No hero to the people, mighty morphin’ taxes
This is a response to “Gates Sr. pushes for state income tax on wealthy” [page one, April 21].
How many times do we need to see a new tax that was originally touted as “just on the wealthy” morph into something very different?
Originally, the U.S. income tax was sold as a tax that only the top 1 percent would ever have to pay. Now look where we are at: When the value added tax was first introduced in Europe, most rates were below 10 percent. Now most rates have more than doubled to nearly 20 percent of purchases.
While the vast majority of us would be nowhere near the tax level now, given time, inflation and modifications to the law by politicians, our children could end up with another claim on their incomes. The last thing we need is another foot in the door for government forcibly spending more of the people’s money.
— Chris Waldorf, Seattle
More taxes would give legislatures pocket to pick to cover ballooned budgets
It was comforting to note that someone still has money to give away. We all know that it is easy to give money away to the IRS just by writing a check to the U.S. Treasury.
Pure and simple, this is another attempt to open the door for a long-term opportunity to invoke an income tax, supplementing our sales tax. Two ways, then, to increase our taxes will be a real boon for our state legislators to “pick and choose” funding of ballooned budgets.
If we approve an income tax, rest assured, we will wind up with both and the floodgates to spending will be open.
— Robert J. Monks, Poulsbo