Comments on: Liberal Revenue Agents: 115 Groups Unite to Promote New Taxes http://www.olympianews.org/2010/02/04/liberal-revenue-agents/ A Non-Profit, Independent Source of News on Washington State Government & Politics Sat, 24 Apr 2010 15:36:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Al http://www.olympianews.org/2010/02/04/liberal-revenue-agents/comment-page-1/#comment-116 Al Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:49:54 +0000 http://www.olympianews.org/?p=549#comment-116 Are you kidding me? Is it not like the State sucks enough money out of your wallets already? I woudl suggest that you go read the budgets for the departments and see where they can cut some administrative fat and streamline their programs. I woudl submit the Lottery Fund that was to benefit education as a lost cause. Most of that money goes to the general fund and never reaches education. If you really want to help, ask the government to get out of the way and people will help. Then you will see more charitable giving. Rember people always give more when asked as opposed to when forced to give. Are you kidding me? Is it not like the State sucks enough money out of your wallets already? I woudl suggest that you go read the budgets for the departments and see where they can cut some administrative fat and streamline their programs. I woudl submit the Lottery Fund that was to benefit education as a lost cause. Most of that money goes to the general fund and never reaches education. If you really want to help, ask the government to get out of the way and people will help. Then you will see more charitable giving. Rember people always give more when asked as opposed to when forced to give.

]]> By: berd http://www.olympianews.org/2010/02/04/liberal-revenue-agents/comment-page-1/#comment-93 berd Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:42:33 +0000 http://www.olympianews.org/?p=549#comment-93 Thanks for this article. 115 groups! It's good to know of such a great coalition. I agree with the two previous commenters. Thanks for this article. 115 groups! It’s good to know of such a great coalition. I agree with the two previous commenters.

]]> By: Shannon http://www.olympianews.org/2010/02/04/liberal-revenue-agents/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Shannon Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:36:06 +0000 http://www.olympianews.org/?p=549#comment-90 I'm glad that people are working together to make a strong statement and fill our revenue gap, but I think that some of their tax suggestions are ill-considered, especially in a poor economy and a world in which neoliberal globalization cannot be ignored. What I would really like to see is: 1. The institution of a graduated income tax. 2. The abolishment of the sales tax. Aside from decreasing resistance to the income tax, abolishing the sales tax would remove one of the most regressive taxes we have, increase tourism, and close the revenue loophole caused by people who live in Washington and shop in Oregon. 3. The reduction of property taxes and a new tax at the time of sale on the profit made by increasing home values, tied to inflation and purchasing power parity, with graduated rebates available for people who are selling because they are retiring, became disabled, or experienced a sharp decrease in their income due to circumstances beyond their control. 4. A tax on vacant buildings, that increases the longer the building remains empty. Unfortunately, my ideal revenue package is politically unfeasible because it would effect some of the big donors. I’m glad that people are working together to make a strong statement and fill our revenue gap, but I think that some of their tax suggestions are ill-considered, especially in a poor economy and a world in which neoliberal globalization cannot be ignored.

What I would really like to see is:

1. The institution of a graduated income tax.

2. The abolishment of the sales tax. Aside from decreasing resistance to the income tax, abolishing the sales tax would remove one of the most regressive taxes we have, increase tourism, and close the revenue loophole caused by people who live in Washington and shop in Oregon.

3. The reduction of property taxes and a new tax at the time of sale on the profit made by increasing home values, tied to inflation and purchasing power parity, with graduated rebates available for people who are selling because they are retiring, became disabled, or experienced a sharp decrease in their income due to circumstances beyond their control.

4. A tax on vacant buildings, that increases the longer the building remains empty.

Unfortunately, my ideal revenue package is politically unfeasible because it would effect some of the big donors.

]]> By: Fat-tailed http://www.olympianews.org/2010/02/04/liberal-revenue-agents/comment-page-1/#comment-89 Fat-tailed Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:51:18 +0000 http://www.olympianews.org/?p=549#comment-89 Where did they come up with the $780 million goal? Seems a bit paltry compared to the scope of proposed cuts and scale of need discussed previously. Where did they come up with the $780 million goal? Seems a bit paltry compared to the scope of proposed cuts and scale of need discussed previously.

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