Hyperreal Film Club
The Fault Is the Government's
RECEIVED Mon., July 23, 2007
Editor,
I agree that Austin politics are unnecessarily rough ("Page Two," July 20). The question is why? Editor Louis Black seems to blame the people. I think it is a failing of our government.
Suppose the city of Austin, a government, passes an ordinance to tax every church except the Lutherans. That would certainly rile some people to uncivil behavior. Would you blame the people or the politicians?
Currently Austin is favoring the church of Smart Growth. Mr. Black, an adherent of SG, is bothered that so many people are excessively agitated at having a municipal church.
The holy land of SG is the "hole" in the "doughnut" (Downtown), which requires huge tithes for the building of new temples. For instance, one new luxury condo high-rise requires $20 million of taxpayer subsidies for utility work. That's a $50,000 subsidy for each of the 400 units.
And that's not all. A new office building will be needed for these people to work in, complete with its public subsidy. And the new Downtown residents will need $500 million of subsidies for streetcars. And $120 million for “fixing” Waller Creek. And $75 million for rerouting their sewage to south of the river and …
Every new SG tenant of Downtown will require at least $100,000 of subsidies that will have to be paid for with taxes levied on people who don't pray at the SG church. Be thankful that people are being ornery. Usually they revolt and go to war in these situations.
If you want Austin to have a civil society, respect the ideals of America and practice separation of church and state. Stop all of the subsidies and corporate welfare.
I agree that Austin politics are unnecessarily rough ("Page Two," July 20). The question is why? Editor Louis Black seems to blame the people. I think it is a failing of our government.
Suppose the city of Austin, a government, passes an ordinance to tax every church except the Lutherans. That would certainly rile some people to uncivil behavior. Would you blame the people or the politicians?
Currently Austin is favoring the church of Smart Growth. Mr. Black, an adherent of SG, is bothered that so many people are excessively agitated at having a municipal church.
The holy land of SG is the "hole" in the "doughnut" (Downtown), which requires huge tithes for the building of new temples. For instance, one new luxury condo high-rise requires $20 million of taxpayer subsidies for utility work. That's a $50,000 subsidy for each of the 400 units.
And that's not all. A new office building will be needed for these people to work in, complete with its public subsidy. And the new Downtown residents will need $500 million of subsidies for streetcars. And $120 million for “fixing” Waller Creek. And $75 million for rerouting their sewage to south of the river and …
Every new SG tenant of Downtown will require at least $100,000 of subsidies that will have to be paid for with taxes levied on people who don't pray at the SG church. Be thankful that people are being ornery. Usually they revolt and go to war in these situations.
If you want Austin to have a civil society, respect the ideals of America and practice separation of church and state. Stop all of the subsidies and corporate welfare.
Vincent J. May