A Break From The Routine
Governor Schwarzenegger gives state employees one day off. California Libertarians ask "Why not more?"
SACRAMENTO, CA (PRWEB) June 12, 2004 -- Today, Californians are being either helped or hurt by the recent passing of Ronald Reagan. What we are referring to is the fact that most state employees are taking the day off today in respect for the former governor and President, under orders from Republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Whether this is a good or bad thing depends upon whom you ask.
Clearly, for most affected state employees, this is a good thing. Who wouldnt enjoy a three day weekend, with an extra Friday off", paid for courtesy of the taxpayer? Even those in critical functions who are required to stay on the job today are likely to get a day off later.
Of course, taxpayers may be just as annoyed as the state employees are pleased. Few privately funded organizations are giving a day off to their employees. Taxpayers wonder why they should be inconvenienced in using state services, and be forced to pay taxes to cover the state payroll for the day, to boot. After all, isnt the state in some sort of fiscal crisis?
Libertarians, however, take a third view. While just as angry as the chairman of the most conservative anti-tax organization about paying taxes to cover state employees' wages for the day, Libertarians look at today as a short reprieve from government bureaucrats telling us how to run our businesses and live our private lives. Assuming approximately 250 work days in the average year, a one day shutdown of the state government is very similar to a 0.4% reduction in government, a good thing, though in this case without the full benefit of a corresponding reduction in spending and taxation.
Libertarians ask Mr. Schwarzenegger, Why be so timid in your reductions? Why not make every weekend a three day weekend for state employees?" That would be a full 20% reduction in state government; a very good start. And while this, by itself would be a good thing, it would be even better if the state payroll was cut by a corresponding 20%, and the savings passed along to the taxpayer.
About the Libertarian Party of California
The Libertarian Party of California has more than fifty public officeholders statewide. Libertarians believe in personal freedom in both social and economic spheres, and in government small enough to protect those freedoms. The Libertarian Party of California may be contacted at 818-782-8400 or visited on the web at http://www.ca.lp.org/.
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