Monday, February 01, 2010
Standard Article by Zack Tiggelaar
Issue: Budget & Spending
It had never occurred to me until recently that North Dakota’s government, an entity which was to provide public goods which are considered to be unprofitable, is actually making a profit. Two questions come to mind: Why is this, and why don't all North Dakotans benefit from this profit?
The fact is, our government is seeking, much like a corporation or bank, to profit off of the people whom they are to serve. However, if North Dakota’s government was truly out to serve North Dakotans, they would give back the remainder of what they took from us. Surpluses should not be something the public sector should maintain.
If our elected officials truly want to have economic development and a dynamic economy, they must release their (our) excess funds to the people and the market. Not only would this leave each taxpayer better off, but it would also create more jobs and better wages since the private sector will have more funds and resources to pay higher wages or create new jobs.
We’ve all witnessed the current economic crisis and the government’s feeble attempts through the stimulus packages to relieve it. Unfortunately we all haven’t benefitted. Instead, special interest groups and generous donors to campaigns have received much of the stimulation. Ordinary people, like most North Dakotans, have received little to none. This is why it is necessary for North Dakota to always give the taxpayers back their money. Otherwise, much like the national trend, we may be supporting groups and businesses with our hard earned money that we otherwise wouldn’t have. That's not capitalism; that's cronyism.
Zack Tiggelaar is an intern at the North Dakota Policy Council and an economics student at the University of North Dakota.
