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Show Winter 2002 The West View - Issue #4 page 8 Corporate Welfare by Leon Johnson Not a flattering title. It infers that money is given to wealthy businesses that don't need it. It refers to tax breaks granted to big corporations for "economic development". They never say what they mean by "economic Scandal to shame. Why do they do this? The reason given is to attract businesses, and therefore create jobs. But in a study, entitled "Do State and local tax incentives work?" it states that "there is no evidence that state development." We can't even afford to abolish the sales tax on food. reducing public services, stimulate Instead, billions of the taxpayers' dollars are given away by federal, state and local legislatures, to bribe corporations to locate in their area, in an effort that puts the Olympic Bribery Who and local tax cuts, when paid for by economic activity or create jobs. There is little evidence that state and local taxation figures prominently in business location decisions. State and local business tax incentives and Listening to the arguments of the Union Pacific Rail Road vs. West Side communities, | have noticed a few types of people that I can group together. Group! blames UPRR for not following through with their contractual agreements and being an aggressive, greedy corporation that will "railroad" anyone in its path. Group 2 blames Salt Lake City, or Mayor Rocky Anderson for dropping the ball, and putting his own mayoral agendas considerably higher than their's, which in turn, opened the door for UPRR to reactivate the 900 So. line. Group 3 doesn't like the current administration even if said administration is currently trying to help. This group will not have anything to do or say that is positive or progressive even if they disagree with the reactivation, their kids are in more danger, their property values are dropped, or they are inconvenienced. Cut off your nose to spite your face comes to mind. Group 4 are people who live away from any rail lines and are of the opinion that if you are dumb or poor enough to buy, build, or work in an area that has rail lines, you are at fault and are just whining. Group 5 doesn't mind the trains, in fact likes to be the sacrificial lamb that would drain its blood for the sake of the city. This group will breathe the soot of the city's power on business investment decisions." To get a copy of this study, found in a government newsletter entitled "STATEments", call Dorothy Owens, 468-2189. The corporations are not held accountable for this give-away. A reasonable tax break, in return for paying their employees a living wage, would be cost-effective. Do the corporations pay their employees a living wage? We don't know - they're not accountable, remember? But the state byists tried to get the sales tax on food repealed. The loss in tax revenues could have been made up by taking a bite out of corporate welfare. Instead, legislators said, “Sure, we can do that, but we'd have to cut social programs." The Utah Teachers’ Association opposed this, not because they were against repeal of the tax, but because they didn't want social programs cut. Divide and conquer! Last year some legislators tried to give middle class taxpayers relief by tax bracketing. The same divide-andconquer tactics were used; "Sure, we has an interest in knowing this, because families on minimum wage have to round out their income with can do that, but we'd have to cut social programs." As a result, there was no tax bracketing, but corporate welfare was kept sacrosanct. plants and the chemicals of their public assistance to survive. And now, the state must economize to get through tough times. The way to do this is to cut corporate welfare, not public services. This would be true industrial pollution with a smile, fiscal conservatism. because their rent or mortgage is affordable. Group 6 feels that the fight is over Corporate welfare is divisive. A couple of years ago, grass-roots lob- to Blame? by Chad-Jepperson financial inducements are not the only, or even the primary, influence and UPRR has already won. They are people that are affected directly by the trains and are running out of options. These people are the ones that need help the most. welfare. The Things We Get Used To by Chris Watson These groups do not represent everybody by any means, but this type of bickering fogs the true issue at hand and works against all of us. Of the opinions that I just mentioned, it seems that most of the people disagree with the 900 south line being reactivated. The problem is that if you are fighting to blame someone, you are fighting against each other. Let's get over WHY and move on to HOW to do what is best for our community. Of the portion of people that agree with the reactivation, you have the right to that opinion. But, don't take Corporate welfare is a loss to every taxpayer, with the exception of corporations, who are not even paying their fair share. The bottom line is: the taxpayer is victimized by corporate Gangs in schools, drugs, public intoxication, transients living in parks, my mother being called vulgar safe I could feel when going out into the world. I have been in places that were safe enough to leave doors unlocked and where I didn't feel that I had to walk with keys as possible names while walking down the street: weapons, These are a few of my memories of growing up on the west side. It was only when I moved to St. George in my early 20's that I had anything dif- west side and am going through some ferent to compare my version of normal with. I remember relating a story with a friend one day and I mentioned something about the school cop. My friend's surprised look stopped me mid-sentence. "School cop?" she it personally when someone says they repeated in disbelief. I might as well are afraid of their children loosing life or limb, or of loosing their investment worth, or of the inconvenience of always running late because of a train. We were promised something very different: an abandonment that would help stimulate and increase our property values, a green space, trail corridor that would safely connect us to the rest of the city. We are protecting the quality of life for our community, which will create a healthier city overall. have said that all my teachers had been purple with yellow polka dots. In her mind, schools consist of teach- ers and students, not police officers. Another evening, my friend and I walked past a man coming from the opposite direction. I gave him my "don't even think of messing with us" look while my friend gave him a big "hello" and the friendliest smile you can imagine. During the rest of our walk, I lectured her over her obvious blunder and gave instructions on the Now, I've returned to the major readjustments. I am living behind locked gates after my dog was stolen within months of my return. (Luckily my dog was "returned".) Moving back has given me plenty to think about, except this time it's different. This time I know better. I have seen a different world and that has left me with different expectations. Now I look at parks and expect them to be clean, nice places for kids and families, not places for drug deals or campgrounds for peo- ple sleeping off last nights' drinking binge. This time I know that one is supposed to go through life saying hello to people on the streets and giving friendly smiles. So here's an idea. Everyone move. That's right. Pack up and get out of here. Move to St. George or Cedar City or Moab. Feel yourself unwind. Walk down the street with the idea that everyone you meet is a friend. proper way to hold ones' keys Grin to yourself the first time you (between each finger, as mine had been at the time). It was a fun, relaxing evening for her, I'm sure. Ahem. leave your house unlocked when Since then, I have lived in various small cities and towns and must con- fess, what was once normal to me no longer is. Before I moved away, I had no idea of just how relaxed and going out. Now don’t go thinking this is all fun and games. You're moving on assignment here, to gain a vision. Let's say we all meet back here on the third Tuesday of oh, say Continued page?) |