tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post7224299052481550610..comments2020-04-11T03:30:02.282-05:00Comments on Advance Indiana™: Star Editors Once Again Pining For Mass Transit Gary R. Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-71971518989543138142013-03-01T15:16:40.633-05:002013-03-01T15:16:40.633-05:00Wow. It's living in North Korea. Especially th...Wow. It's living in North Korea. Especially the part about the referenda being absolutely fair.<br /><br />NOBODY gets off the couch to vote against a referendum.Unigovhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15532072215831286109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-66597109718189811972013-03-01T12:12:42.053-05:002013-03-01T12:12:42.053-05:00There's a question I've thought about a lo...There's a question I've thought about a lot recently - what is a "world-class city" ? It can't have anything to do with stadiums or airports, because we have brand new examples of those. I've come to believe that as the phrase is generally used, it's a meaningless rallying cry for raising taxes.<br /><br />If one believes as I do that (a) society is superior to government and (b) humans have rights by being human, rather than those rights being granted by government, then a "world-class" designation must be a function of society in general...or the combined culture of a place.<br /><br />With this back-to-basics mindset,a world-class city would be one in which (a) basic human needs are provided for anyone truly in need and (b) there's no crime of any kind (c) people are safe from attack.<br /><br />Basic human needs include shelter, clothing, food, water, and medical care. To the extent possible society should provide those to people who cannot gain them on their own. This includes people with serious handicaps, medical conditions, children, the elderly, and those in prison. The shelter and food must be enough to live a healthy life, but no more. Shelter means the minimum space needed to live healthy, but no more. Medical care imo means free care, at the same level received by the president of the US.<br /><br />"No crime" means safe streets as well as locking up bankers and fraudsters.<br /><br />"Safe from attack" refers to military invasion, environmental harm, disease.<br /><br />Government is the means society creates to meet these three goals. Anything government does beyond meeting those goals is usually theft from taxpayers. Building NFL stadiums is a good example.Unigovhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15532072215831286109noreply@blogger.com