Palin’s conservatism flawed

Sarah Palin’s failure to pay adequate property taxes and her attorney’s response to the allegation provide a good example of what is wrong with modern conservative political attitudes toward government and the questionable personal character that often accompanies such attitudes.

The act of knowingly failing to pay adequate property taxes is dishonest and clearly illegal. It is irresponsible because it forces Palin’s fellow (honest) taxpayers to foot the bill (without her full contribution) not only for the services that property taxes provide, but also for her property assessment, including the expense of the flyover.

Her actions are hypocritical because, while she travels the country prattling on about “less government,” she is more than willing to allow the government to assume responsibility for ensuring that she is acting responsibly and honestly. The irony is that had she reported the structures in the first place, less government action would likely have been required to ensure a proper tax assessment.

We should all hope that those who support Palin and her ilk, many of whom are most vulnerable to the detrimental effects of her brand of conservative politics, will soon come to understand why we cannot afford such attitudes in government.

Charles Mortensen

Sandpoint