Fellow Mainers: Do You Feel That Maine Is Becoming A "Nanny State?" (school, taxes)

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by Maineah

It's you rich guys with 19 hp riding lawnmowers that refuse to pay a reasonable "luxury tax" for having them that is screwing up the economy you know!

A 'luxury tax' is connected to Nanny-ism?

To one person a boat is a luxury, to another person it is not.

A tractor?

A plane?

A motorhome?

I am confused on what makes a luxury, and why should anything be taxed simply for existing.

How does taxing an item because it exists, make anything safer?

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

A 'luxury tax' is connected to Nanny-ism?

To one person a boat is a luxury, to another person it is not.

A tractor?

A plane?

A motorhome?

I am confused on what makes a luxury, and why should anything be taxed simply for existing.

How does taxing an item because it exists, make anything safer?

It's an inside joke!

[RANGER.101ST]

Originally Posted by Maineah

It's you rich guys with 19 hp riding lawnmowers that refuse to pay a reasonable "luxury tax" for having them that is screwing up the economy you know!

Ya thats it.Any thing i can do to screw the economy

[reindeerlady]

Originally Posted by K-Luv

You want Nanny Laws to go away, then get rid of insurance companies. Or lobbying, which by the way is considered bribing in every other country but ours.

BINGO, K-luv! Hopefully, we won't have to wait too, too long for the insurance industry to go. At the rate we're going, most people can't afford their rates, and even though it's mandatory to have car and homeowners' (if you want to get a mortgage) insurance here in Vermont, the peasants will be storming the castle with our pitchforks soon. I get a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach every time we get our insurance bill. We carry renters' insurance and car insurance. It's a racket, and we're unwilling payers - something's gotta give, and soon. I'm of the opinion that our elected officials don't want to get involved because it's one big ball of wax and the lobbyists can keep on top of it 'cause it's their highly paid job. Makes my head spin every time I try to think of how we could lower insurance costs or healthcare costs. Am I alone in this? It's overwhelming and depressing all at the same time, this nanny racket.

[cebdark]

Originally Posted by reindeerlady

BINGO, K-luv! Hopefully, we won't have to wait too, too long for the insurance industry to go. At the rate we're going, most people can't afford their rates, and even though it's mandatory to have car and homeowners' (if you want to get a mortgage) insurance here in Vermont, the peasants will be storming the castle with our pitchforks soon. I get a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach every time we get our insurance bill. We carry renters' insurance and car insurance. It's a racket, and we're unwilling payers - something's gotta give, and soon. I'm of the opinion that our elected officials don't want to get involved because it's one big ball of wax and the lobbyists can keep on top of it 'cause it's their highly paid job. Makes my head spin every time I try to think of how we could lower insurance costs or healthcare costs. Am I alone in this? It's overwhelming and depressing all at the same time, this nanny racket.

Your certainly not alone - your right of course, I don't think anyone can dispute those statements - although I'm sure some smart- a**ed lobbyist could certainly "spin" it .

Be that as it may, whether it's because of the "nanny mentality" that many people feel that "you can't fight city hall" or not, until many people are willing to get and angry and stand up to fight ridiculous lawsuits instead of settling for "a lesser sum" or the "lesser of two evils" nothing will change.

I know, I know, lawyers are expensive, but literate people can research laws IF they are willing and prepared to do hard work (and LOTS of it).
This was the case with my mother going "toe to toe" with the state about taxing the boat my father built. It can be done, but it does take time, tenacity, and a pit bull attitude.

[reindeerlady]

Originally Posted by reloop

. It can be done, but it does take time, tenacity, and a pit bull attitude.

Pit bull attitude, like that Good on your Mom! Our elected officials hear, often, from me, but Vermont is a worse Nanny state than Maine right now ever thought of being, so I am not surprised I've seen them do - nothing. People here seem to like the feeling of "being taken care of". Notice I said "people here" and not "Vermonters", which are becoming an extinct breed.

[cebdark]

Originally Posted by reindeerlady

Pit bull attitude, like that Good on your Mom! Our elected officials hear, often, from me, but Vermont is a worse Nanny state than Maine right now ever thought of being, so I am not surprised I've seen them do - nothing. People here seem to like the feeling of "being taken care of". Notice I said "people here" and not "Vermonters", which are becoming an extinct breed.

Yep. Unfortunately, we see that here too - I'm sure it's everywhere.

I liken it to "bovine mentality" moooooooooooooooooooo

Good on you to let your elected officials hear from you. It gives the rest of us hope!

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by reindeerlady

Pit bull attitude, like that Good on your Mom! Our elected officials hear, often, from me, but Vermont is a worse Nanny state than Maine right now ever thought of being, so I am not surprised I've seen them do - nothing. People here seem to like the feeling of "being taken care of". Notice I said "people here" and not "Vermonters", which are becoming an extinct breed.

On various forums that I habitate, I do see that attitude.

Many folks WANT to be 'taken care of'.

There recently was one poster, who said that she was living in NYC, had been reading and thinking about moving rural and adopting a self-sufficient lifestyle.

So she asked: "what office or service do I need to contact to make that happen for me?" She went on about her need for transportation from NYC to these rural areas, finding housing and job placement.

She fully expected that gubbermint should provide for her transportation, housing, job placement, and to establish her as a self-sufficient farmer.

There are folks who would want for their gubbermint to provide for them all urban services, even while they live rural.

[sr1234]

If Mainers don't like the Nanny state, then why do you keep voting these types to office? From an outsiders point of view, it seems as though you like high taxes and government telling you what to do.

[island mermaid]

Originally Posted by sr1234

If Mainers don't like the Nanny state, then why do you keep voting these types to office? From an outsiders point of view, it seems as though you like high taxes and government telling you what to do.