ALERT! Mass has a ballot measure to eliminate state income tax! LINK

[Blackhatjack]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/28/us/28ballot.html?adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1222621430-41YSt2hDA5enQCavCyI8FQ

Massachusetts Proposal Would Repeal Income Tax

"That view is exactly what most state and local officials in Massachusetts are afraid of. Amid the whirlwind presidential election, Massachusetts has a ballot contest of its own this November that could drastically alter — some would say cripple — state government.

At issue is Question 1, which would eliminate the state income tax. It would save the average taxpayer about $3,600 a year. Annual revenue from the tax is about $12.5 billion, roughly 45 percent of the state’s budget of about $28 billion."

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COMMENT: Think for a moment what this would mean to healthcare, education, infrastructure, disaster preparedness and response, and all other programs that provide essential services to citizens. This must be Grover Norquist dream come true!

[Zynx]

1. This is why I don't trust direct democracy. I never will.

[sandnsea]

2. Some states operate on sales tax alone

WA & NV don't have income tax, or didn't used to. Several states don't have sales tax. And the population of WA is similar to MA. I'm not advocating this mind you, I'm just pointing out how things are done in other states.

On Edit Yes, I realize NV has gambling taxes too.

[pnwmom]

6. But that apparently wouldn't be an option there -- everyone interviewed

for the article talked simply about massive slashes in the budget. I wonder how the bill is worded?

I live in one of those states with a more regressive tax system -- by the will of the majority. Every once in a while the idea of a state income tax pops up again, and is shot down.

[billyoc]

3. You can't protect people from themselves easily.

Some, not at all.

[weezie1317]

4. It won't pass. Enough of us see the disaster that is New Hampshire.

[HughMoran]

5. I live in NH

We pay more than our share of propery taxes to compensate.

[ShadowLiberal]

7. That's why we shouldn't have direct democracy, only very dangerous things like this go on the ballot

That and attempts to overturn what the state supreme court has ruled in the past (like those vile antigay marriage amendments)

[1corona4u]

8. Florida doesn't have state income tax, and we do just fine....

[tech3149]

9. Really? Would you care to do some research?

Where does FLA stand in education, health care, public transport, and other public services? From memory, I think Florida falls in the lowest fifth in all of these areas. I won't say that the 3% state income tax I pay in PA is well spent, but I don't have a problem paying my fair share to keep things working. Pa might not beat FLA by much, but we don't do too bad without the influence of tourist income.

[1corona4u]

12. I live here. I don't need to do any research.

I don't see that Florida is behind in anything. Maybe some unpopulated areas are, but not where I live. But then again, I'm in one of the richest county too. This is a transient state. PA is not. If there are any "issues" with Florida, it's because of the transient nature (turn over of people, who are not dedicated to the area) of it, not the lack of income taxes. I've lived other places as well. St. Louis, Phoenix, Fort Worth, Fresno, Tucson...and they all had state income tax when I was there, and it wasn't a better way of life than we have here.


Schools? We are the 11th largest school district in the US. It's not going to be perfect. We also have 6 million more people in this state, than PA does. We have a tri-rail train that runs north from where I live to Miami. We have city busses that run virtually the entire length of the east coast, as far west as Lake Okeechobee.

I'm not even going to go into this any further. It's just a non issue for me.

But, I will never live in another state that has state income tax.

It really pisses me off too, when people slam the state I live in. I don't recall ever slamming someone's state. Ever.

[endthewar]

10. If only you had money to fix your ballots

:rofl:

Sorry, but you left your state open to that one. :hi:

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

11. Fl switched to 100 % paper this year... the new problem

is that they are using the "no match no vote" rule to weed out some of the voters who
registered after Sept 8.

The other 11 million plus voters don't have to "match" the DMV or SS database.
Often under normal circumstances, about 20% would fail to match the social security database.
(only last 4 digits are used, many people have same last four as well as same name)

[1corona4u]

14. WELL, FUCKING FLORIDA CAN'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT...

I guess I may as well NOT VOTE.

[1corona4u]

13. If we only had a intelligent SOE.

It's not about money. But then you know that.

[Mariana]

15. Hasn't this been on the ballot before in Mass?