King County Proposition 1

[randy_byers]

This is for King County voters in Washington State. How are you going to vote on Proposition 1? This proposition would raise the county sales tax to help with the county budget. I sympathize with the need to do something about the budget catastrophe, but I'm really, really tired of solving our problems with a regressive sales tax. I'm leaning pretty strongly toward voting No on this one, despite the fact that all progressive organizations seem to be recommending a Yes vote. Any thoughts?

Comments

[don-fitch.livejournal.com]

I, too, am Strongly Opposed to a (regressive) sales-tax, yet feel that local (& larger) government entities should do many things for the citizens... and pay for these services, so I waffle when such proposals come up here in the LArea. Actually, I'm in favor of Thomas Jefferson's idea that only the Rich should pay taxes, to provide benefits for the lower & middle economic classes (the source of the wealth from which their riches come), but that would never go over now that the Very Rich can effectively control whatever the Government does.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

One of the statewide initiatives this year would impose an income tax on people making over $250,000 a year. It would be the first state income tax in Washington. I'm not sure how likely it is to pass. Probably not very.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

Some of the Resentful Rich are already under the impression that only the rich pay taxes, that the poor don't pay any. Apparently these people have been staring too long at the income tax schedules and have never heard of, for instance, a sales tax.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

This is a clear example of having to decide whether what you're letting the perfect become the enemy of is the good or not. Generally in tough cases like this I follow Dora Gaitskell's rule and ask myself, if I vote no, who will be cheering? Do you want to put yourself on the side of those who oppose the funding altogether? A more progressive tax would be preferable, but can you get one? (You've already answered that in a previous comment: "not very [likely].")

[voidampersand.livejournal.com]

People of ordinary means need county services more, so it is not completely unfair if they tax themselves more in order to ensure the services are available. And it's not like the rich folks aren't contributing. They buy expensive stuff, and in absolute terms pay more in sales taxes. It is only as a percentage of their wealth that they pay less tax. It's okay if the tax system is not as progressive as we would like. The problem is if it keeps getting more regressive. There is a slippery slope, where taxes keep getting cut on property and capital, and raised on labor and the poor. That needs to be turned around. But I would rather see it done in a positive way, not a "things have to get worse before they can get better way." Pass the best tax you can. Then work on getting the votes to replace it with a tax that is more fair.