The Liberals' Only Option
The Tennessean scolds the people of Wilson County for not wanting their property taxes raised (to fund construction of a new elementary school), expressing the view that revenue must be raised. In the world of 1100 Broadway, there is never any option other than raising taxes. The editorial in a nutshell: Blah blah blah people don't want higher taxes blah blah blah raise taxes anyway because that's being 'responsible' blah blah blah it's the legislature's fault (because they didn't pass an income tax) blah blah blah do it for the children blah blah blah.

You Wilson Countians don't want higher property taxes? Then you'll have to accept a higher wheel tax, says The Tennessean. Don't like that? That's too bad, because raising the local sales tax would be a "tougher sell."

Here's some ideas The Tennessean doesn't urge Wilson County to consider: Live within existing revenues! Don't buy something you can't afford! Stop putting more and more stuff on the public credit card! Pay off some current debt before incurring new debt that requires more revenue! That's the "responsible" thing to do. And why not consider selling the exising school property to a developer to raise a portion of the cost of building the replacement school? The wise sages at The Tennessean never consider alternatives to raising taxes because, well, because only by raising taxes does government, which The Tennessean trusts implicitly (unless run by conservatives) take more money away from taxpayers, whom The Tennessean doesn't trust unless they vote for liberals.