When I became a Member of the Parliament of New Zealand, we were judged as the most socialistic of nations. We had been one of the richest of countries at #3 in per capita income, but by 1984 we were only #27. We had gone for 23 years relying on deficits, without balancing our budget. The government was taking 44 percent of the Gross Domestic Product, and, in 1984, our forecast deficit was 15 percent of the GDP…
Local Government
Small Towns, Big Tax Increases
The city of Whitesboro ignited a firestorm recently when officials suggested adopting a tax rate that would have skyrocketed the average homeowner’s property tax bill by 61 percent. The initial public hearing to discuss the matter drew hordes of angry Whitesboro residents who voiced their discontent. So much so, in fact, that city councilmembers tabled...
September 17, 2025