Posted on 01/11/2003 8:11:17 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Article Last Updated: Friday, January 10, 2003 - 10:34:50 PM MST
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Public unfazed by hikes Katrina Darrett grew up in Oregon, where she could buy merchandise free of sales taxes. Still, the 30-year-old stay-at-home mother from Pacoima said she isn't too bothered by the prospect of paying 9.25 percent in sales tax to help bring revenue to California's beleaguered budget. "It's pretty steep, but if it's going to help with the deficit, I don't think it's going to push us off a cliff," she said Friday while shopping at the Panorama City Wal-Mart. Los Angeles County shoppers face sales taxes of 9.25 percent, up 1 percent, under a proposal unveiled by Gov. Gray Davis on Friday to help cover the state's projected $35 billion deficit. Davis also proposed a $1.10 per-pack tax increase on cigarettes and higher income taxes on top wage earners. Several people interviewed Friday in the San Fernando Valley said they were willing to swallow the bitter pill of higher taxes to maintain spending for schools, police, roads and other purposes. But others said the state, not taxpayers, should have to sacrifice. "Gov. Davis increased the size of government 40 percent in his first term," said Ron Hayes of Calabasas, sipping a cup of coffee at The Commons in Calabasas. "I think we need a top-to-bottom review of state government to cut any wasteful programs and expenditures. Higher sales taxes will just make it worse because it will only result in lower revenue to the state." At Cigarettes Cheaper in Reseda, reaction was predictably against the tobacco tax increase. Several smokers said the state is too eager to tax them, and that they're already shouldering the cost of settlements in lawsuits against cigarette manufacturers. Jake Mastran of Granada Hills said the higher taxes are pushing smokers toward cheaper foreign-made cigarettes, siphoning revenue from American tobacco companies. "The bottom line is that the smoker is going to get his smoke," Mastran said. "We've already switched from name-brand cigarettes to generics. Now I'm smoking foreign cigarettes from Turkey and other countries for $2 a pack instead of American cigarettes for $4 a pack." Roya Hashemi of Tarzana said she'd pay more for cigarettes if the money is earmarked toward education and other worthy programs. "It's not good, but I support it," she said. "It's not going to break my back." Francisco Esparza, a construction worker from Sylmar, said that while his income is limited, he'd rather pay more in taxes than witness a decline in services, especially police. Esparza said he travels regularly to Tecate, Mexico, to visit his 5-month-old son and immediately notices the higher quality of services and infrastructure in the United States. "I'm on my way to Mexico right now, and I can see the difference between the city I'm going to and the city I'm living in," he said. "I don't mind paying the higher taxes, but I don't know what they're going to do with that extra penny (of sales tax)." West Hills dentist Richard Sagerman said he isn't pleased by the prospect of higher incomes taxes but can stomach increases in sales and tobacco taxes. "I would be in favor of an increase in sales tax because I can control my spending within reason," he said. "I would be in favor of more luxury taxes and the tobacco tax is great because I don't smoke." Jon Yenney, a middle-school teacher from Northridge, said he would rather the state increase sales taxes than cut money from the education budget. "As far as sales taxes, I don't see that as that big of a deal," he said. "I think education is one area the governor shouldn't be messing around with." |
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Give this guy a gold star! He has to be a Freeper.
I was an Econ major in the early '80's, when "trickle down" Economics was being debated. I have YET to hear the Laffer Curve mentioned in ANY debate about tax cuts other than in an Econ class. It is a standard bell curve, with Gov revinues on the left bar, and tax rates on the bottom bar. There is no Economist that denys the accuracy of the Laffer curve, there is only debate as to how far to the right the curent tax rates are. The Kenedy (John F; after his death) and the Reagan tax cuts PROVED that we were on the wrong side of the curve. Yet, even on "right wing" talk radio, Mr Laffer is never mentioned. Rush may talk about the Reagan tax cuts doubling Fed revinue, but doesn't elaborate.
Let's put it this way. If your tax rate was 100%, would you go to work every day? Heck no you wouldn't! What would be the point?
The problem is that this is never explained to the masses, so they think that the only way to eleminate a deficit it to RAISE taxes, when the exact opposite it true! Lower taxes and you will GROW YOUR WAY OUT of the deficit; IF you control government spending!
MARK A SITY
http://www.logic101.net/
"It's pretty steep, but if it's going to help with the deficit, I don't think it's going to push us off a cliff," she said Friday while shopping at the Panorama City Wal-Mart.
Several people interviewed Friday in the San Fernando Valley said they were willing to swallow the bitter pill of higher taxes to maintain spending for schools, police, roads and other purposes
Roya Hashemi of Tarzana said she'd pay more for cigarettes if the money is earmarked toward education and other worthy programs.
"It's not good, but I support it," she said. "It's not going to break my back."
"I don't mind paying the higher taxes, but I don't know what they're going to do with that extra penny (of sales tax)."
Jon Yenney, a middle-school teacher from Northridge, said he would rather the state increase sales taxes than cut money from the education budget.
"As far as sales taxes, I don't see that as that big of a deal," he said. "I think education is one area the governor shouldn't be messing around with."
Unbelievable. The government needs the money, so I don't mind paying higher taxes. I like the quote about education being one area the governor shouldn't be messing around with, but I don't think the speaker meant it the way I think it could be interpreted.
That's not surprising since most of them are mind-numbed robots anyway.
I plan to send the SHIRT OFF MY BACK to Davis.
That's a great idea! Maybe we ought to have a campaign where millions of us Californians mail shirts to Davis!
And, after the FR pledge drive, perhaps we could run an ad in the LA Times, SF Chron, Sac Bee. ~ sigh...I long for the good old days when FReepers were activists!
That's because much to the dismay of Califronia/ns haters and self-loathing Californians most of us can afford it...If you can't, move to Oregon or Washington...try finding a job there.
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