Cutting taxes is a favorite red herring. Of course no one wants to pay taxes and especially not more taxes. The trouble is that the tax supported budget of the government is no different from the paycheck supported budget you have to live with. Lower your income, you have to spend less. There comes a point where income and spending can't drop any more. We know this. We deal with it every month. Governments are notoriously inefficient and careless with our money. When was the last time you heard a politician running on his record of controlling and cutting spending?
Politicians like to promise things they can't do anything about. Candidates for governor promise, "I will cut taxes. I will increase police services. I will lower insurance costs....." None of these are things over which the Governor has any control. The Legislature controls the appropriations and taxes. The insurance commissioner has control of rate approvals. Presidential candidates are also prone to promise what they can not deliver. A real red herring will get you all excited about some issue that the politician stirring the pot can do nothing about.
Slogans are usually red herrings. Be careful of them. "Stay the Course." "Fear and Smear." "Honest Government." "Proud American." All sentiments designed to increase the heat and reduce the clarity of political discussion.
What are the real issues? What are realistic answers to problems? If you can't identify them then the speaker is sending you chasing after red herrings.
The Hermeneutic of Voting
Voting Principles (so far)
Voting Principles (so far)
1. Throw the Scoundrels out.
2. Identify and eliminate the Incompetents.
2. Identify and eliminate the Incompetents.
3. The Party or the Person
4. Beware of the Red Herrings
4. Beware of the Red Herrings
