Why is "Taxing and Spending" a bad thing?

So, I've seen the old (and I thought more or less dead) "tax and spend" accusation leveled at Democrats again lately by the GOP and/or Tea Party. What I want to know is why is this supposedly a bad thing? Aren't taxing and spending pretty much the only things government does and the entire point of government? I mean there's also diplomacy, but you have to pay diplomats, so that's also spending.

Because Americans hate taxation and spending on shit that they don't like or dont care about?

Because they don't enjoy money they have earned through hard work taken away from them. That's the idea, anyways.

I understand the not liking the taxation part, but the way it's phrased often makes it sound like they'd rather the government just sat on all the money they acquired through taxes.

This is mostly for income tax, although if we got rid of it, we'd be rewarding sitting on your money, something only the rich can afford to do.

Isn't tax and spend the way governments do...hell anything?

Where do people think the national railroad, hoover dam, roads, schools, police, fire fighters, libraries, and other things we take for granted come from?

Pixie dust?

It sounds like republicans want "Cut everything and then do nothing" aka "Destroy the government"

edited 21st Sep '11 1:39:26 PM by Thorn14

In theory? Because people only want their money spent on them.

A more valid argument? Because government is incompetent...

I think it's just that they don't want government in general.

Yet they are running for government...

I know this is slightly strawmanning, but when I hear "We want smaller government" I hear "We want smaller government so that the corporations who fund us can take control instead!"

edited 21st Sep '11 1:45:51 PM by Thorn14

Governments in general aren't incompetent, its only when people distrust the government and expect them to fail

And what does a corporation do other than take your money (okay, in return for a good or service) and spend it?

Especially when such people are put in charge of government. Why would you put someone who thinks the system can't work and/or must be destroyed in charge thereof?

edited 21st Sep '11 1:49:00 PM by Balmung

My government is idiotic, IMO, but it's also democratic, which instantly wins it points over corporations or unions...

But you can't really compare the rest of the world to the clusterfuck that is the US Federal government though USAF.

Sure we can. We do that all the time to feel better. We think "jeez our government is totally re-... oh wait"

You know, if our country wasn't so far up its asshole in patriotism, maybe our country could go "Hey those European countries are doing something right in this aspect, why dont we try it?"

What do I care for other governments? I have to deal with mine more than I have to deal with them. The people who live there have a responsibility to make their governments work better, while I have a responsibility to make mine work better.

That implies that all governments fail and thus my points were aimed at that statement.

Well, the public are fickle beings.

"WE WANT BETTER EDUCATION!"

"Okay. Maybe a little bit more tax to fund it."

"FUCK YOU COMMUNIST NAZI TRYING TO TAKE MAH MONIES TO GIB TO POLISH IMMGRANTS!"

....

But yeah. Unless I'm much mistaken, the government provides services and we effectively pay them for it, via taxes.

Government is the People's Corporation!

All governments are incompetent. You simply conflate "incompetent" with "complete failure."

And then...

"Okay we don't have enough money so we need to ct back on spending"

"WHAT THE FUCK WHY ARE MY ROADS SO SHITTY AND THE SCHOOLS ARE CLOSING!?"

"Alright alright! Here's some road funding"

"WHY IS THERE ALL THIS FUCKING CONSTRUCTION GOD I FUCKING HATE THE GOVERNMENT!"

So whats the alternative?

edited 21st Sep '11 2:00:22 PM by Thorn14

That's pretty cynical.

Incompetence suggests that the government does nothing right.

The very fact that you're alive and kicking, USAF means that government isn't wholly incompetent.

Exactly.

And then...

"WHY THE FUCK WE GOT MAOR ROAD TAX?!"

"Because you wanted that brand-new highway."

"BUT YOU GOTTA MAKE MONIES FROM NOWHERESSSS!"

edited 21st Sep '11 2:01:58 PM by Inhopelessguy

Well it's usually the elected leadership that is fouling things up or being incredibly incompetent rather than the bureaucracy. Most of the needless stuff done by bureaucracy was requested to be implemented by politicians anyway. It's not like bureaucrats themselves love doing thirty forms in triplet for the most minor things. If they could work 3 hours a day and get all their work done for all licensing and so on, and get paid a decent salary, why not?

Man, that's why I don't mind seeing construction (private or public) nowadays; it beats the hell out of abandoned businesses and decaying public facilities.

edited 21st Sep '11 2:01:27 PM by Ratix

So do alot of people. The problem is people don't like doing anything about it. The jobs bill would improve infrastructure big time but of course everyone's like "WHERE IS THIS MONEY COMING FROM!?"

edited 21st Sep '11 2:04:45 PM by Thorn14

"Why, taxes!"

"YOU COMMUNIST NAZI!"

"Do you want good roads and good internet, or you want low taxes?"

"LO TAXES DURDURHED! I DON'T WANT NO GOVVIE MAN TAKIN MAH MONIES AND GIBING IT TO IMMIGANTS!"

Obviously, this is how I percieve the electorate.