Mopsy Gets Political

This is a magical, golden time of year. I love to snuggle up with a blanket, a cup of Almond Sunset tea, and my voter’s guide. Our county voter’s guide arrived on Monday. I enjoyed reading through the ballot issues and mentally making my list of “yep” and “no way!” One of my favorites from the Class of 2004 is this one:

BALLOT ISSUE 4B:

SHALL THERE BE AN EXTENSION UNTIL JUNE 30, 2018, OF THE AGGREGATE O.1 PERCENT SALES AND USE TAXES CURRENTLY LEVIED AND COLLECTED BY THE DENVER METROPOLITAN AND SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL FACILITIES DISTRICT THAT ARE SCHEDULED TO EXPIRE…ETC, ETC, ETC…

mmmmmm…pour me some more tea

I will vote yes in this particular ballot issue because the taxes collected go to support the zoo, the museums, and many other cultural endeavors that our family likes to visit. It helps keep admission costs down and mandates free days for citizens of Colorado. I think it is important to keep educational and cultural offerings affordable for everyone. Wholesome entertainment is priceless and good for our society.

Not everyone agrees with me, including many who are reading this (if anyone is, indeed, reading this!). Let’s agree to disagree!

Being a fair-minded and equal-opportunity person, I did read the opposing view provided by the voting guide. While it did not sway me, I found it very entertaining and I would like to share a snippet of it here, verbatim:

Taxation is for fire and police protection. Yes. We are already being taxed for the public schools. If the school boards that spend these tax dollars feel that certain of these organizations offer educational programs for our youth, let them be paid for out of school budgets.

World leaders in the past used taxes to fund “Ministries of Culture.” Taxation for churches and culture is not the American Way. If “Joe Six Pack” can afford $60 for a rock concert ticket, “Money Bags” should not be subsidized for his seat at the symphony.

Vote “no” and end this unjust tax.

Proving how mature I am, my favorite part of all is that the phrase “Joe Six Pack” is in an official voter’s guide. And I had to give a little smile to whomever thinks that I am a “Money Bags”, with my top hat, my cane, and my pipe. Attending the “thee-ah-tah”, lectures on floral arranging, and cocktail parties with five small children in tow. Yeah, that’s me! Forget the six-pack, pour me a cognac…can I have a straw?

There…I got political. Interested in thoughts…