Vote YES on Question 1!

[brassmonkey]

It's no secret that the government is massively wasteful and gluttonous. It's also no secret that our government run schools are failing our kids terribly and indoctrinating them into a life of government dependence and non self-reliance. The curriculum is dumbed down so much that my son in the sixth grade is doing work that should have been mastered in the fourth grade, all in the name of keeping the dumb kids from ever knowing they're dumb, but keeping the promising kids from ever realizing their potential. We can't remain a player in the big boy's club with these politically correct standards of education in place. Colleges are having to put new students into remedial classes to get them prepared for college, and that is just unacceptable.

The government just approved a bailout package that is the largest confiscation of personal wealth in the history of the world, and we're helpless to do anything about it.

Well, one thing we can do at our local level is to repeal the state income tax. This is the only way we're going to get the message to our governing officials that enough is enough! We can't just keep allowing them to waste our money. Just like every private citizen, they're just going to have to learn to make do with less.


From Michael Graham's blog:

So here you are, a Massachusetts taxpayer who's already taking it in the wallet for illegally-high income taxes to keep the graft rolling to the government/union pork barrel. Now you see a glimmer of hope: Question 1 to repeal the income tax is on the ballot--hurray!

Then one evening after a hard day's work, you're helping little Junior with his homework, and out of his homework folder floats this message from his middle school:

VOTE NO ON QUESTION 1!

Come learn about the devastating impact that Question 1 would have on our community.

That's right--the government employees YOU pay using YOUR money to fight against YOUR tax cut. And using YOUR kids to get out the message.

This can't be legal. This certainly isn't ethical. But you can see the flier for yourself, from McGlynn Middle School in Medford, MA.

But should we be surprised, when public school teachers are suing to wear their Vote Obama logos in the classrooms, and spending class time pledging allegiance to Obama?

The Big Government Left is going to use your money against you, as long as you keep giving it to them. That's why you've got to vote yes on Question 1."

[homebase]

Read the FULL TEXT OF QUESTION 1

SECTION 1. This law, to be known as The Small Government Act to End the Income Tax, is enacted upon the following findings and declarations:

This site here offers a vote as well as the arguments of both sides:

Proponents of the Initiative say:

* It will give more than $3,600 each to more than 3,000,000 Massachusetts workers each year.
* It will take $11 billion away from "Big Government" every year and give to the workers.
* This $11 billion a year will help create hundreds of thousands of new jobs in the state.
* It will force the Massachusetts legislature to cut the waste out of the state budget and get rid of government programs that don't work.
* It will make the legislature accountable to workers and taxpayers instead of others who might profit from high government spending.
* These changes will attract private, productive businesses and individuals, leading to more jobs and workers.

Opponents of the Initiative argue that:

* The proposal is reckless and will cost the Commonwealth more than $12 billion in revenues: 40 percent of the state budget.
* It will drive up local property taxes.
* It will put public safety at risk by reducing the number of fire fighters, police officers, and paramedics.
* Decrease funding for education, increasing class sizes and cutting after-school programs.
* Cut money for infrastructure improvements, which will lead to a serious deterioration in bridges and roads.
* It will limit health care access for seniors, people with disabilities, and working families and will increase waits in emergency rooms.

Poll results as of now are:

Yes - 41%
No - 51%
Undecided - 6%

All the fears that the opponents of this Act are screaming about should open their eyes at how well and effective all these Big Government funded programs are going.

[brassmonkey]

realname is clueless, as usual. She actually said, "Look north is my reply to those (I'm sure those are not your they) that ask what I think about this most idiotic of tax "breaks".
From where does the voting populace think monies needed to run this State will come from if we eliminate income tax?"

The whole purpose of this exercise, you idiot, is to get the state to CUT SPENDING, because they have proven to be ignoring the voting tax payers when it comes to spending. If they can't meet their budget, they're going to have to cut the fat-cut the public assistance to all the lazy people who refuse to work and like to live on the backs of those of us who do earn our way. People are going to have to stop relying on the government and earn a living for themselves, much to the Democrat party's dismay. It's an attention getter, and it seems we're getting their attention.

I found it particularly amusing that you chose to call Michael Graham an idiot.. That was a chuckle.

I know that you and your lefty loonies can't ever bring yourselves to criticize any Democrat politician, and especially one of a protected class, but spending is out of control. I can only imagine the amount of crying and hollering you'd be doing if we had a Republican state government right now.

