State Republicans are in a tizzy because the Governor will call for a 2% sales tax on services. It's estimated the tax will cost the average Michigan family $65 per year, but raise $1 billion a year in new revenue for the state.
Frankly, I don't understand why Republicans are complaining. I'll gladly sacrifice $65 a year for the State of Michigan and my fellow Michiganders. Would I prefer to take that money and spend it on dinner and a show? Sure. But we all have to make sacrifices from time to time.
I thought Republicans of all people would understand sacrifice. President Bush just submitted a new budget that will bring the total for the Iraq war to $683 billion through 2009 - a debt that my grandchildren will still be paying years from now.
Michigan's share so far is nearly $10 billion, and the estimated cost of the war to every U.S. citizen (as of September 2006) is $1,222.
If I can sacrifice for the war, I can sacrifice for my state.
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5 comments:
Exactly. If $65 more a year means our cops will continue to patrol our streets, our kids continue to get educated and the poor continue to get access to medical care (maybe someday all of us will get medical care), I don't begrudge it. $65 won't get me a house in a private gated community after all, so we're all in this together.
Republicans only like sacrifice when it's the other guy whose doing the sacrificing.
I have mixed feelings about a service tax, though. It's a lot more painful for lower-income folks than others. I'd rather see an income tax hike for the upper brackets than service/sales taxes.
I don't wish to pay more taxes. Perhaps if the federal government spent less on unnecessary wars, more federal revenues could come back to the states. That won't solve our current budget woes, but will solve future problems.
Hmm. A strong economy, good roads, a clean environment, quality healthcare, and a strong education system... or $65? I'll pay $65 for all of that any day - and I'm a less-than-wealthy college student!!
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