Massachusetts Senate Votes to Raise Sales Tax By 25%! (Boston, Merrimac: health insurance, crime)

[Urban Peasant]

Originally Posted by Eddy G

By failing Im speeking of poor spending and investing habits. Do a better job at spending and investing and there won't be any need to raise taxes.

If I can't afford something I can't buy it.

If only every American individual learned this lesson long ago, we wouldn't be in this fiscal mess. People should have learned to invest more wisely and spend more efficiently. People should never have to borrow enormous amounts of money to buy something they can't afford and then not be able to pay back. This should include government as well.

Americans are big spenders. Look at how much resources we use on a daily basis just to keep up with a healthy lifestyle. We are all used to milk, eggs, meat, fruit, bread, cereals, soap, toilet paper, carpets, hardwood floors, Lysol detergent, electrical lighting, heat, and running water. Things such as telephones, nice clothes, cars, and bicycles are even considered necessities by most people. I'm not even going to start with ipods, cellphones and sidekicks, I sincerely hope only my immature students at school think these are necessities. Yet this is exactly what so many people come to America for, the ability to spend money for oneself and for no one else. The habit is so pervasive that of course public officials have the want to spend money freely. Its just that they happen to spend taxpayer money but that has been going on since this nation was founded.

We Americans have abhorred taxes from the start. This is unlike other countries where high tax rates keep social services running, people buying only what is needed for themselves, and the town plaza looks ten times more beautiful than anyone's lawn. We don't really desire for extra beautiful plazas but we too need certain public services and we need to realize that at some certain point we will need to spend more and pay more to get more. And really, 6.5% to me is not killer. We can still be good old Americans with that rate. The moment we get to say 10%, then its time to reevaluate our habits.

[Mrtwigg]

Originally Posted by neil0311

<snip>"When we have an addict, we'll have a bed for them," said Senator Steven A. Tolman, a Boston Democrat. "This money will help us put these beds on line."

Rep inbound ! I was lookin' for that !

So, how's that "Socialism" thing working out for you Massachusetts ?

[brent s]

Listen, I completely agree that to "have nice things" you have to pay for them.

But at the same time, I pay out a lot of money in taxes for various things as it is (and save the lame "its still lower than some states" BS), and I get in my car to drive to say the store, or god help me, western MA, and the pot holes are atrocious. Are higher taxes ever going to change that? No, they are going to fund some other redundant job at some arcane quasi-state agency for some political supporter. And don't even try to make an argument that this is not what happens, because you are dead wrong.

If the money were spent wisely and in a responsible manner, I would have no problem at all paying even more than we do already. No problem at all. All we are doing now is paying for someones nephew or son to get a posh position at a good salary on OUR dime.

[Missmoose]

Originally Posted by TheWereRabbit

My only problem is that they raised the wrong tax. Should have been the income tax.

Amen. I would also like to see a statewide effort to overhaul the the state legislature. It seems to me that a lot of money is lost to cronyism and corruption. I like the social safety net MA provides, but I this k we could get a far better return on our tax dollars

[JBTD]

Originally Posted by theh

You know that's still below the national average, right? I think we can live.

Are you serious? I just don't understand how people can continue to look the other way as our politicians rape us. Look into state pensions and the vast expansion of government workers since Patrick has come into office.

[JBTD]

Originally Posted by Eddy G

I just don't get it

Like most everyone I go to work every day and bust my butt to make a living.

I already feel I pay more then my fair share of taxes.

We like most people have had to cut back and budget our money closer and closer.

Why WHY WHY would anyone want to pay more to a failing system?

By failing Im speeking of poor spending and investing habits. Do a better job at spending and investing and there won't be any need to raise taxes.

If I can't afford something I can't buy it.

Why should it be different in Government?

We can't afford somethings right now so we can't have them.
Sorry, schools will have to wait
New Police Stations will have to wait
New programs will have to wait and some old ones will have to be cut.
Less government = less taxes.

BRAVO!!!

[bmak57]

I can understand that taxes might have to be raised to make up for the tremendous down turn in revenue the state is experiencing, but a sales tax is the wrong approach. The 25% increase is going to hurt a lot more if you are unemployed and trying to feed a family and pay a mortgage on $700 a week (which is taxable) than if you are still employed and making $100K a year. This should have been an increase in the income tax. It's closer for me to go to Seabrook and Plaistow to shop than it is for me to go Danvers or Peabody, so I naturally head to NH. !/2 the cars in the Sams Club parking lot have Mass plates already.

[Braunwyn]

I'm not happy with the tax increase, or the current tolls and the future tolls increases, as well as the gas tax increase that's coming.

[seamusnh]

Originally Posted by brent s

Listen, I completely agree that to "have nice things" you have to pay for them.

But at the same time, I pay out a lot of money in taxes for various things as it is (and save the lame "its still lower than some states" BS), and I get in my car to drive to say the store, or god help me, western MA, and the pot holes are atrocious. Are higher taxes ever going to change that? No, they are going to fund some other redundant job at some arcane quasi-state agency for some political supporter. And don't even try to make an argument that this is not what happens, because you are dead wrong.

If the money were spent wisely and in a responsible manner, I would have no problem at all paying even more than we do already. No problem at all. All we are doing now is paying for someones nephew or son to get a posh position at a good salary on OUR dime.

Or for welfare recipients to have a free car with free insurance and free AAA. It is amazing that people think that the govt needs this money to provide basic services. I live in NH and drive in MA a lot. The highways are no better in MA and cities like Nashua, Merrimack and Concord have fewer potholes than cities in MA. We have fire, police, ambulance, etc. Just some corporations are well run and others are not, some state govts are well run and others are not.

[twilliams_ca]

Originally Posted by neil0311

Yes...maybe $62.50 isn't worth an hour of your time, but it was mine. I lived in Leominster (about 8 miles from NH) and used to go to Nashua all the time to shop, especially for big ticket items. Maybe folks need to keep in mind that most states are cutting spending, not raising taxes. In MA, the same thing always happens. It did in the late 80's and early 90's, and it did in 2001.

Here's how it works in MA:

A fiscal downturn happens....fees and taxes get jacked up...then the economy recovers...surpluses build in the "rainy day fund" but the taxes and fees don't get reduced...Beacon Hill figures out new ways to spend money and invent new "programs"...then the next downturn comes and rather than cut the fat or even use the money in the rainy day fund, taxes and fees get hiked again...and the cycle starts over.

Ever wonder why the state budget in MA is huge compared to states with similar populations? Of course most of you don't. That's why I left MA.


Here are some quotes from the Globe this morning that highlight the mentality from elected officials on Beacon Hill:

"When we have an addict, we'll have a bed for them," said Senator Steven A. Tolman, a Boston Democrat. "This money will help us put these beds on line."

"I think this is probably the more fair way to go if we have to raise revenue and, unfortunately, we have to raise revenue," she told reporters after the vote. She said that although the budget's proposed cuts will not be completely reversed, there will at least be "some money put back into those programs." Senate President Therese Murray

"this sales tax will fund a lot of very important programs, at least in part for some of the most vulnerable citizens." Senator Gale D. Candaras, a Wilbraham Democrat

Mass. Senate approves sales tax hike - The Boston Globe

Not that I am defending the spending habits of the state right now, but where do you get the idea that most states are not raising taxes.

Out of a total 50 states 16 have raised taxes. Illinois for example just passed a 50% raise in income tax. And, out of the remaining 34, another 17 are seriously are considering raising tax in one form or another. So, again we are you getting your numbers?