Austerity budget cuts . . . do have consequences.

Gov. Sam Brownback promised to cut taxes in Kansas . . . and he did.   A lot.

And now they're reaping the consequences.   Some of the public schools will be closing the school year as much as 12 days early this year, because they lack funds to keep them open.

This, in spite of a court order from the Kansas Supreme Court that some of the school budget cuts were inequitable and therefore unconstitutional -- necessitating a special allocation mid-spring.   But even that was not enough to make up the damage already done to the state's budget.

And this is only one of the state financial problems resulting from the austerity budget.   Neglect of infrastructure is another.  And services to the needy.

And they still re-elected Brownback for another term last November.

"Tax cuts" is catnip to conservatives;   and, like any addiction, consequences simply don't matter when that craving has to be satisfied.   That's the more charitable explanation, that it's an addiction.    The other explanation is that it is a philosophy that is just plain mean, selfish, and greedy.   Take your pick.

I prefer to think of government as a communal way of solving problems and creating a good living environment for its people -- who are willing to pay for it through taxes.    Is that too idealistic?    Or perhaps socialistic?    If so, so be it.

Ralph

PS:   Add another story of governmental meanness from Kansas:   The Kansas legislature has just amended its welfare laws to put tighter controls on recipients.  Included in these new restrictions is a limit of $25 per day that a family of three can withdraw on their government issued debit card, which is the welfare benefit distribution method Kansas uses.    The problem is, for someone using ATM machines to get their allotment, there is an 85 cent fee for each withdrawal after the first one each month.    Since only $25 can be withdrawn at the time, this means at least 12 trips per month to an ATM machine and whittling away at the total by $15.30 each month in ATM fees.   When the maximum allotment is $429/mo., $15.30 is a significant, heartless deduction.