Governor Pawlenty has announced his unallotments for fiscal years 2010-2011. Basically this is the Governor saying, "The legislature told us to spend more money than we're going to receive, so I'm not going to spend some to close the budget deficit." Of course, this has become quite controversial in a Republicans vs. Democrats, Liberal vs. Conservative fashion.

What frustrates me is how much antipathy is thrown around. Everyone who posts something makes sure to talk badly about one faction or another. The liberals, of course, are painted as having absolutely no fiscal policy what-so-ever. The Republicans are all heartless bastards.

The liberals all want the rich to pay more taxes in order to continue to spend, spend, spend. Well, that's the cliche and it's not entirely untrue.

The rich want the poor to starve. Again, a cliche that's not entirely untrue.

Me? Fiscally I tend to be conservative. I do NOT believe we should raise taxes. Ever. PERIOD. Government should continue to exist on what it earns. Increased government revenue should come naturally. Taxes are based on property values or salaries. As those increase, so do government revenues.

Fees, however, should increase annually at the previous year's accepted inflation rate. This means that in real money, any particular fee will cost the same from year to year.

As for the budget. Annual budgets should be determined based on lean years in the cycle. During those years that we have a surplus, the surplus can be spent on capital improvements. Small surpluses can be spent, carried over for larger capital improvements next year, or used to pay down debt.

This makes sense. Why doesn't it work that way? I don't have a clue.

But raising taxes is not the solution to making up a shortage. Cut spending. Taxes should never go up. The state brings in enough money. Live within the means.