Ok, this is currently for America, but hopefully it’s relevant to all who prefer and enjoy a democratic or representative government. Participate! No excuses. Don’t take your candidate’s status for granted, please, regardless. I’m a firm believer in civic duty (and was before I became a board member of the Center for Civic Education). I liked what Hunter Thompson had to say; if you haven’t participated in the process, you’ve no right to complain.
While I’m talking politics, there’s one thing I fail to understand: the negative association of the phrase “tax and spend”. To me, that’s just good practice. while the alternatives have some problems.
Let’s take for granted that there has to be some government spending. On national defense, for example. 
Infrastructure, like freeways. Heck, just to have a government, there has to be spending. Now, I’ll certainly agree that there has been unnecessary spending, and absolutely want to cut the ‘pork’. And we certainly should make sure that we’re being efficient in the services we spend for. No bloated bureaucracies, please. We need to ensure that our money’s being spent wisely, but we do need to spend. So…
Not to tax and then to spend is fiscally irresponsible. I mean, if it were a consumer, we’d cut up the credit cards! To tax and not spend is just mean. You’re taking money from people and not putting it to work. Maybe a little budgeting is ok, for the future or tough times. Finally, not taxing and not spending is fiscally responsible, but remember that base level of spending we need. So, we can fight about how much to spend or on what, but it seems to me that ‘tax and spend’ isn’t really an insult. And the best way to agree or disagree with me is, again, to vote. Take advantage of your privilege!
De Tocqueville, 1840: “The American Republic will endure, until politicians realize they can bribe the people with their own money.”
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