MA 2022 Question 1 (luxury, taxi, incomes)

[Williepaws]

Im not a millionaire but I vote no. The state has billions in surplus. Spend it! The state is still bringing in even more surplus though Id like to know where is it coming from. Make the state pay a higher proportion of education funding to ALL schools then using only property tax revenue.

When people say millionaires dont pay a fair share I dont buy it. 5% on 2 million is alot more than 5% on 50,000. They pay higher property taxes, higher excise, probably buy more so more sales taxes, probably employ more people use more small businesses, etc etc. And when you give the state more authority to increase taxes, eventually it will work its way down the chain. We need a tax cut, not tax increase.

the problem is the politicians that control state spending. Isnt it the teachers union that is behind this ballot question?

[Williepaws]

Originally Posted by simplexsimon

The old lady would not be impacted by the 4% additional tax if she sold for $1m. And cmon…$1m is a lot.

if that old lady had to pay that additional tax, that could easily impact her future years. Do you know how much assisted living costs for a month? Big bucks!

[r_p]

Originally Posted by Williepaws

When people say millionaires dont pay a fair share I dont buy it. 5% on 2 million is alot more than 5% on 50,000. They pay higher property taxes, higher excise, probably buy more so more sales taxes, probably employ more people use more small businesses, etc etc. And when you give the state more authority to increase taxes, eventually it will work its way down the chain. We need a tax cut, not tax increase.

LOL. The system is massively rigged in the favor of the rich. BTW Peter Thiel owns a Roth IRA that's worth $5 billion .

[WestieWhitie]

Vote yes so millionaires GTFO and take their tax dollars with them and the rest of us are on the hook for the shortfall, a no-brainer!

[Williepaws]

Originally Posted by r_p

LOL. The system is massively rigged in the favor of the rich. BTW Peter Thiel owns a Roth IRA that's worth $5 billion .

if they worked and built a thriving business and that business was successful, so what? Did you work as hard and as long?

[Higherho]

Yes. Also, For everyone trying to spin this about people selling their businesses and getting over a million for it. They clearly can afford that extra 4%. People stating “if they worked hard, they should reap the spoils” - No, no they should not. It was not just them that kept that business going and it’s foolish to think otherwise. You do well in this system, then you put back into the system. Plain and simple. If not, then you’re part of the rat race problem and stepping on everyone below you for no apparent reason other than greed.

The best part about all of this, the middle class people fight each other protecting the rich. I love it. Modern day slavery and manipulation at it’s finest.

[WestieWhitie]

Originally Posted by Higherho

Yes. Also, For everyone trying to spin this about people selling their businesses and getting over a million for it. They clearly can afford that extra 4%. People stating “if they worked hard, they should reap the spoils” - No, no they should not. It was not just them that kept that business going and it’s foolish to think otherwise. You do well in this system, then you put back into the system. Plain and simple. If not, then you’re part of the rat race problem and stepping on everyone below you for no apparent reason other than greed.

The best part about all of this, the middle class people fight each other protecting the rich. I love it. Modern day slavery and manipulation at it’s finest.

Comrade, everyone is equal in North Korea. Just saying...

[r_p]

Originally Posted by Williepaws

if they worked and built a thriving business and that business was successful, so what? Did you work as hard and as long?

So your average CEO who makes 250 times more than his employee works 250 times as hard and long?

Originally Posted by Higherho

The best part about all of this, the middle class people fight each other protecting the rich. I love it. Modern day slavery and manipulation at it’s finest.

The reason they don't want to admit that the system is rigged is because it makes them look stupid. The other fallacy is that such folks believe that the rich play by the same rules (just-world hypothesis?)

[mdovell]

No because it doesn't make sense.

If you want more funding for education just raise the local taxes. By having people that might not even live in your town contribute more to finance something they will get nothing in return shows dependency. Besides funding is control. The poorer school districts can be for this but then once they see they will most likely have less of a say they might not want it. We already had debates of state takeovers of school districts and frankly they don't work. For local governments sure but not school districts.

As for transit the problem is also dependency. Why should someone in the berkshires pay more for additional bus service in boston? The MBTA doesn't service anyone west of worcester. If they want to sell transit to western mass you have to tie it into east west rail. Which frankly still has studies. This might sell but just not now it's too early.

[bostongymjunkie]

Originally Posted by Higherho

Yes. Also, For everyone trying to spin this about people selling their businesses and getting over a million for it. They clearly can afford that extra 4%. People stating “if they worked hard, they should reap the spoils” - No, no they should not. It was not just them that kept that business going and it’s foolish to think otherwise. You do well in this system, then you put back into the system. Plain and simple. If not, then you’re part of the rat race problem and stepping on everyone below you for no apparent reason other than greed.

The best part about all of this, the middle class people fight each other protecting the rich. I love it. Modern day slavery and manipulation at it’s finest.

They also fight each other protecting the corrupt, greedy, lying, smarmy professional politicians who tell them they are looking out for the best interests of the poor and middle classes. The same politicians who rig the system to benefit big multinational corporations while reaping cash from them and foreign nations.