When you are a hammer everything looks like a nail and when you are the government, every problem can be solved by a tax.
Running for office I hear the closed door conversations. Invest, levy, tax , forced contribution, are the words of the day. Even as the middle class and the working poor stretch and strain to keep from collapsing in to poverty and homelessness, behind closed doors, policy makers discuss the next wave of taxes. The impact of these actions on the average people who will be paying the bills is seldom part of the discussion.
Carbon tax, income tax, capital gains tax, tolls, gas tax, and a countywide housing tax are all on the table. Little thought is given to alternative solutions.
Increasing taxes raises the cost of living and detrimentally impacts our families, businesses and communities. Here on the east-side people need to make close to $30 an hour and in Seattle the rate is $27, a far cry from the $15 and hour minimum wage recently passed in Seattle and being discussed statewide. As increases in property taxes, foreclosure and unemployment impact rural communities, people are driven to the urban areas straining our schools, our transportation system and our housing market. Ironically, increasing taxes adds to this strain.
Some propose, a capital gains tax or an income tax on the wealthiest wage earners saying this is “fair”, but effectively, this approach takes money from individuals and funnels it to government agencies and then it returns to our communities’ in the form of public services for pennies on the dollar. There is also the question of how we define wealthy.
Education, transportation and homelessness are all issues being leveraged to legitimize a wave of tax increases in 2017. I continually hear about how we must “fund McCleary” or face a $100,000 a day sanction, for example. No one dares to question the courts authority to leverage such a sanction or whether or not “ample provision was meant to mean “blank check”. Meanwhile, the Washington Education Association (WEA) files yet another legal action to fight a possible alternative to raising taxes: educational choice via charter schools. Not surprising that the WEA is supporting candidates who support taxes to foot the bill. When I tried to challenge this line of thinking during my recent Seattle Times interview, I was discredited.
Ironically, taxes and programs meant to solve issues, are going to exacerbate them. But the government is not really in the business of efficiently solving problems. Modern government works to sustain itself and grow. Like a parasite feeding off its host, government feeds on taxes and those employed by government are willing and very vocal participants. Politicians are often well funded by special interests who will benefit from these same taxes. The candidates who oppose, often lack the resources to expose the truth and media is biased toward the status quo.
I urge the public to become aware and educated this election cycle. Do your homework. Ask questions of those who are running for office. Think about the lasting implications of proposals like the $54 B ST3 project that could cost property owners $25,000 over the course of the project, with an undefined return on investment. What happens if your family experiences a loss of income or emergency? Ask legislators and candidates if they have considered other policy recommendations that do not come with a price tag. Remind them that your family does not have the ability to arbitrarily increase your household income to keep up with the increasing tax burden placed upon you. Remind them that the less discretionary income you have, the less you can buy, invest and enjoy and the closer you are to collapsing into poverty yourself. Remind them that “tax” is forced redistribution of the money you work hard to earn, money that when removed from your wallet, is no longer available for your community, your family or your future.
Vote and vote smart. Your wallet depends on it. If you do not, you will feel like you were hit by a hammer in 2017.
BE the change."
- Michelle Darnell
Michelle is fighting for YOU in Washington State.
Pushing for REAL Education Reform in WA!
Michelle Darnell for 48th Legislative District.
This fight needs your help. Whatever you can provide is a step forward towards the goal. It's not just a donation, it's an INVESTMENT into everyone's future: https://secure.piryx.com/
http://
http://www.facebook.com/mdarnellwashington
http://www.twitter.com/Darnell4Change
- Michelle Darnell
Michelle is fighting for YOU in Washington State.
Pushing for REAL Education Reform in WA!
Michelle Darnell for 48th Legislative District.
This fight needs your help. Whatever you can provide is a step forward towards the goal. It's not just a donation, it's an INVESTMENT into everyone's future: https://secure.piryx.com/
http://
http://www.facebook.com/mdarnellwashington
http://www.twitter.com/Darnell4Change
