Wrangler Dani

Rather than a lengthy preamble, here is a letter I sent to nearly everyone I know in the great state of California:

Hi Friends –

I’m not given to writing political calls to action, nor am I very comfortable on this little soapbox.  I’m sorry if this email bothers you, please let me know if you don’t wish to hear it. Everything in this email is my original thoughts, nothing copied or stolen, but if you’d like more sources or places to research, I can definitely help you see where I’m coming from, whether you agree or not.

I know that many of you are “over” politics. And it’s understandable, given the schoolyard spitting match that our current-day politics have become. However, I believe that we will be, and in some ways already are, victims of our own apathy when it comes to government. I’m writing because of the new budget plan proposed for California. It is estimated that this plan will cost every household in California $1400 or more per year, not to mention the additional taxes brought on by the stimulus bill from the Federal Government.  They plan to increase car taxes, car registrations, gas tax, sales tax and as the final kicker, a 2.5% tax on your income tax. Yeah, it’s that bad.

Our political system was founded as “by the people, for the people,” which means that “we the people” have the right to tell our legislators and other elected officials when we believe they’re stepping out of line.  We have elected these men and women to protect our families, serve our interests and allow us to pursue life, liberty and happiness with the money we earn and the choices we make for how we spend said money.

I know that we need to pay taxes, and  to “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s” (Mark 12:17) but we already do so, and the further taxes proposed in this budget bill are unreasonable. Currently, Californians pay the highest income, gas and sales taxes in the nation.  In a time of recession, with over 16% of Californians unemployed, higher taxes will not solve the problem.

Most current politicians are referencing the Great Depression as the closest thing to the current economic crisis.  We actually faced a very similar recession in 1981 and ’82, which was overcome by dramatically lowered taxes, not yet more national debt.  This is also a Christian principle, that government and those in power should not “muzzle the ox as he treads the grain” (1 Timothy 5:18) meaning that those who work hard should be allowed to enjoy the rewards of their labor.

Before you think that this money is going to help people, remember that individuals, churches and nonprofits can do a much better job of helping the world than the government can. However, whoever holds the resources holds the power, and if we give all our money to the bureaucratic machine, what is left for our churches, schools and outreaches?

As Christians, we are called to have good work ethics, use our talents to the Glory of God and do everything as unto the Lord. (Colossians 3:23) I believe that this includes caring about our country and the policies that can make or break us as a nation.  We are on the cusp of real change in this country, and it may not be what you are hoping for. Pray about it and fight for your God-given freedoms while you have a chance. We have been blessed to live in the most freedom-loving and God-fearing democracy in the world, and by the grace of God and the strength of her people, she can endure even this.

All we need to do is ask our elected officials to reconsider new taxes on Californians. Here’s their contact info. I just typed up one simple email that I sent to all of them:

Click here for a list of phone numbers for your Legislators:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html

Click here for a list of State Senators’ Email Addresses:
http://www.sen.ca.gov/~newsen/senators/senemail.htp

Click here for a list of State Assembly Members’ Email Addresses:
http://www.assembly.ca.gov/clerk/MEMBERINFORMATION/memberdir_1.asp

Thanks for listening,
~Dani

So, as I said, I also wrote to our elected leaders in the House and Senate, as well as the Governator, begging that Conservatives stand up for the hard-working people who elected them and protect California against yet more greed and debt with this new “budget”. (Oddly enough, the word “budget” makes us think of sticking closely to well-thought-out grocery lists and clipping coupons rather than this deal, which seems hell-bent on spending as much as possible.) Despite many dismissive responses following my email, I got this encouraging statement from Senator Hollingsworth:

“The tentative deal reported in the Sacramento Bee today, if supported by Republicans, will be a disaster for all Californians, the state budget and for Republicans as a party. Punishing every Californian by increasing their taxes, especially in a time such as this, is not only wrong-headed for the economy, it is simply morally wrong to demand the people reach deeper into their wallets in order to continue to fuel the spending of state government. If this passes with Republican votes, there will be no reason for any Californian to vote for a Republican in the future. The people sent Republicans to Sacramento to be a blockade against tax increases. Once that wall crumbles, there will be no end to the expansion of taxes and spending. The people will rightly figure they can vote for Democrats and at least stand a fair chance of getting their entitlements and programs along with tax increases. As Republicans, we will only remain as the party that gives them tax increases and no programs. I have and continue to strongly extol my colleagues to vote against any tax increase.”

Dennis Hollingsworth represents the 36th Senate District. The district includes Southwest Riverside County, North and East San Diego County, and portions of the City of San Diego.

Hallelujah.