(you being that community majority) want the community to furnish.
If enough hue and cry had been heard in the past about "wasting money" on fireworks, they probably wouldn't do it.
No one agrees with everything their taxes are spent on. Everyone agrees tax money is wasted, but seldom agree on specifics to make it better. Or at least, don't agree to the service cuts that come about when you cut taxes.
Oh I'll agree, and probably everyone else, that corruption and stupidity waste taxes too. But since it seems no matter who is elected, there is always some avenue that money gets lost. I guess the people who can do the job right won't take it.
However, I know in NC after a terrific accident with fireworks that killed four people there have been new requirements passed for anyone running a fireworks show. As I understand it, many of the people in communitites that had been allowed before (often a fire chief by one report) do not qualify now. Because of this many smaller displays cancelled for lack of an authorize person to run them.
For some towns this is probably a good escape clause this year rather than admitting they don't have the money.
The poor economy is of course cutting town budgets. Falling property values, less sales tax as people by less, less business taxes as business fold,.....all these and more are hurting town, county, and state tax revenues.
While agreed that government, small and large, can be much more efficient, I already hearing (and expect to hear more) complaints from people about certain things not being done. The road they use on the way to work has had it's re-pavement postponed another year. The state isn't maintaining the road shoulders, grass is too high. The water extension project is delayed even though a bond passed (what income is to be had is probably a larger percentage servicing the bond that was expected). Etc, Etc, Etc.
Waste is anything that doesn't help me directly seems to be the main theme.
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