[brassmonkey]

From www.smallgovernmentact.org

FACT: $47.3 billion is the total state government budget in Massachusetts this year.

FACT: $69.3 billion is total state, city and town government budget in Massachusetts this year.

FACT: Politicians in Massachusetts are spending more than $20,300 per taxpayer per year. Yikes! No wonder workers and taxpayers have been leaving Massachusetts for states with no income tax.

FACT: Massachusetts has the 5th highest tax burden in the country. After we end the income tax, our state's overall tax burden will still be higher than New Hampshire's.

Opponents of Ballot Question 1 - politicians and special interests who profit from high government spending - are hiding from you $16-19 billion dollars in "off budget" spending.

Opponents of Ballot Question 1 toss around two different figures, $28.2 billion and $31.8 billion, as the “state budget” – both of which are only part of it.

Why do they use two different figures? Smell fishy? The $31.8 billion figure they cite is an admission that their more-frequently quoted $28.2 billion figure is false. But both are way off the mark.

Much of the mainstream media news is giving Question 1 opponents cover by reporting the $28.2 billion figure as the "state budget." This media distortion helps to cover up the real spending - and the poor performance - of Massachusetts government. It’s a breach of taxpayer trust, and it cripples the democratic process that is designed to represent the majority of Massachusetts voters.

The $47.3 billion total state budget comes from an audited Massachusetts government report at this government web site: TOTAL MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET. Go to page 320 of the pdf file (page 312 of the government report) titled "Ten-Year Schedule Of Expenditures And Other Financing Uses By Secretariat." You'll see that Massachusetts state spending two years ago was $44.9 billion. If you look at the nine prior years, you'll see state spending goes up at the rate of over $1.2 billion per year, putting it at $47.3 this year.

The $19 billion financial cover-up that politicians are perpetrating on you, the taxpayer, is dangerous and destructive. Yet it is not criminal when done by the Massachusetts state government because politicians have passed special laws to get themselves off the hook. It's a crime punishable by prison time if YOU do it. Try under-reporting your income by 40% to the IRS or the Massachusetts Department of Revenue and see how they respond.

As sponsors of Question 1 to End the Income Tax, we’ve been in several debates with our opponents. They do not deny the validity of this government report that shows $47.3 in state spending - because it is irrefutable. It’s the state’s official, audited report on state government spending.

Want to let your friends, co-workers and loved ones in on the state's financial cover up? Print our flier "Why Haven’t You Been Told These Things about Ballot Question 1?" to show them the TOTAL MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET.

The city and town governments spend an additional $22 billion from your property taxes and other revenues every year ($27 billion total spending, minus $5 billion in subsidies from the state government). Go to this link to see their budgets: Total Massachusetts City and Town Government Income and Spending!

Total Masschusetts state,city and town government spending this year: $69.3 billion.

Ending the income tax cuts it by $12.6 billion – leaving $56.7 for politicians to spend every year.

That’s $16,700 per taxpayer per year for Massachusetts government – AFTER we end the income tax. Sound like enough for you and your family to pay for Massachusetts government?

Vote YES on 1 November 4th to END the Income Tax.

[homebase]

Linked from the smallgovernmentact site a pdf page 4 listing non-budgeted special revenue funds.

I wonder how many know about these funds and if they do, I wonder how much red tape to get access to them?

The $19 billion financial cover-up that politicians are perpetrating on you, the taxpayer, is dangerous and destructive. Yet it is not criminal when done by the Massachusetts state government because politicians have passed special laws to get themselves off the hook. It's a crime punishable by prison time if YOU do it. Try under-reporting your income by 40% to the IRS or the Massachusetts Department of Revenue and see how they respond.

Yeah, that includes property taxes too. Ask Ed Brown of NH who is now along with his wife in federal prison. All he asked for was that they show him the law.

I'm going to download and print the flyer pdf and get as many as I can to VOTE YES on QUESTION 1!

[homebase]

The weeping and gnashing of teeth I'm hearing as fear is setting in on the potential loss of Federal and State money for funded programs as "muscle cuts" are being made and with a proposal to stop the income tax is on the ballot - may be well founded. We have been cultured to expect the entitlements and depend on them. We know the dance and the hoops we need to jump through to get these funds and it is unthinkable, unimaginable to be without them.

Yet, if we don't start thinking differently... well, lets look at West Virgina. Someone made the mistake of labeling WV a conservative state - here is a WV resident post that responded:

Conservative WV is not, it was one of the first states to adopt "school uniforms", sign up for Biden's 100,000 Cops grants, open the "office of healthy lifestyles", sign up for "project assist" and all social behavior control programs that have evolved since.

