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How are these people still in power?

It is a remarkable thing when the people of the state refuse to accept new taxes (even with threats on education and health care), and yet the governing body can do nothing better than make attempts at pasing more taxes rather than perform the will of their electors. Sales tax talk is gearing up again in Salem and it looks like there may be bi-partisan support for a tax at around 5%.

Advocates of a sales tax or other type of business transaction tax argue that a new tax is needed to stabilize Oregon’s system. The state has the second-highest income tax in the nation – a poor choice because the tax is highly volatile and sensitive to economic slumps, sales tax advocates say.

When government can’t be paid for even with the second highest income tax in the nation, there is a problem with the spenders and not with the providers. I think that Winston Churchill put it best when he said: “We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.”

  1. Jalen says:

    Thanks for intdorucnig a little rationality into this debate.

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