by David Safier
(TASL)
Our accidental Gov said she's considering a billion dollars worth of tax hikes. A few other Republicans are actually nodding their heads in reluctant agreement. So far as I know, angry mobs have not stormed the Capitol with torches and pitchforks demanding the Governor's head — though some Republican legislators sound pretty pissed.
According to the Capitol Times' Yellow Sheet, Arizonans aren't anti tax these days.
According to one source, the polling on the tax increase question shows strong support, especially when the issue is framed as supporting education – and full-day K, in particular, was reportedly polling above 75% positive.
75% is a very impressive number. It's almost like, a party could run on the idea of increasing taxes for education and win.
Hmmm. A party could run on the idea of increasing taxes for education. And win.
Maybe I've missed something. Where are the Democrats on the tax issue? Hiding behind a saguaro, watching and waiting to make sure it's safe to say, "Maybe we could consider a teeny weeny little tax hike, if it's OK with you"?
If the Dems want to win some local and statewide races in 2010, they'd better get ahead of the curve and lead on this issue, not play it safe and reveal themselves to be cowards.
I know it's tough to say you think we need more taxes. It makes you look . . . I don't know . . . Progressive. Liberal. But it's not 2004 anymore. The world is a different place than it was when Kerry was running for President. The progressive/liberal perspective is overtaking the conservative way of viewing the world. Even Brewer has seen the writing on the wall and knows she's got to seem open to tax hikes if she has any hope of winning in 2010.
Arizona is ready. Is the Democratic Party?
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I think people are simply dumbed down and feel they have such little say in whether taxes go up or down. They are so used to politicians lying and not keeping their word. For once, some where in this great land there has to be one politician who is willing and able to talk about govt reining in spending. It’s runaway at this point.
Donna, from what I know of Thane, he a extreme Libertarian. They don’t believe that our society should have schools or roads or police, unless someone can make a buck off providing the service. “Externalities” in an economic sense don’t exist in a simplistic Libertarian world. And for some reason, and despite plenty of threats, they still won’t go “John Galt” to a Libertarian utopia like Somalia and leave the rest of us alone.
Well yeah, Thane, it does help if you explain to people what the tax hike is for. And frankly, it’s long past time to disabuse people of the notion that things like schools, roads, and police can be had without having to pay for them. Let us know how that “What do we need K-8 education for, anyway?” campaign works for you.
I think a call to simplify the tax code, i.e. take out all the special interest socialism via tax breaks would raise some revenue for starters and be popular. How many people not names Steve Pierce really get to claim any of them anyways?
The most regressive tax is the sales tax. It takes more money, as a percentage of income, from those least able to pay the tax. Surely, SUJRELY, we have minds here in Arizona that can work out a tax that is more fair than a sales tax.
Has there been a shift in the opinion among Arizonans, I just don’t see it. Even the generic anonymous survey you refer to presumes you have to sell full day Kindergarten to get the results they allegedly received.
I’m looking forward to seeing how many, if any of the 36 Democrats (and who knows how many of the Republicans) in the Arizona legislature decide to adopt your “Vote for a billion dollars of higher sales taxes – it will pay for K-8 public education.” idea.