Random Brain Food: Why I won't ever move back to Philadelphia

I love Philadelphia. It's a great city with a diverse population, great neighborhoods, some good schools, lots to do, and a lot of pride. One thing they also have is a completely inept, corrupt government.

It's important to know that Philadelphia is a one horse town, or donkey as it were, because the only political party that holds any power at all in the city are the Democrats. Now, this isn't a 'dems suck, republicans rule' post. Competition is a good thing for business and politics. When there are no checks and balances, no competition for your jobs every election day, no competition for control of the government...you just do whatever the hell you want, citizens be damned.

And that's exactly what goes on in Philadelphia. You're talking about a city that took stimulus dollars, has had a 1% sales tax (in addition to the state sales tax of 6%) for years, and has a city wage tax somewhere in the neighborhood of 5-7%. With a city of 1.5 million people...the majority of whom work and pay that wage tax, then turn around and shop in the city, thus paying the sales tax...you'd think that the government would have enough money to not suck as badly as it does.

Yeah, well...apparently all of that isn't enough. While the city has made strides as far as cleaning up certain areas, bringing in developers to build beautiful condos and swanky areas around Spring Garden and other areas...while the city successfully negotiated and built 2 beautiful, world class stadiums that bring in millions of fans a year...all of whom buy something that then kicks back more money into the city's coffers...none of that was enough to avoid a budget crisis that almost cost hundreds of jobs (including police, which this city can't afford to cut back on). It's absolutely ridiculous. Where is the money going?

I was at a parade with the Archbishop Ryan HS Band right after Mayor Nutter was inaugurated. He showed up in a beautiful, new, black SUV with security and a whole entourage. Where does that money come from? What is going on in City Hall that, even with all of the sources of revenue that this city has going for it, they go on TV threatening jobs and a "doomsday budget" that shuts down libraries if "Harrisburg" doesn't do it's job and allow the city to raise its sales tax AGAIN and defer payments into the city's pension fund.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/20090918_City_avoid___Doomsday_.html

Where is accountability in Philadelphia? Why was someone like John Street...someone the feds though enough of to put hidden cameras in his office...elected to two terms? Why do we keep electing City Council members to the mayor's office? I don't get it.

The city looks better than it ever has, but at what cost? Philadelphia has to bribe businesses to stay within the city limits by offering huge tax rebates to companies. Talk about a huge potential revenue stream! Instead, they just tax the hell out of the middle class. Open your eyes, Philadelphians! While people are sitting on their porches all day in North Philly collecting their welfare checks and not looking for a job, you're working hard and then giving a good bit of your paycheck to a city that can't manage the money. Why? You worked for that money. Is it supposed to be a privilege to live and work in the City of Philadelphia?

When will your government treat you like it's a privilege to have you as a citizen?

I'll tell you when...when you stop electing people just because they're Democrat and actually start LISTENING to the words that are coming out of their mouths and then get off your lazy butts and actually research their record.

They don't respect you. They flat out LIE to you and tell you what you want to hear so that you'll elect them, and then they do whatever the hell they want and blow you off when you say, "um...what?" You don't know what you're talking about. This is big boy, government stuff. You just do your job and go to work and keep giving us money. We'll create more programs for the people NOT PAYING TAXES...even wage taxes because they're not working...and give them YOUR money.

It's YOUR money. Yes, the federal, state, and local governments need some of your money so that they can operate...but it's YOUR money so you should have a say in how it's spent. Right? Doesn't that MAKE SENSE??

I moved out of Philadelphia about 3 years ago and I will never live within the city limits again if I can at all help it. I cannot and will not allow that city government to take 5-7% of my paycheck, then add 2% to everything I by just so they can go to Harrisburg and Washington DC and stand there with their hands out threatening to lay people off if they're not given more money.

They're blackmailing the state. This is wrong. Figure it out, Philadelphia. City Council and the mayor's office is laughing at you. They don't respect you. They're not helping you. They're stealing from you and then creating programs that make people dependent on the government.

This is our city, our country, and our lives. Be responsible for yourself, elect people who are going to serve you they way you deserve to be served, and live your life.

Unbelievable. Philadelphia government, I give you the one-fingered salute.