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News & ArtsThursday, November 19, 2009
Politics $2,600,000,000
Posted by Dan Savage on Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 1:24 PM
That's Washington state's projected budget deficit for next year. It's going to get ugly in Olympia this winter. And no one could've predicted that the state GOP would take this position:
Republicans warn that going to the tax well now is a bad idea, with the economic recovery still fragile.
When times are bad and budgets are in the red, the GOP says we can't raise taxes because people will suffer. When times are good and budgets are in the black, the GOP says we have to cut the taxes of people who aren't suffering. See how that works? Thank God we've got a Democratic governor and Democratic supermajorities in the legislature! With Dems in charge the state budget won't be balanced on the backs of the most vulnerable and those who are already suffering...
The governor says she's seriously looking at eliminating entire programs to close the budget hole. Cuts may include state subsidized health insurance for the working poor and a welfare program for single adults with mental or physical disabilities.
Jesus—why do we bother electing Democrats at all?
3
Amen. Our Democratic super-majorities are as worthless since the party leadership is more interested in getting re-elected than enacting meaningful tax reform that might mitigate the size of the budget deficit. We will continue to see cycles of boom and bust in tax revenue until we grow-up and enact a package of tax reforms that include a graduated income tax.
Cowardly Democrats...
Cowardly Democrats...
4
i'm afraid my parents are planning to have me committed again. Not to the soft place, but the OMG i'll be psychologically tortured for the next several years.
i am so scared.
i've tried for so long just to be nice to everyone, but my mother is now just making things up. I don't even have to raise my voice or lose my temper anymore for her to have the police on call. Now the fact that I can carry on conversations quiet and rationally is a *warning* sign.
I'd say help, but I no noone can help me.
I'm just posting this as net detritus.
Good luck dan.
joshua pillash
solumARC@yahoo.com
jmpillash@bellsouth.net
1163 county road 94
piedmont AL 36272
i am so scared.
i've tried for so long just to be nice to everyone, but my mother is now just making things up. I don't even have to raise my voice or lose my temper anymore for her to have the police on call. Now the fact that I can carry on conversations quiet and rationally is a *warning* sign.
I'd say help, but I no noone can help me.
I'm just posting this as net detritus.
Good luck dan.
joshua pillash
solumARC@yahoo.com
jmpillash@bellsouth.net
1163 county road 94
piedmont AL 36272
6
If the deficit's really that bad, you're going to see cuts in places you would never even have believed. We're "only" a billion in the hole, and the cuts are fucking Draconian already.
8
I don't know about raising taxes. I would rather see the state tighten it's belt first. Unfortunately a lot of people are going to suffer.
It kills me that the same scenario plays out every ten years or so...economy booms, and the federal, state, and local govt's piss money away like drunken sailors on shore leave.
Economy goes bust, and the little guy (or the poor and mentally ill) gets fucked. No one ever plans ahead for the lean times.
It kills me that the same scenario plays out every ten years or so...economy booms, and the federal, state, and local govt's piss money away like drunken sailors on shore leave.
Economy goes bust, and the little guy (or the poor and mentally ill) gets fucked. No one ever plans ahead for the lean times.
10
She also (extremely tenderly) floated the idea of raising taxes a couple weeks ago. I don't mind that she's out front projecting the results of cutting entire programs, too - the legislature will need to know all its options (and have ammo to defend against the program-cutting advocates).
11
Is this in addition to SSI? Not opposed or anything, just curious. I'm baffled as to how anyone can survive on federal disability benefits alone.
@5,
Not phones, please. I'm already paying a 40 percent tax on mine.
a welfare program for single adults with mental or physical disabilities.
Is this in addition to SSI? Not opposed or anything, just curious. I'm baffled as to how anyone can survive on federal disability benefits alone.
@5,
Not phones, please. I'm already paying a 40 percent tax on mine.
12
Why do you vote Dem?
Cuz you can't find any Socialists!
Such a shame, all well needed was one more program and the poor would have been saved from themselves.
Cuz you can't find any Socialists!
Such a shame, all well needed was one more program and the poor would have been saved from themselves.
13
Instead of tax cuts they might have put some of that money aside to even out revenue streams during the next downturn. When you rely on sales tax for revenues, you really need to come up with a strategy for dealing with the business cycel.
14
@ 8 Thanks for the GOP-style boilerplate? Which belt should the state tighten? Should we cut higher-education (again) and cause a new round of double-digit tuition increases? Perhaps we should completely defund services for the mentally ill (again), shut-down Western State and put them all on the streets? I know let's take away health care for the poorest of the working poor and force them to go to the emergency room where their care will paid for by, now who is it, oh yeah, the public.
The idea that we would plug these budget gaps by cutting services completely is morally bankrupt.
It's time for our elected officials to actually govern and lead and if that means tax increases to save basic services so be it.
The idea that we would plug these budget gaps by cutting services completely is morally bankrupt.
It's time for our elected officials to actually govern and lead and if that means tax increases to save basic services so be it.
