The Real Problem
What to know: The city of Austin’s proposed 20% tax rate hike is drawing criticism from many corners, including a surprising rebuke from the Austin American-Statesman. The newspaper notes: “Austin wants taxpayers to tighten their belts—but City Hall isn’t doing the same.”
The TPPF take: High taxes are a symptom. Runaway spending is the real problem.
“The city of Austin wants yet another massive tax increase, even while officials spend lavishly on steak dinners, expensive retirement parties, business class flights, and high-priced lobbyists. It’s an upside-down situation that perfectly illustrates the need for local spending limits,” says TPPF’s James Quintero.
For more on local taxes and spending, click here.
Social Media
What to know: Social media further divided the nation following the killing of conservative Charlie Kirk.
The TPPF take: Social media worked as designed.
“The algorithms did what they always do. They highlighted the worst sides of humanity, with the most incendiary theories strategically planted in our feeds to boil our blood,” says TPPF’s David Dunmoyer. “I quickly realized that interacting with this tragedy and story through the lens of social media made this event maximally destructive. That is precisely why I plan on fasting from all secular media for the month of October, and I think you should too.”
For more on social media, click here.
Civility
What to know: A new study shows that Americans believe they are both civil and respectful, even as American society becomes less civil.
The TPPF take: Civility begins with seeing your opponents as human beings.
“Charlie Kirk was targeted with made-up accusations of racism and nationalism,” says TPPF’s Dr. Cliff Porter. “Dehumanizing him was essential to the violent Left, as is shown by the visceral response we all saw on social media—the joy that was taking in a father’s death in front of his family. You can’t do that if you see someone as a person.”
For more on civility, click here.