Metaphor Via Ratbike.org

If you’re not a motorcyclist the use of the Rat Bike as a metaphor for our state may be obscure.

At many major bike rallies a prize will be given to the worst looking, most cobbled together, leakiest, duct-taped, smokiest, ill-running motorcycle that managed to rattle to the rally.

The proud owner of this beast boasts of his accomplishments…the ‘rattle-can’ paint job, the mis-matched parts from other brands of motorcycles, and the message on his tank: “Chrome Don’t Get You Home.” But neither, often, does the rat bike.

What drives the rat-biker is the desire to maintain his old scoot as cheaply as possible, even if he has to put up with balding tires, dangerous brakes, and questionable handling.

All of us, in Arizona, are owners of our rat-bike state. Like the the biker dude at the rally we would rather put up with the inconveniences and possible long-term consequences of rat-bike-hood than pay for anything better.

Raise taxes? God forbid. So we elect rat-bike legislators who are committed to tax loopholes that drain the treasury and support our steadfast refusal to pay for anything better.

Nice bike, bro!

Well, there they go again! The Republicans in the state legislature soldier on in pursuit of an expensive distraction from the real problems Arizonans face.

This time it’s the evil of birthright citizenship, which is guaranteed by the 14th amendment to the US Constitution. They don’t like it; and they don’t like “anchor babies,” either.

Frankly, my dears, I don’t care how their parents got here. If they were born here they’re citizens. Furthermore I am perfectly willing to see my tax money spent to educate and protect them.

To those who object let me simply observe that for over the past 60 years I have paid to educate and protect your children. The children of Arizona are everybody’s responsibility. I count them all as my children and as I am a citizen that should be enough for you.

*Rep Kavanagh (R-Fountain Hills) is a co-conspirator with Sen Ron Gould (R-Lake Havasu) in sponsoring legislation to deny birthright citizenship to the children of undocumented parents.

Maybe so.

In an editorial published two days ago the NY Times reported and commented on the fact that Illinois has realized that simply cutting expenses won’t solve its disastrous budget shortfalls.

The Illinois legislature has taken a step that should have been as plain as the nose on your face. It raised taxes.

The action was immediately ridiculed by several governors around the nation who are still pretending that they can cut their way out of the enormous shortfalls they face, without raising taxes. Wisconsin and Indiana predicted a windfall of angry corporations and residents would head their way from Illinois. Even Gov. Chris Christie, the New Jersey Republican, vowed to fly to Illinois to invite businesses there to defect to his state.

The Times editorial argues that these consequences are not likely to happen, as Illinois’ taxes were low before, and even after modest raises of both personal and corporate income tax rates are low compared to other big states.

The Times editorial comments:

What businesses crave most is a stable environment in which to make profits, and Illinois was anything but stable. Businesses tend not to like it when health and education systems break down. …….Almost every state is in deep fiscal trouble this year, but only a few others have admitted that cutting spending will not be enough.

Whether our Republican dominated state legislature is smart enough to see the wisdom of the Illinois solution remains to be seen.

We’ll report, you’ll decide.