12-2010, 03:41 PM
good work but poorly titled chatroom

LittleLightShining
02-12-2010, 03:44 PM
good work but poorly titled chatroom

Thank you.

LittleLightShining
02-12-2010, 04:07 PM
Well, an hour and 20 minutes later my representative emails me and says the message is getting around, he's gotten the email 3 times today :D

We don't have to wait for elections to make an impact.

MelissaWV
02-12-2010, 04:18 PM
Well, an hour and 20 minutes later my representative emails me and says the message is getting around, he's gotten the email 3 times today :D

We don't have to wait for elections to make an impact.

I would almost venture to change that to "we shouldn't" ;) I've been saying that for almost as long as I've been saying anything. People tend to whine about the rules once they're playing the game, but don't take the initiative to get the rules erased or made fair before the game begins. Could you imagine if they actually took even just two or three of those suggestions, and the state became more financially healthy as a result? :D

LittleLightShining
02-12-2010, 04:22 PM
I would almost venture to change that to "we shouldn't" ;) I've been saying that for almost as long as I've been saying anything. People tend to whine about the rules once they're playing the game, but don't take the initiative to get the rules erased or made fair before the game begins. Could you imagine if they actually took even just two or three of those suggestions, and the state became more financially healthy as a result? :D:)

I have a great feeling about this. They have to cut some of this stuff.

InterestedParticipant
02-12-2010, 05:37 PM
The ancaps have been helping me with some political activism :) We haven't been sitting around for 2 days bashing the Constitution. We've been crafting a pointed message to the VT legislature to limit the size and scope of government. This started as a local project, I shared the idea with MsD, others got involved and I think it turned out great.

This message will be sent to almost 600 Vermonters today. That doesn't include a similar email blasted out from the VT C4L interim State coordinator. I'm damn proud of this and I hope it inspires people to take a look at some of the ridiculous things your states are spending money on and taking a pro-active approach to changing it.

This is a prime example of political activism that can appeal to minarchists and ancaps alike. Not all political activism is electoral in nature.
Good work.

I'm curious if you have been able to review and analyze your most recent state, and various local and institutional, CAFR's, as I'm sure there are programs with large asset balances sitting on the books all over the place. That money should be returned to the taxpayer, not invested into friends-of-politician's projects. Perhaps your can request that that money be reinvested in the local economy through a tax-rebate this coming fiscal year.

VT Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
http://finance.vermont.gov/reports_and_publications/CAFR

Last time I looked at California and various other states that were claiming poor, I found Billions in money tucked away and never discussed, while the politicians only ever discussed the annual budget, which of course is spent ever year, with excesses buried into the CAFR balance sheets.




I included a list of all of the committee members and links to all of the Representatives and Senators.[/QUOTE]

LittleLightShining
02-12-2010, 05:48 PM
Good work.

I'm curious if you have been able to review and analyze your most recent state, and various local and institutional, CAFR's, as I'm sure there are programs with large asset balances sitting on the books all over the place. That money should be returned to the taxpayer, not invested into friends-of-politician's projects. Perhaps your can request that that money be reinvested in the local economy through a tax-rebate this coming fiscal year.

VT Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
http://finance.vermont.gov/reports_and_publications/CAFR

Last time I looked at California and various other states that were claiming poor, I found Billions in money tucked away and never discussed, while the politicians only ever discussed the annual budget, which of course is spent ever year, with excesses buried into the CAFR balance sheets.
In all honesty, I'm not really a numbers gal. That said, it would be worthwhile for me to raise that question with people in my network who are :)

We do have a sizable "rainy day fund" that hasn't been touched yet.

InterestedParticipant
02-12-2010, 09:15 PM
In all honesty, I'm not really a numbers gal. That said, it would be worthwhile for me to raise that question with people in my network who are :)

We do have a sizable "rainy day fund" that hasn't been touched yet.
Look at page 22 of the 2009 VT CAFR, VT has $1.243B in Net Assets ending Jun 30, 2009. And on page 41 is shows $356M in Total Fund Balances.

What's VT's annual state budget? Is this enough to cover 1-year?

LittleLightShining
02-14-2010, 06:10 AM
Look at page 22 of the 2009 VT CAFR, VT has $1.243B in Net Assets ending Jun 30, 2009. And on page 41 is shows $356M in Total Fund Balances.

