What surprised me the most is how extremely biased the media was about the whole thing. I mean, I know they are biased, but I don't remember it ever being just so obvious. And I just couldn't understand why anybody would have an issue with the protests. I mean, are there really that many people out there that think the government is doing a good job with our money? And that we're just fine paying the amount of taxes that we do? I really have a tough time understanding that logic.
Anyway, to go along with the video, I thought I'd add in some words from Tim Eyman who testified against the Washington tax increase proposals on April 17th:
"You're fooling no one.
It's become the oldest trick in the book - fund non-essential programs with existing taxes, then hold essential programs hostage, demanding a voter-approved ransom to get them back. You regularly put emergency medical services on the ballot and tell voters "approve this tax increase or you're all gonna die."
It is pure manipulation - it is transparent, obvious, and despicable.
You are fooling no one.
You say these are 'temporary' taxes. No taxes are ever temporary - you always find a way to keep 'em going. You say these are 'dedicated' taxes. There's no such thing - taxes can't be dedicated - once you get the money, you can spend them on anything you want.
In 2002, the voters approved a tobacco tax increase dedicated for one thing, but then the Legislature took the money and spent it on something else.
In 2005, the voters dedicated a revenue stream for performance audits, and right now the Legislature is taking half its money and spending it someplace else.
Saying these taxes will be temporary doesn't pass the straight face test - saying they are dedicated is simply untrue.
Even the newspapers are fed up. Last week the News Tribune wrote: "This . reeks. Voters will see right through (this) ploy to make the state's neediest the poster children for new taxes. Failure of the ballot measure . will be lawmakers' fault, not the electorate's."
Representative DeBolt hit the nail on the head: "This whole thing is gamesmanship - you cut the most vulnerable, you cut the most atrocious things you can, you send it to the voters, you show them pictures of people in basic states of panic, you tell them they have to give you more money . and then you take that money and give it to the Arts Commission."
You are fooling no one.
Democrats claim they're on the side of the poor and middle class - and now you turn around and jack up sales taxes that disproportionately hurts them. Democrats say they don't like to raise taxes on the poor and middle class - but then you jack up cigarette taxes, utility taxes, and liquor taxes that disproportionately hammers them.
The best thing you can do for the poor and middle class is to stop taxing and fee'ing them to death.
Dante's Inferno describes the seven circles of hell. There needs to be an 8th circle added and reserved for politicians who are willing to throw the elderly and the disabled under the bus, defund their programs, and then exploit them, using them as props and pawns in their never-ending pursuit of higher taxes. Have you no shame?
You are fooling no one."
3 comments:
I think the problem is that the lawmakers have been fooling us. We rarely know when the "dedicated" tax increases that we vote for are used for other means. Of course, I usually just vote no on any increase. Spending over 50% of our income on taxes is plenty. They just need to divvy it up better and stop wasting the taxes collected on lousy projects.
I know who it is that doesn't mind the tax increase...it's the people not paying taxes...you know, the people getting redistribution posing as "tax cuts."
touché
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