And if that wasn't enough, we have perhaps "the most corrupt" state government in the entire country, a democratic political machine that few can rival.

Hell, we are right up there with the rest of the country, we have an Office of Homeland Security in every town, even communities that aren't "Towns", and an "Officer" for each office so we know who to "snitch to" when we are pissed of at someone.

We have Mtn. Cap, who will come and winterize your home if you know someone who works there and they "like you", we have WV Aging who will bring a hot meal to your door five days a week, take you to WalMart every damned day if you want to, clean your house, take you yard saleing in their private vehicles 'cause they get paid something like fifty cents a mile to haul you around in their private vehicles in addition to their hourly wage.

We have the "Piece of Equipment of the Month Club" for those on Social Security with Medicaid, we watch those commercials on TV, and when we see a new piece of equipment or medicine that we just can't live without we just tell our home health nurse to order it and it is delivered right to our door.

These government "freebies" are our lifeline, we couldn't do with out them as about half our our 1.8 million population are retirement age.

We are a diverse population as almost all worked away from WV - after all, there are no jobs here - then came here to retire, so WV represents many cultures, races, professions and faiths these days.

For those younger "working age" folks who are too dumb to move away we have WV Works, an employment program that will provide you housing, a car, an education and a job - if you comply with "their" rules.

Very few of us are wealthy enough to be involved with the stock market, but we are all glad the government "nationalized" our banks to protect our social security and SSI checks and welfare debit cards.

We in West Virginia may be dumb as a rock, and sorely lacking any sort of education or vision - but "conservative" we are not.

We have televisions now and our politicians have learned that it is perfectly alright to do all these things, 'cause we get more "free money" from the feds if we adopt all their "funded" programs, and besides, all those programs make more jobs for us "holler folks" who can't read or write, the government hires us to go tell our neighbors what's good for them and it makes us feel like "gods" to boss those idiots around. After all, they could be working a good government job like us if they weren't so stubborn and uncooperative with the "program". We just got to teach 'em to go with the flow and they can get a good paying government job too!

Perhaps "liberafacist" could have been more accurate.

By the way, while the Citizens voted republican, our "more intelligent" electoral representatives voted democratic. 'Cause "they" know who is putting the butter on the bread...

Every hoop we jump through, every dance step we take to cooperate with The Program - we need to learn to say, "Yes Master".

[brassmonkey]

Wow, homebase, a very good read posted in very plain English that pointed out to me things that I see every day and never got pissed about. Now I'm pissed! It's so true what the author says about the machine of the month club, isn't it...

Between your two most recent posts and the video on Kevin's blog made by Illuminati Video about Obama's citizenship, I'm flailing around in futility. I can't stand it. What can you do when your government is so corrupt and those around you are becoming a society of government dependence and non self-reliance with no bottom in sight?

If you aren't a reader of Kevin's blog, I'd highly recommend it. I learn a lot from it. Kevin is very astute, and a very valued member of this site, as are you. I would welcome intelligent members with a counterpoint, but there doesn't really seem to be many on the Left that argue with facts. Look at sixpin's latest post on the Fence about Obama's position on late-term abortion. He's latest position is, "Well, those types of abortions don't account for much in the big picture... Something like 0.2%" (Loosely translated) Ahh, that makes it all better.

Kevin, you're the island in the stream over there in the hen house now... The Backyard UU Bulletin Board has become an estrogen fest of like-minded, self-affirming, patting each other on the back Liberals. I'm glad that at least you're still fighting the good fight..

[homebase]

Oct 17, 2008 10:15:09 GMT -5 brassmonkey said:

Wow, homebase, a very good read posted in very plain English that pointed out to me things that I see every day and never got pissed about. Now I'm pissed! It's so true what the author says about the machine of the month club, isn't it...

Between your two most recent posts and the video on Kevin's blog made by Illuminati Video about Obama's citizenship, I'm flailing around in futility. I can't stand it. What can you do when your government is so corrupt and those around you are becoming a society of government dependence and non self-reliance with no bottom in sight?

Well, there is a bottom in site, I believe. It is not a question of "if" but when, where and how.

Massachusetts has decided to cut service costs to special programs for the weak and totally dependent. Community leaders in towns and cities need to rally some organized efforts to come up with maybe some community based services... if they can keep the fed and regulators off their backs. Volunteerism even if any would be so willing?