What's VT's annual state budget? Is this enough to cover 1-year?
The projected budget for FY 2011 is $6.2 billion.

rancher89
02-14-2010, 06:53 AM
For VT?????? :eek:

Charlotte's budget: 1.5 Billion
Meck Co's budget is 1.4 billion
NC state's budget: 20,981($ millions)

"The Board also approved funding the hospitals at $17,700,000 for indigent care, a decrease of $3,024,525 from the FY2009 funding amount of $20,724,525. This returns the funding amount to the minimum required in the agreement with the hospitals for indigent care." (county site)

City: http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Budget+-+City/Home.htm

County: http://www.charmeck.org/NR/rdonlyres/euwv2l7nvxbwt7duilw2kt7likem4khybild7en3zt6g2um25r 2afepv7afimerjy4oe2qulpbtnrajmme4klxj4vta/FY2010BudgetBook-adopted.pdf

State: http://www.governor.state.nc.us/library/pdf/budgetFiles/Book0_Summary-web.pdf (pg 22)

LittleLightShining
02-14-2010, 06:58 AM
For VT?????? :eek:

I think that's Charlotte/Meck Co's budget.....:(

As far as I can tell, yes. But again, I'm not a numbers person at all. The Information and Innovation budget is over $10 million. Homeland security is ridiculous... The state has a super convoluted way that it deals with property tax. "Renter rebate" and "income sensitivity payments" are around $25 million combined. Makes no sense-- I mean the property tax is so high that renters and certain income brackets can't afford it? They'll never get rid of it altogether but they could at least make the rate more equitable. As it is people who own second homes here pay the bulk of the property taxes.

FY 2011 Big Bill (http://www.leg.state.vt.us/JFO/Appropriations/FY%202011%20Big%20Bill%20-%20to%20JFO%201-19-10.pdf)

phill4paul
02-14-2010, 10:37 AM
Great job LLS! It never fails to amaze me the size and scope of not just our state government but also our federal government.
Thanks Rancher for the info on the NC agencies.
I'm w/ Glen if we are to win this one each and everyone of us must take back our states. We must elect individuals that will stand up to the fed and we must lead by example by trimming the states government and programs in such a way as to be seen as fiscally responsible.

LittleLightShining
02-14-2010, 02:54 PM
Great job LLS! It never fails to amaze me the size and scope of not just our state government but also our federal government.
Thanks Rancher for the info on the NC agencies.
I'm w/ Glen if we are to win this one each and everyone of us must take back our states. We must elect individuals that will stand up to the fed and we must lead by example by trimming the states government and programs in such a way as to be seen as fiscally responsible.
Thank you!

Yeah, I think we're wasting our time on the national level, really. I mean, there are a few candidates outside of VT I really like-- Gunny, Kokesh and Medina-- but in all reality we need to start focusing our attention locally.

andrewh817
02-16-2010, 11:26 AM
Please don't send this out. You're saying the right things for the wrong reasons. The reason the Arts Department should be cut is not because we're in a financial crisis, it's because we shouldn't have our paychecks stolen from us.

LittleLightShining
02-16-2010, 11:29 AM
Please don't send this out. You're saying the right things for the wrong reasons. The reason the Arts Department should be cut is not because we're in a financial crisis, it's because we shouldn't have our paychecks stolen from us.

This is my follow up email:


Yesterday I sent you an email, suggesting ways the state could save money. Between then and now I have had several people come back to me and ask questions such as, "How much money would this really save?" or proclaiming to me that "There will be no tax increases this year."

The first question I cannot answer with a number but I can say this, even if the cost is insignificant, these ideas also help to limit the size and scope of government back to the intended function as laid out in the Constitution. Most of the programs and agencies we have here were started with the best of intentions, but also without a regard for the State Constitution. Article 1 Chapter 18 clearly tells the citizen of the state what qualities to look for in their choice of representatives and magistrates. Frugality is listed as a "fundamental principle". We are to keep a due and constant regard to the fundamental principles in order to preserve the blessings of liberty.I submit to you that had we kept a due and constant regard to frugality we would not find ourselves in 2010 standing around the black hole that is our projected deficit.

As to the second statement, in regard to no new tax increases... I can't help but think that anyone using that excuse is being extremely disingenuous. Most people with any understanding of money and language know that this is a semantic subterfuge. A 20-200% increase in "fees" is not acceptable and I am disappointed that the bill providing for this has been passed by the House. I hope the Senate shows more restraint. The problem with the deficit is not, at first glance, the revenue shortfall. The problem is that we have an unsustainable, unconstitutional idea of the role and purpose of government that we cannot afford.

RideTheDirt
02-16-2010, 01:18 PM
LOL, seriously..


soo... anybody want to help me w/ California :o


http://ca.gov/About/Government/agencyindex.html


......ya...... We're going to need a LOT of help.
Not to mention that a lot of these agencies are probably mandated in the CA CONstitution.

Do you have Google wave? I think that would work well for something like this.

MelissaWV
02-16-2010, 01:24 PM
http://www.ryanwilliams.us/Top100_80s/80s_top_100_pics/arnold-schwarzenegger-conan-the-barbarian-c10102058-copy.jpeg


ok...


can we move on now?

Was this an attempt to help dannno with California? :p

constituent
02-16-2010, 01:26 PM
Was this an attempt to help dannno with California? :p

it was many things... certainly helping dannno out was one of them. :)