15
Umm, considering we just got equal rights for Gays and Lesbians, as voted on by Democrats in both houses as signed into law by the Democratic governor, I'd rather have Dems good on social issues even if they act like Republicans fiscally, if the other option were Republicans who don't give a fuck about gay rights.
What WA needs to do is channel the stimulus money into our coffers to cover the deficit and not into make-work projects. Maryland used their stimulus dollars to freeze tuition, but it's going up 14% annually here, far outpacing inflation.
What WA needs to do is channel the stimulus money into our coffers to cover the deficit and not into make-work projects. Maryland used their stimulus dollars to freeze tuition, but it's going up 14% annually here, far outpacing inflation.
16
In this particular instance I DO feel some sympathy for the Dems in Olympia, if only because they're being forced to deal with the fallout from the disaster left behind by the previous federal administration that's ultimately responsible for this mess.
Yes, hard choices need to be made, and everyone is going to have to sacrifice somewhat in order for ALL of us to get through this relatively intact. But, of course those who already have far more than they need will put forth the argument that by taking from THEM to help others, we're in fact hurting everyone, because then they won't have the $$$$ of disposable income to buy the fancy cars and boats and third vacation homes that are the only things keeping the economy afloat right now.
And while there might actually be some small truth to their way of thinking, it still fails to address the larger issue that revolves around the ultimate cost to society as-a-whole when large swaths of our population suddenly have whatever middling safety net pulled out from under them at the very time they're most vulnerable.
What the Legislature and the Governor need to weigh is the cost of losing a few jobs due to the rich not being able to buy as many shiny baubles or whatever, versus the far more urgent need to keep the poorest members of our society from overwhelming whatever public - and private - services are still available; or at the very least mitigating the negative impact as much as possible. IMO, the latter approach provides the greatest overall cost-benefit ratio in the long-run, since pulling these people off the public health care roles for example will only drive them to even more expensive services that will wind up costing us even more, even if those costs are shifted off the government books and onto the providers and insurance companies.
More...
Yes, hard choices need to be made, and everyone is going to have to sacrifice somewhat in order for ALL of us to get through this relatively intact. But, of course those who already have far more than they need will put forth the argument that by taking from THEM to help others, we're in fact hurting everyone, because then they won't have the $$$$ of disposable income to buy the fancy cars and boats and third vacation homes that are the only things keeping the economy afloat right now.
And while there might actually be some small truth to their way of thinking, it still fails to address the larger issue that revolves around the ultimate cost to society as-a-whole when large swaths of our population suddenly have whatever middling safety net pulled out from under them at the very time they're most vulnerable.
What the Legislature and the Governor need to weigh is the cost of losing a few jobs due to the rich not being able to buy as many shiny baubles or whatever, versus the far more urgent need to keep the poorest members of our society from overwhelming whatever public - and private - services are still available; or at the very least mitigating the negative impact as much as possible. IMO, the latter approach provides the greatest overall cost-benefit ratio in the long-run, since pulling these people off the public health care roles for example will only drive them to even more expensive services that will wind up costing us even more, even if those costs are shifted off the government books and onto the providers and insurance companies.
19
You've already lost the battle when 'eliminating programs' only applies to services for individuals and not to programs that benefit corporations.
Tough times require level playing fields. Time to revisit programs that benefit 'golden' corps around here. The fundamental error that the legislature makes is in not collecting the taxes from Boeing, MSFT, etal and then providing cash rebates. This would even the playing field since 'eliminating programs' would actually be reducing expenditure.
The current approach of creating a loophole up front and foregoing the revenue brings out cries of 'tax increase! tax increase!' and is a strategic error on the Dems (or progressives) part.
Tough times require level playing fields. Time to revisit programs that benefit 'golden' corps around here. The fundamental error that the legislature makes is in not collecting the taxes from Boeing, MSFT, etal and then providing cash rebates. This would even the playing field since 'eliminating programs' would actually be reducing expenditure.
The current approach of creating a loophole up front and foregoing the revenue brings out cries of 'tax increase! tax increase!' and is a strategic error on the Dems (or progressives) part.
23
@11 she's referring the General Assistance program. it is a state disability benefit, sometimes, for folks who are appealing and/or waiting to get on SSI. if you think the amount a person gets for SSI is not enough, GA is much, much less.
24
how about this idea for raising revenue:
dan savage gets fined $1 everytime he goes on TV and attacks obama for not being a fag...
our budget wud be in surplus by 2011!!
dan savage gets fined $1 everytime he goes on TV and attacks obama for not being a fag...
our budget wud be in surplus by 2011!!
25
Yesterday my boss was in a meeting with some vendor and they were talking about the different tax structures and how they effect businesses. I then heard him say, in response to Oregon's taxes, that he likes how WA is no income, all sales, so he can choose how much he is taxed by how much he spends or doesnt spend.
I wanted to stand up on my chair and scream THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED REGRESSIVE TAX.
Instead I hunkered down and fumed about my piddly paycheck that I pay taxes on for every dollar.
