On November 4th, you won't only be voting for a new leader for this nation, but on issues the people have brought to attention and have reached the ballot. The first ballot question this November will likely determine the economic future of the commonwealth.
Question one is an initiative to end the state income tax, cutting the state budget by over 12 billion dollars (or 40%). The passage of this initiative would mean law makers would have to make those cuts to the state budget (try it yourself here). Proponents of the initiative argue this will force the government to end waste and force the state to cut programs or make them run efficiently. These aims are admirable, and I agree the state needs to cut down on spending and run more efficiently.
However, eliminating the income tax will only hurt the commonwealth and its residents. The revenue cut caused by the loss of the income tax will lead to severe cuts for public education and in local aid (65% or more in most communities according to the opposition). Public higher education will also be dealt a severe blow. The UMass system will be forced to cut numerous programs and services as well as raise fees so students pay more for less. UMass economics professors estimate that for UMass Amherst to keep up the current level of services, tuition and fees would need to be raised by an estimated $5,372. This was released as a flyer on the UMass Amherst campus and includes opposition of the measure by the UMass Amherst Student Government Association, the University Staff Association, the Massachusetts Society of Professors, and the Graduate Employee Association. The UMass Boston undergraduate student senate is also expected to vote on a resolution against this measure on Wednesday.
Cuts will not just affect higher education, but also local services, including police and fire departments, libraries, disabled persons services, and more. When the current state of the economy is factored in, the state's revenue is already going to drop significantly, and the state is already being forced to make emergency budget cuts. Factor in a loss of revenue from the income tax, and state and local officials will be pressured to raise taxes elsewhere to make up the discrepancy in revenue in order to continue necessary projects.
That being said, I urge you all to vote no on question 1; it will do nothing but harm the state and its residents.
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It's time for people to stand on their own 2 feet : Without the government doing their parade of handouts. Early treasurers decided on this centuries ago : that a surplus led to reckless spending. What did they do about it? Spend the treasury into oblivion, establish a national deficit to keep the government honest. Liberal Massachusetts, with our bonehead special interest governer, needs to crack down, and this is the way to do it. Learn to stand up, privatize more aspects of communities, whatever it takes. Besides : property and other taxes will be raised to make up for it. It's a vicious cycle.
Our schools need funding. To vote out this form of revenue for the state would be a mistake.
To get rid of income tax would be a big mistake. Besides, it will only be redistributed in the form of property and sales taxes.
Nice piece, Dan, but keep in mind that lowering income taxes means that John Q Citizen will have more money to spend and will be able to consume more. This means that revenue is still collected by the government, just in a different form through consumption taxes and more income taxes. By consuming goods and services, business become more vibrant, jobs are created (when jobs are created, more people are paying taxes and more money is making it's way into government coffers) and productivity picks up.
1) Yes on #1! You just have to live in means and working in government and bureaucracy, there's plenty of pork to cut, they will survive on sales tax, cigarette taxes, lottery tickets, fares charged to use the roads and through private donations and charity.
Leave the taxpayer alone and let us keep the ECONOMY going. We do a better job with our money than the govt!~
A lawsuit, Berg v. Obama, brought by Philip J. Berg, a Philadelphia attorney, alleges Obama is not eligible to be president.
Instead of producing records proving Obama is a natural born citizen, Obama and the Democratic National Committee have filed a motion seeking a protective order to block production of documents until a motion to dismiss is the law suit is ruled on by the court. Obama and the Democratic National Committee also claim attorney Berg has no standing - has no right - to bring the lawsuit.
What is it that Obama and the Democratic National Committee are trying to hide?
Why not just produce documents that prove Obama's citizenship and make the lawsuit go away?
Watch the following video in which, Berg talks about his lawsuit:
Jeff and Jeffrey-
The state cannot survive on those taxes, at least not in this economy. People are afraid to spend money, fearing that a Depression will come and they will be left only with what they have under their mattresses.
As for the suit-
Are you aware not ONE suit like this has EVER prevailed? Every last one has been thrown out, including one brought against McCain. There has been a suit like this brought against what is likely a majority of presidential candidates, and not one has gone into serious consideration.
He has to prove eligibility to get on the ballot in the primaries, make it past the DNC who is desperate for a win and isn't going to overlook anything that could potentially damage their chances (or end them all together), and similar eligibility must be needed for him to be able to be elected to and sit on the Senate.
There are plenty of other reasons you can use to argue Obama should not be elected. Following an attorney pursuing what will end up being a failed case is unnecessary.
Daiel, I agree wih you, as you know, I do not live in MA, left when I was very young, before you were born, but how can anyone expect the state to provide the servies they provide, especially fire and police if they do away with state income tax...anyone is not thinking very straight if they thisk this will help them...and as state by others, if the state income tax is gone then they will only tax other things,and it may cost you more in the long run...
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