WurfWhile

It’s interesting that a couple bloggers, seemingly independent of my analysis and each other (that’s my guess - we don’t reference each other (I saw them after my post) and all three of us approach things differently) doubt the sincerity of Tom Cross’ recent fiscal positions.

MakesMeRalph has this take on Cross:

“Tom Cross is saying that losing money has been good for state government. Like cutting milk and hot breakfast for kids. What a waste. And locking up sexual offenders. What about all those layoffs in the Department of Natural Resources. What a hypocrite.”

Here is the reaction from CapitolFax:

“Tax-raising suburban Republicans? Bigtime. Better call [JoinCrossBlog] and tell them that lots of locals aren’t following the script (not trying to pick on the CrossBloggers, but they take so many shots at the city that a little turnabout should occasionally be in order).” [There’s quite a lot more to read in this CapitolFax post - it seems to have really struck a nerve.]

I want to make it clear this isn’t personal. I’ve been complimentary towards Tom Cross, Chris Rhodes and some of the work done at JoinCrossBlog - and I genuinely respect their effort to remake the IL GOP. I remain prepared to “join” them where we have mutual interests (something I’ve privately communicated to Chris before) - and I look forward to a future beer with Chris at a bi-partisan bloggers night out. All that said, we do have disagreements on policy and approach - including this latest announcement, where I’ve found a couple more links for this post.

I believe in the smart investment of tax dollars, because I believe government can enact policies and programs that truly benefit the public. Government cannot solve all problems - and should not try to solve all problems. But government is uniquely positioned to solve many problems - and has produced tangible benefits for America, from numerous medicines that came from funded research, to the Internet. From the GI bill that has educated generations and increased prosperity and opportunity in our country, to Social Security that has provided a social safety net for all, permitting the elderly to exist independently and with dignity in their old age. Lately Illinois has supported our troops in Iraq, and their families at home, through state policies and programs. Government plays an important, worthy role in our lives - but it can’t do its job well, or as well, when people who know better try to score points at the expense of the whole government - instead of at the expense of programs or policies that should be cut, eliminated or changed.

Focus on cutting government to improve it. Don’t cut government recklessly and stupidly, cutting for cutting’s sake - because that harms the public indiscriminately, and that harms us all.