Economist Michael Austin speaks at the KC Metro Quarterly Town Hall in Olathe

Nearly 50 people gathered to hear economist Michael Austin speak at the KC Metro Quarterly Town Hall, hosted by Convention of States (COS) with dinner provided by Americans For Prosperity (AFP). The event took place at American Legion Hall at 410 E. Dennis, Olathe, KS from 6:15 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 18.

The event opened with Kansas Grassroots Coordinator for COS Connie Davidson speaking a little bit on the mission of the nonpartisan organization.

“We’re attempting to make amendments to our constitution to bring the federal government back under control,” Davidson said. “We’re trying to get amendments proposed that will limit the government and bring small government back to the states.”

Harrison Skye spoke next, providing information on AFP.

“Americans for Prosperity is about bringing the power back to the people,” Skye said. “…There are three different priority initiatives we are working on right now. One being taxes. We want to make sure you have the ability and the right to use your money the way that best benefits your family…. Two, is parent’s rights and having a choice in education. Parents know best. You know your kids much better than a government bureaucrat ever would or could. The last is energy policy. Kansas produces a lot of energy, but at the end of the day a lot of it is going outside of the state, and we have a monopoly right now that does not leave consumers with many different options.”

Austin, a free-market economist, focused on the topic of how we are giving away our freedom as it relates to the free-markets being taken over by an ever growing government.

“What I’ve learned from my academic experience as well as my professional experience is that whenever people have more freedom, they tend to live better,” Austin stated. “Whenever people are allowed to solve the issues they’re facing—their own resources, their own time, what have you—they solve that problem better than anyone else. Whenever you have a one-size fits all plan, it doesn’t matter how smart the person is, it’s doomed to fail.”

Austin went onto talk about how certain beliefs tend to stick together, stating that it’s “not a coincidence,” and referencing ‘A Conflict of Visions’ by economist Thomas Sowell. In the book, Sowell explains how we can tell the plight and struggle we’re in from noting two competing visions.

“Today’s speech that I plan on giving you today, is yes, about the growth of government, and it’s also about the denial of the American public,” Austin said. “…What We the People want is being ignored… persecuted… or prosecuted. Either way, the will of the People is not being heard because there are elitists in the institutions of our society, whether it’s education… government… or business, that believe that they know more than you do.”

He went into the necessity of checks and balances of which the constitution provides due to the idea that human beings are selfish and absolute power corrupts. He conflicted this with the idea that human beings are not selfish and a good leader will be able to fix everything which has never worked in human history and has led to atrocities.

Austin went into the topic of individual’s choices needing to be made by individuals themselves, and not by politicians like Gov. Laura Kelly.

“She is sitting as an example on roughly $3 billion of your tax dollars,” Austin said. “…Instead of giving it back to you, she believes that she has a better use for it, and that’s expanding the growth of government…. This is the type of vision that we are fighting against.”

He stated that regardless of the politician as what we’re seeing is “to have power no matter the cost,” it’s power at the expense of our resources, freedom, and sometimes even our lives.

“It doesn’t matter whether I’m here with AFP or whether we’re here as Convention of States,” Austin said. “We’re using the constitution because we believe in that vision, and we believe that the best way for society to flourish is that we can check the evil impulses of human nature. That’s the only way that we can keep this country as the shining city on the hill that it is.”

Austin dived deeper into the three issues AFP is currently focused on—taxation, education, and energy.

As a chief economist for two Kansas governors, Austin spoke on taxes first, highlighting the importance of Kansas moving to a single tax rate in order to simplify the Kansas tax code and allow people to keep more of their money.

“Here in Kansas, we have three tax brackets,” Austin said. “The bottom one is 3.1 percent, the middle is 5.25, and the highest one is 5.7. The rate for that, if you’re married, is $30,000 and then $60,000…. What we’re proposing here at AFP and what we’re working with legislators on is to reduce that to one rate.”

The proposed rate is 5.15 percent. This single tax rate would be complimented with a standard deduction increased to an income of roughly $20,000 that will not be taxed. What that means is roughly your first $20,000 of income would not be taxed by the state. In order to calculate your income to see what you are taxed currently and what you would be taxed under this new proposal, you can click here.

Austin went into the importance of education freedom, providing his own educational background story which took him from New York City to Topeka.

“If you think about the education system, it is the only system that we have today where, because of where you live, you don’t have it as good as others,” Austin said. “If I wanted to buy a Dodge Challenger, it doesn’t matter where I live, I can buy a Dodge Challenger. If I wanted to watch some show on Netflix, it doesn’t matter where I live… I can watch that show on Netflix. If I want a good education, I have to know where I’m going to live.”

He stated that AFP is working to create policy so that tax dollars follow the students, allowing for greater competition which would inevitably benefit consumers.

“If you’re providing education for my child, and I don’t like what you’re doing, then I should be able to take my child and my money and go,” Austin said.

Austin finished by speaking on energy, stating that we’re seeing horrible service and higher prices due to an “energy monopoly,” and Kansas needs to increase competition in this sector to lower energy prices across the state.

“Even outside of those three particular issues, think about any other problem that we’re seeing in our country or state today,” Austin said in concluding his speech. “…It’s a push of ideology all about the approval of the American public…. The unconstrained vision has a vision for this country, but they know their vision is not popular and not what people really want. But because they have this view of how the country should be, they’re going to ram it down your throats with whatever power they can get ahold of. So, our job is to not only push for a belief of what it really means to be human and what it really means to be people and followers of the faith, but also to set up a government where we can have those checks and balances where we can stop those abuses of power… That’s why I think Convention of States and Americans For Prosperity can have a beautiful relationship as long as we continue to stick together.”

The evening ended with Austin answering the audience’s questions.