Everett, Wash.
Published: Sunday, April 13, 2008

CATCH-22

If growth is good, why do taxes rise?

 Most all local and state governments will tell you growth is good. They promote it strongly. They sell you this vision of utopia by saying it brings many good things, more business, more jobs, better schools and more taxes to fund all the things a society wants.

So then why is it every time we turn around they need more taxes? They say it's because our towns have grown and it costs more money now to build all the new roads and highways needed to accomodate the growth. Now we need more schools, more government to regulate the growing population. Hmmmm. This is what I see as a result of growth: way higher housing prices, congested highways and much higher taxes. So if you believe growth is good, then P.T Barnum was correct when he coined the phrase "There's a sucker born every minute."

By the way, Barnum made his fortunes based on that very ideal.

Rudy McDaniel
Lake Stevens
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA