The State of Oregon is the State of the Union

Ballot Measures 66 and 67 passed in Oregon and there is a lot of debate on the severity of the tax. This vote does bring into clarity a microcosm of today’s American politics. All of politics has become a calculated game. What can I do to buy votes without alienating many others. Several tactics have been used successfully.

1. Tax the rich. This tactic works because they have tons of cash and percentage increases bring in substantial sums of money without affecting a great number of voters. We can debate the merits of this in a “free economy” (and believe me I do), but this is politically savvy.
2. Tax the opponents. This method has come into focus recently with the selective tax applications that we highlighted earlier today. How effective this is remains to be seen.
3. Tax the public enemy. We are also beginning to see this as the bankers are public enemy # 1. Therefore, politicians do not feel any risk for attacking them and targeting specific industries with unconstitutional taxes. Once again, we will have to wait and see if this works.

Unfortunately, along with this methodology, a lot of misinformation is spread about. Take the following quote from Kevin Looper of the “Yes” on 66 and 67 campaign.

Opponents overstated the measures’ effects during the campaign, creating a false impression about Oregon’s business climate, …Most businesses won’t be affected by the taxes, … and only a few of the very wealthiest individuals will be paying more.

This statement is complete nonsense. First, why does it matter that “few” businesses will be impacted? If a business has a loss in a tax year, why should they also have to pay up to $100,000 in taxes as well? This is a completely ridiculous taxation system that will compound business failures in recessionary times. Second, the notion that only the very wealthiest of individuals will be paying more taxes is also ludicrous. All an individual has to make is $125,000 to see a tax hike of 1.8% or $2,250 minimum. Also according to this source, at least 2% of homes qualify for an increase. At a minimum, that is one in fifty. So for every fifty families you know, one would be impacted according to national averages, which are likely low for the expensive Pacific Northwest. I don’t know about you, but that does not seem to represent “only a few of the very wealthiest individuals.” It sounds as if someone is understating the measures’ effects.

We’ll see the consequences of this vote, but hopefully America will wake up to the national nightmare that is looking us in the face due to policies such as these.

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