movealready's Blog

You are absolutely right. I'm sure this is (somehow) the fault of the city's Republican Party. Does Philadelphia even have a Republican Party?
Closing so many pools for the "entitled ones" and a highering freeze on the police Dept. is sure to help with Philadelphia's crime problem. I find it interesting, Philadelphia is slashing programs everywhere, yet they beg the Federal Government for a "bailout". I wonder why Nutter believes that rural Pennsylvanians/Americans should further subsidies these sanctuary cities. Our taxes are going to go up enough without the Feds redistrubing our money further. Of course, whats a billion here or there as long as the "haves" are footing the bill. When that cash cow goes dry, and it will, I suppose the poor will be only too happy to help us???

that was no coincedence.

I am from overseas but visit Philly frequently and look at the situation from te outside and I think the issues that you have today started well before th financial situation the USA is in. The financial downturn is obviously one reason that the city looks the way it does, but lets look at the realities of life. This situation is not new. The previous administration had something to do with this. As the 5th largest city in the USA, even when people paid taxes and the city was in surplus, rubbish wasn't collected, streets are filthy, public transport wasn't running on time and issues that should have been paid for by peoples taxes weren't being done. However, it is now time to find answers and ways to overcome these issues. Thereare several things that could be done to overcome the financial problems. I am sure that the citizens of this great city will band together if the right stimulus is given.

The American Federal Government (read as Bush Administration) has nothing to do with the financial situation the city of Philadelphia finds itself. Yes, the economy has had a downturn. That has an effect on tax revenue. Bottom line, you don't find yourself 650 million in the hole overnight. Why were the Democratic leadership hiding their financial situation...oh I forgot the Obama factor.
Democrat are reliable when it comes to economics, their answer is tax,tax,tax. That type of economic policy drives businesses away and reduces tax revenue. Remove heavy tax burden and business thrives and consequently tax revenue increases dramatically (see Ronald Reagan economic policies). Democrats don't care about money, they care about control. With control they can implement socialist policies and control money,business and the masses. The Democratic leadership of Philadelphia and Philadelphia's City council is where the buck stops with regard to fiscal responsibility. Like typical Democrats, they spend,spend,spend. Then when the bill comes due they expect others to foot the bill.....read as the tax payers of all America.
If you want to see a debtor nation, just see what happens to America under Obama's leadership.

Move...oh man, I'm going to get blasted for this but I'm gonna say it anyway... At this point what does it matter whose fault it is? I'll agree someone certainly should be held accountable, and it just so happens the Dems have had control through the past administrations. But is it really fair to say that they're the problem when we have no way of knowing for sure that a Republican administration wouldn't have gotten us to a similar point?

I think it says something about Mayor Nutter when he's not only acknowledging there is a problem but trying to fix it before it gets even worse.

As for cutting departments, see my earlier comment about accountability and making better selections. No, cutting the police force isn't going to help cut crime; but neither, for that matter, is cutting after-school programs and putting kids out on the streets. No one is going to win out of this. But with the right political maneuvers they could soften the blow.

As for your initial comment, about what defines a tax increase...I have to give that some more ponderance.

Don't you think it's stereotypical to assume that only Democrats would be stupid enough to get us in this position to begin with?

I agree that leaders - not just Democrats but also Republicans, Independents, Liberatarians, and any other political group out there - should be more careful with our money. And upon review of party records/party-led administrations I'm sure there's room for more efficiency.

Either way, and even though he's a Dem, you have to give Nutter some credit for nipping this in the bud now before it gets worse. In a strange sense I feel he's almost taking responsibility for what's happened, being as he was a councilman for so long and no doubt contributed to this mess. But still, give him some props...no matter what the end result will be for we the people.