WICHITA, Kan. - Our legislators are afraid. They are afraid they won't be elected if they raise taxes. They should be afraid of not being reelected for ruining our schools and not taking care of our senior citizens, and people with disabilities. The agencies that serve people with disabilities, our frail and elderly, and our schools have taken several cuts and absorbed them internally so that it doesn't affect the consumers. Any further cuts will affect the people who need the services. There is a reason why we protect our most vulnerable. Not just because its the right thing to do, but because the ugly truth of what could happen is too sickening to imagine.
As an advocate in a non-profit agency I have been shocked at the people still calling to cut services. The only thing I can think is these people don't know how further budget cuts will affect everyone in our communities. I think it is very easy to stick your head in the sand and pretend that cutting human services and education will not affect you. These people do not know what their state tax dollars actually pay for. They are not making a distinction between government bureaucracy and human services.
Whether we raise taxes or not, we will pay for services. For example, not supporting people with disabilities to stay in their home now, means you will pay for them to live in a nursing home which costs three times as much. Not paying for a person with an intellectual disability to receive services in our community now, means you will pay for them to live somewhere. Possibly in a jail setting, and what happens to them there is unspeakable. Not paying for a child with a learning disability to receive extra help in school today means possibly paying for them to be on welfare later. Essentially we will pay for some kind of services. It just depends on what you would rather pay for. Personally, I would rather my tax dollars went towards in-home care, community services, smaller class rooms and special education, not towards nursing homes, jails, and welfare.
Raising our taxes now is the more humane approach. Kansas is not a high tax state. Let me repeat that. Kansas is not a high tax state. Until someone comes up with a better idea I want my taxes raised and I will support any legislator who votes to do so.
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