Where It Stands Now?
I’ve volunteered in the past for political campaigns (it’s on hold now due to work situation making my calendar a bit unpredictable).
It looks like Arnold is holding his lead in the polls…which is not a real shocker to me, because as I’ve said in the past, Angelides doesn’t seem to know that to run a campaign for Governor in California, you need to campaign against the other guy whose running for Governor…not President Bush.
I’ve been tracking the Propositions lately as well, and I’ve commented on one in particular in the past.
My “rule of thumb” in any Propositions in California is NO. It’s not like we have a Government that consistently throws out “Good Ideas”…usually they just involve social programs that cost what experts refer to as “a buttload”, and no accountability. We’ve seen this lately with all our ridiculous tax increases they’re trying to push here.
Oil is bad…let’s raise taxes.
Smoking is bad…let’s raise taxes.
Schools are underfunded…let’s raise property taxes.
My favorite of course if the $2.60 increase per pack of cigarettes, because it really is a true reflection of the California attitude, “Not my problem.” It’s really singling out a group of people to pay for the problems of everyone…because that’s the favorite fall back of liberal thought…you must take care of us. They love to single out. Ignore the fact that you may be morally for or against smoking, but do you think that a tax that smokers exclusively pay needs to go towards obesity programs? Do you think that this tax would exist on say…Twinkies…you fatty fat fats…not in California.
Is there such a thing as a “punitive tax”…I see the term thrown around on the internet a lot, especially when referring to European tax system. It’s basically just a term for punishing those people who either:
- Make too much money
- Have some lifestyle choice that the majority of people are either impartial about, or they don’t care.
Tax, Rinse, and Repeat.
Our tax system needs to be reformed in a big way. Income taxes were meant for a specific time for a specific reason (to pay for WWII), and should be done away with. I am a big fan of Fairtax (you ought to read it, I tell ya…it’s good readin’). After all, is it fair that we pay taxes, get docked all the more as we claw our way up the corporate ladder, and pay for those who don’t pay any taxes at all? The current economic network in California needs to be reevaluated and reformed, as we are being strangled (and it all comes back to illegal immigration). I agree also with your statement about Angelides…his campaign tactics using Bush as his opponent (thinking that such a thing would gain the votes of those who don’t like Bush) is weak and ridiculous. I hope more people can see through his idiocy.
“..a guberment that throws out good ideas (aha SiR is so funny)…” and when a proposition passes that disagrees with the courts’ own personal agenda the proposition get’s knocked down, ignorant voters be damned.
The tobacco tax is what is called a Sin Tax. A tax that is placed upon some aspect/behavior of our culture that is currently deemed sinful by the people (said same ignorant voters that are suddenly smart). It used to be difficult to pass a sin tax, much like voter id cards being poll taxes, sin taxes were bad because they usually disenfranchised/deprived the masses of a diversion to their sad lives. Now it appears to be easy to pass a sin tax especially in today’s tobacco (responsibility) adverse culture. (prohibition anyone)
What I like about this proposition (86 I believe) in today’s guberment environment is that the same people got hooked on the TEMPORARY tobacco settlement windfall to the state coffers, will grow even more bold and as their mainlining TEMPORARY tobacco sin tax dollars runs lean and they start looking for their next fix. It’ll be your turn fatties, whine-o’s, drivers and drunkards. Think not where will the money come from when the prop 86 funds begin to trickle down to nothing? Then the last guffah will be on all of us…as it should be for ignorant voters.
People get the guberment they deserve,
GoingThere
I guess I’ve been hoodwinked into working at campaign central for the next few weeks. Should be fun, I love working on campaigns. And frankly I kinda like Arnold. He may pander, but he’s made some effort. The fact that he even tried to take on the unions, though he failed, made him endear himself to me.
Seen the Gore ad for Prop 87? I was eating dinner the first time it came on and I thought I’d toss up my shrimp scampi. Argggg.
I’ve actually been working for Arnold as well, in the HB office. I like it, and although I don’t agree with Arnold on everything, I know he’s the clear choice. I haven’t done much the last week, but I plan on starting up again next week.
I just saw the 87 campign ad on the tele while I’m waiting for Lost. I could tell it was Gore, because instantly my attention started wandering elsewhere.