Taxes
I was reading an article in today's Seattle Times. The article was about a speech given by Bill Gates where he put the blame for the failing US public school system on legislators. The response to the speech, from legislators, in Bill Gates' and my home state of Washington, was defensive. They are facing a $2 Billion dollar budget shortfall for the next two years and they say there isn't any more money to put into education. The Washington State legislature is looking at alienating many tax breaks it currently has on the books for big businesses. In fact one state legislator, Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, was quoted by the Times as saying "Imagine if he (Gates) stood up in an ad and said 'Please raise my taxes because it will help the kids of Washington'".
I believe that Bill Gates would have no problem saying that about his personal taxes, things like income tax, gas tax, and sales tax that we pay as individuals. I think it's more of a sticking point when it comes to his company's taxes. Most big businesses are constantly requesting tax breaks from the government in exchange for stimulating the local economy (i.e. providing jobs). Now, Microsoft is not only one of the largest employers in Washington state it's also one of the best employers in the country. I work for a health care provider and I have observed the fact that Microsoft employees have better health insurance coverage than anyone else. I've also heard here and there that Microsoft pays well and that the health insurance isn't the only good benefit they offer. Now if giving Microsoft, and other big businesses, tax breaks allows them to continue employing large numbers of people at good wages with good benefits I say don't raise business taxes. If Bill Gates wants to stand up and say "raise my taxes", I'll be right there with him. In fact even if he doesn't want to say it, I will.
Raise the sales tax .1%, raise the gas tax by $0.01 per gallon, even institute a state income tax of .1% and definitely raise taxes on cigarettes, even raise the already high taxes on liquor (Washington state's alcohol taxes are one of the highest in the country). I'm willing to pay more taxes to get better schools (among other things). It's not the popular thing to say that you want higher taxes, so you don't hear a lot of people saying it. Almost never do you hear a politician campaigning on the promise to raise taxes, but I'll tell you if I did hear that whomever said it would have my vote in a second. Yes I have to commute in my car and spend a lot of money on gas just to get to and from my (not very high paying) job, and $0.01 more per gallon might be hardship for me and others, but wouldn't it be worth it? It would be worth it to me.
I believe that Bill Gates would have no problem saying that about his personal taxes, things like income tax, gas tax, and sales tax that we pay as individuals. I think it's more of a sticking point when it comes to his company's taxes. Most big businesses are constantly requesting tax breaks from the government in exchange for stimulating the local economy (i.e. providing jobs). Now, Microsoft is not only one of the largest employers in Washington state it's also one of the best employers in the country. I work for a health care provider and I have observed the fact that Microsoft employees have better health insurance coverage than anyone else. I've also heard here and there that Microsoft pays well and that the health insurance isn't the only good benefit they offer. Now if giving Microsoft, and other big businesses, tax breaks allows them to continue employing large numbers of people at good wages with good benefits I say don't raise business taxes. If Bill Gates wants to stand up and say "raise my taxes", I'll be right there with him. In fact even if he doesn't want to say it, I will.
Raise the sales tax .1%, raise the gas tax by $0.01 per gallon, even institute a state income tax of .1% and definitely raise taxes on cigarettes, even raise the already high taxes on liquor (Washington state's alcohol taxes are one of the highest in the country). I'm willing to pay more taxes to get better schools (among other things). It's not the popular thing to say that you want higher taxes, so you don't hear a lot of people saying it. Almost never do you hear a politician campaigning on the promise to raise taxes, but I'll tell you if I did hear that whomever said it would have my vote in a second. Yes I have to commute in my car and spend a lot of money on gas just to get to and from my (not very high paying) job, and $0.01 more per gallon might be hardship for me and others, but wouldn't it be worth it? It would be worth it to me.
posted by Beth at
5:29 PM
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