Slog - Comments on Inequity is Unsustainable http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/01/inequity_is_unsustai Over the last couple of days, in reaction to the "It's unsustainable!" mantra that the mainstream dailies have been parroting on behalf of the GOP to criticize Gov. Christine Gregoire's $30 billion budget and its, gasp, $4 billion in new spending, Goldy has posted some helpful doses of context. Goldy did a nice job summarizing the wonky, but important analysis from the Washington State Budget & Policy Center, a lefty think tank that released studies last month showing that Gov. Gregoire isn't actually expanding government spending. Gregoire's budget represents a smaller percentage of our economy than the previous six state... Copyright 2008 Wed, 10 Jan 2007 13:22:45 -0800 Thu, 25 Jan 2007 06:29:26 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Original Andrew It is crazy, isn't it?

We have Republicans who are too psychotic to rule, and Democrats who are too cowardly and worried about their own job security to enact a progressive agenda that would actually make people's lives better.

What a sad FUBAR state and country this is.

]]> Original Andrew http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/01/inequity_is_unsustai#c587102 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/01/inequity_is_unsustai#c587102 Politics Wed, 10 Jan 2007 14:31:40 -0800 Comment by Micah What do you mean by unsustainable? Seems like the right word would be unfair. The sales tax has "sustained" us for a while, do you see reasons while continuing it puts state government at risk of not being funded? I agree that it is a regressive and unfair tax structure, but unfortunately I think it can be sustained for a while.

]]> Micah http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/01/inequity_is_unsustai#c587151 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/01/inequity_is_unsustai#c587151 Politics Wed, 10 Jan 2007 15:12:12 -0800 Comment by Original Andrew PS. The Seattle Times pissed away what little credibility they had with their despicable 2006 election endorsements.

Frak them.

]]> Original Andrew http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/01/inequity_is_unsustai#c587217 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/01/inequity_is_unsustai#c587217 Politics Wed, 10 Jan 2007 16:05:42 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle As if anyone listens to those combat-avoiding Reds anymore ... or their insane budget ideas.

And it's the Bothell Times.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/01/inequity_is_unsustai#c587230 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/01/inequity_is_unsustai#c587230 Politics Wed, 10 Jan 2007 16:12:03 -0800 Comment by ronski A 'progressive' state income tax has been proposed for decades. Booth Gardiner, Mike Lowry and Gary Locke all floated the idea. Washington voters overwhelmingly reject the idea each time it comes up.

There are plausible arguments against it (including the one that the targeted 'rich people' are the ones most able to avoid it by itemizing deductions, leaving more to be paid by the 1040EZ crowd). But the biggest opposition is due to voters being justifiably wary of adding another new major tax. NONE of the boosters for an income tax have ever said they'd ELIMINATE the sales tax-- they say things like 'reducing the sales tax burden'. No one says they'd get rid of it. Once an income tax was in place there would be nothing to prevent the legislature from raising the sales tax rates right back up to whatever they were before, plus any of the extra points tacked on by the various municipalities. Then you'd be stuck with two taxes and the worst of both worlds.

]]> ronski http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/01/inequity_is_unsustai#c587233 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/01/inequity_is_unsustai#c587233 Politics Wed, 10 Jan 2007 16:14:09 -0800 Comment by azazello. Hi!Q
Great site!

]]> azazello. http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/01/inequity_is_unsustai#c596950 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/01/inequity_is_unsustai#c596950 Politics Thu, 25 Jan 2007 06:29:26 -0800