Andrew Poole

For years we’ve watched businesses and wealthy individuals of New Hampshire have their taxes cut in ways that do not increase the economic activity or produce jobs in any meaningful way. Instead we see higher property taxes, which are then challenged by local town budget hearings, and ultimately it’s the schools that are always targeted for cuts with no increases in the budget. As a young person, and a parent, I’m sick of watching the young people of this country sold out so that a handful of geriatrics and family dynasties can continue to line their pockets and steal the future away from those who didn’t have the luxury of being born into wealth. I want education prioritized higher than the interest and dividends of wealthy investors. I want my state to be one where we can be proud to say that our education isn’t unconstitutionally funded. It’s clear from the voting records that have shaped this landscape that education is not a priority for the granite state, and public funding for schools will continue to be the target of bad actors who seek to benefit from our tax dollars. Resulting from this, property taxes increase and housing becomes unaffordable to make up the difference. Supporting the funding of education is a crucial component of a functioning society, lest we fall victim to the brain drain of our residents seeking quality education elsewhere; something that has been made apparent by some of our lawmakers to intentionally drive people out of the state. This kind of exclusionary thinking should have no place in New Hampshire, let alone America, as we should be coming together to provide the best lives for our children and future generations - not kicking people out so a few antisocial bigots and prudes can live in a fantasy world detached from the reality that so many face. That is why I write in support of this legislation, and hope that many of our lawmakers will stop putting selfish interests first, look at how that mentality got us here, and work to improve things instead of doing the same thing over and over leaving our state and schools underfunded while they work on isolating themselves through immature perspectives and pet projects that push normal, caring people out.