by the Left Coast Rebel
Leave it to Oregon to blaze trails in class warfare/wealth hatred/nuts and fruits profligacy. Yesterday voters in the state approved tax increase measures on both individuals and corporations in the state. Because, as you know, the problem with all levels of government is that there isn't enough taxation in this country, right? God forbid any level of government cut spending and reign in excess as households and businesses have to right now. God forbid that a state like Oregon start chopping away at administrative buearacracy. It's always - We're going to have to close schools and the fire department! It is sad that more Americans don't see through the lies.
How did proponents of these tax hikes get the measure through? Simple - big labor poured in millions in member dues to support and the powers that be used images of banking and credit card execs in commercials to garner (economically illiterate) votes. I wonder where businesses that are already struggling will head to? Nevada? Arizona? Surely not California.
Via Memeorandum, The Oregonian:
The double-barreled victory is the first voter-approved statewide income tax increase since the 1930s. Other states, facing similar budget woes, are watching the outcome closely because Oregon, after all, is a state that capped property taxes and locked a surplus tax rebate program into the constitution.
The last time voters approved a tax increase was 2002, when they agreed to bump up tobacco taxes to help pay for the Oregon Health Plan. Voters rejected income tax increases twice in recent years.
…Campaign ads by supporters highlighted banks and credit card companies and showed images of well-dressed people stepping off private jets. They also hammered on the $10 minimum tax that most corporations have paid since its inception in 1931.
Those messages helped counter warnings by opponents that the taxes would lead to job losses, worsening the state’s 11 percent unemployment rate, and prompt wealthy residents to move elsewhere.
UPDATE: Keyboard Jockey just chimed in with the perfect analogy/description of the state of Oregon and just the state that it is in, wow!:
"Oregon is California's Canada"
UPDATED x2: Donald Douglas writes a great piece and exposes the fallacy of the '$250,000' per year phantom straw man.
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