Independence Day Thought

Being a Minnesotan, I've been saturated with news about the government shut down. Gov. Dayton wants to raise taxes on the highest wage earners. The Republicans in office don't want to do that and offered many versions of a balanced budget to spend within their means. The DFLers in office--have been strangely quiet on the whole thing.

A lot of the local news is full of sob stories about people who won't be able to eat or pay for their rent or similar sad things. Like not being able to buy their car tabs at the last minute because they put it off too long. Sad, right? It does make me a little sad because it makes me realize how many people can not (or will not) take care of themselves. My husband and I both only work part time and yet we manage to pay for our own food, pay our rent and our utilities and our car all out of our own pocket.
And still have a little left over to go out to eat once in awhile or go on vacation. All because we live within our means and are determined not to become dependent on someone else. Especially the government.

That being said. I find it fitting that the state government has shut down over Independence Day. Very symbolic. It paints a picture of people dependence on the government. On how much the government has taken away people's independence. Minnesota has some of the highest taxes in the union and that issue is the major one that has shut down the government. I can't shout the old cry of "No taxation without representation!" because it is our elected representatives of the past who raised the taxes to the current rate. But I hope that the current representatives will be able to prevent the taxes from becoming any higher.

I'm hoping the current shut down will help people realize they do not need the government holding their hand for every step they take. That they can go and live their lives without it. That they wake up and see the independence they have been missing, that they enjoy it and will not want to relinquish it later on.

Happy Independence Day.