To quote another post:

Now Patrick and his team find themselves cutting $300 million out of health care. "The state's Medicaid program, known as MassHealth," bears the brunt of these cuts -- $293 million -- axing hospitals and doctors reimbursements for services to the poor. The Massachusetts Hospital Association warned that the cuts will create "extreme hardship for many hospitals and the communities they serve."

In addition, the governor's cuts eliminate $4 million in municipal police grants and $5 million from local law enforcement-assistance programs; a cut of $1.6 million in matching grants for school-to-work programs; and the reduction of special education funding by $13.5 million.

We are actually looking at the beginning of the end - of this system anyway.

Funny how Obama is running on his health care policy modeled after Massachusetts policy that has failed!

History is repeating itself. I tell my family and friends to prepare themselves for some really hard times. Some have cut up their credit cards, carved themselves out some extra earnings, pulled out of their 401k and are working toward getting out of dept.

If you haven't checked this post out yet 1927-1933 I posted yesterday (I think) its very interesting to compare.

Question is, what is going to be the beginning?

Oct 17, 2008 10:15:09 GMT -5 brassmonkey said:

If you aren't a reader of Kevin's blog, I'd highly recommend it. I learn a lot from it. Kevin is very astute, and a very valued member of this site, as are you. I would welcome intelligent members with a counterpoint, but there doesn't really seem to be many on the Left that argue with facts. Look at sixpin's latest post on the Fence about Obama's position on late-term abortion. He's latest position is, "Well, those types of abortions don't account for much in the big picture... Something like 0.2%" (Loosely translated) Ahh, that makes it all better.

Kevin, you're the island in the stream over there in the hen house now... The Backyard UU Bulletin Board has become an estrogen fest of like-minded, self-affirming, patting each other on the back Liberals. I'm glad that at least you're still fighting the good fight..

Thanks for the reference to Kevins blog! Nice blog Kevin, I'll be checking in.

That video you posted really is shocking and disturbing regarding Obamas citizenship authenticity!

There are so many things going around that if played on by the Main Stream Media can take Obama out even after the election and even if he wins the election. It just make you wonder, what is going on?

[brassmonkey]

A little more and a blurb about the 2000 ballot initiative that PASSED, but the politicians gave us a, "compromise." Are you effing kidding me? You bastards do as you're told by the voters!

Boston Tea Party II

The Massachusetts political establishment is horrified--voters might actually pass a proposition abolishing the state income tax. The personal income tax rate is 5.3%, and the state capital gains levy peaks at 12%. Under the proposition the tax would be cut 50% on Jan. 1, 2009 and eradicated on Jan. 1, 2010. These exactions currently raise about 40% of the state's budget revenue--27% if you count all of the Bay State's off-budget spending.

A similar measure was on the ballot six years ago. With almost no promotion it garnered a 45% yes vote, stunning politicians. The measure got a majority in a third of Massachusetts towns. An earlier proposition--a mild one--had appeared on the ballot in 2000. It cut the income tax to 5% from 5.75%. It passed. But state legislators thumbed their noses at the voters, lowering the rate only to 5.3%--a graphic example of the growing disconnect between citizens and the political culture.

Naturally, opponents predict the direst of circumstances if the measure passes, even though the state legislature will probably treat the referendum the same way it did the previous tax cut initiative.

The reason the measure stands even a chance of passing is not that Bay State citizens are selfish (even though each would enjoy on average an additional $3,700 of income) but that they are angry. This is an attack on political establishments there and throughout the U.S. that routinely put their own interests above those of their constituents: lavish government pensions with payouts that would bankrupt private companies; resistance to genuine reform in Medicaid spending, which has become the biggest item on virtually every state's budget; ever more pork-barrel spending; and ever more obsequiousness to rapacious special interests.

It's telling when one of the most liberal states in the Union, with two extremely liberal U.S. senators and a House delegation with nary a Republican, is on the verge of a tax rebellion.

Bay State voters--go for your proposition. Your pols didn't enact your polite initiative of a small income tax reduction. Maybe they'll wake up when you whack them with a 2-by-4.

www.forbes.com/forbes/2008/1027/021_2.html

[homebase]

Great article!

[brassmonkey]

I just realized that I titled this thread wrongly-I'm in support of Question 1 and elimination of the income tax. The title was a cut and paste of a headline-sorry if that was unclear.

[brassmonkey]

I have a couple of VOTE YES yard signs if anyone wants them. Just PM me, and I'll get them to you.