An interesting example of this is in Oregon, which is in terrible financial shape, and has a proposal to be voted on January 28th that would impose a small tax increase (on the order of 48 cents a year -- yes, a year -- for low income people, $16.76 a year for those in the $10,000 - 20,000 income bracket, up to $50 a year for the highest income taxpayers. Less than a dollar a week. If this doesn't pass, many bad things will happen, including major cuts in school funding, closing 8 prisons and releasing 4,300 prisoners, eliminating treatment for cancer, mental health, and other health services for nearly a half million Oregonians, and other bad things. You would think it would be a no brainer if your concept of societial development is accurate. But it is running far behind and is expected to fail.
Maybe because the Oregonians are smart enough to recognize the false dilemma or "Accedpt tax increases (or forgo tax cuts) or all these popular and important programs will be slashed." Politicians do that a lot, any time there revenue is going to go down they say that it will mean the most vital and or popular programs will be cut rather then cutting less vital programs including their own pet programs and finding other ways to reduce spending.
Tim |
