Can't have it both ways

A Detroit Free Press poll released yesterday showed that 58% of Michigan residents oppose the proposed tax on services.  In response, wizardkitten argued that many of the same people opposed to a tax increase would probably also be opposed to drastic budget cuts.

A Freep poll this morning tells us that people don't support the service tax idea, but these are people that have not been shown the consequences of not raising some revenue. It would be nice to see a poll on the Republican plans for drastic cuts, wouldn't it? Bet they wouldn't like that, either, because on the flip side, they still want higher spending for health care and education by whopping margins.

Unsurprisingly, she's right.  A Detroit Free Press poll released today shows that six in ten Michigan residents support an increase in higher education funding.  So, the message is that people don't want more taxes, but also do want increases in spending.

Obviously, there is a substantial disconnect between the perception of what taxes do and the actual role that taxes play in maintaining our quality of life.  For example, we know from other studies that people believe we spend far more on food stamps and foreign aid than what we actually do.  Our perceived budget priorities are not aligned with how that money is actually spent.

This is why it is so important that we actually see the Republican plan for cuts.  As advocates for solving our budget problems through cuts alone, the Senate Republicans have a responsibility to be honest with the people about what their plan entails.  Once people realize that they are going to be affected by particular budget cuts, the public outcry for a solution will start.  It's a matter of awareness.