I wanted to stand up on my chair and scream THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED REGRESSIVE TAX.
Instead I hunkered down and fumed about my piddly paycheck that I pay taxes on for every dollar.
26
"so he can choose how much he is taxed by how much he spends or doesnt spend. "
Well of course, if you're smart, you can get a lot of stuff online out of state too, and not pay no sales tax. plenty of NYC vendors do that. Check out J&R.
"Instead I hunkered down and fumed about my piddly paycheck that I pay taxes on for every dollar."
Your problem maybe class envy.
Well of course, if you're smart, you can get a lot of stuff online out of state too, and not pay no sales tax. plenty of NYC vendors do that. Check out J&R.
"Instead I hunkered down and fumed about my piddly paycheck that I pay taxes on for every dollar."
Your problem maybe class envy.
27
@26 J&R what? Electronics? Sweetheart, I haven't bought new clothes in 6 months. Do you think I can afford to buy electronics?
I don't think you're getting the point. People who live paycheck to paycheck are fucked in a regressive tax system because they pay taxes on EVERY DOLLAR. They pay a disproportionately higher percentage of their income than those who can afford to save and invest and buy shit online and take advantage of loopholes.
I don't think you're getting the point. People who live paycheck to paycheck are fucked in a regressive tax system because they pay taxes on EVERY DOLLAR. They pay a disproportionately higher percentage of their income than those who can afford to save and invest and buy shit online and take advantage of loopholes.
28
at the moment the entire of maternity support services is slated to be cut. pregnant women will only get the doctors visit and none of the vital preventative and support services they need. it's over 18 million that will be cut. this includes programs that work like first steps.
29
"I don't think you're getting the point"
What point, that you didn't study hard enough in school and were not ambitious enough to get ahead in life? I'm sorry you have a dead end low pay job, that's your own fault and if you don't think middle upper income folks (($100-200k/year) pay enough in taxes, you're dreaming. I can guarantee we pay more than you.
Oh, do you take the State sales tax deduction from your Federal taxes? Do that and the the dollars into your 'wo is me' cup.
What point, that you didn't study hard enough in school and were not ambitious enough to get ahead in life? I'm sorry you have a dead end low pay job, that's your own fault and if you don't think middle upper income folks (($100-200k/year) pay enough in taxes, you're dreaming. I can guarantee we pay more than you.
Oh, do you take the State sales tax deduction from your Federal taxes? Do that and the the dollars into your 'wo is me' cup.
30
@28- And of course it'll cost more money in the long run to cut these services. Unless we do away with social services entirely, which the Libertarians would love right up until they got sick, couldn't work, and found out that it really sucks to be poor.
31
Why even bother with anymore Eyman initiatives when Congress acts that way anyway?
It's ridiculous. Goes to show you that just because they run as a "Democrat" doesn't mean they stand for what we used to think Democrats stood for.
It's ridiculous. Goes to show you that just because they run as a "Democrat" doesn't mean they stand for what we used to think Democrats stood for.
32
@29- Let me rephrase what you said: You deserve every penny because you're middle-class, which is why you should get taxed at a lower overall rate than the lower class. And of course, if the poor weren't so lazy and stupid, they'd all be middle class, because our economy is structured in such a way that everyone could be middle-class.
You live in a fantasy world created to justify your selfishness.
You live in a fantasy world created to justify your selfishness.
33
If life were too easy for the poor what would motivate them to rise up above their station? Shouldn't they pay for their own services? Maybe if they stopped squirting out so many cost-demanding offspring, they'd be less need for services?
Anyway, I do support fully funded, federal abortion clinics in every trailer park, barrio, and 'hood. FedAbort: making home abortion free for all poor in the comfort of their own homes.
Anyway, I do support fully funded, federal abortion clinics in every trailer park, barrio, and 'hood. FedAbort: making home abortion free for all poor in the comfort of their own homes.
34
@ 29: Davy Jones Could you please elaborate on you pay more taxes than @ 26: kersey? The tax structure in Washington State is widely acknowledged to be regressive since most tax revenue comes from sales tax which impacts lower-income people more than middle to high-level income people.
Apparently your hard work and study didn't include basic understanding of the difference between regressive and progressive taxation.
Apparently your hard work and study didn't include basic understanding of the difference between regressive and progressive taxation.
36
@29 LOL. Oh yeah, I forgot, being poor means you're lazy. Not that the recession made my partner (who has a degree) lose his job, or that it took me 6 months to find the job that I do have, or that I can't get a student loan to finish school because banks aren't giving out loans, not that I even COULD go to school because my job provides us health insurance, but because I'm lazy and dumb.
But not like any of that matters, right? if you're poor you DESERVE to be fucked by our regressive tax structure. That's what you're saying, right?
But not like any of that matters, right? if you're poor you DESERVE to be fucked by our regressive tax structure. That's what you're saying, right?
37
@30 your right preventative services cut costs in the long run. Maternity Support Services provide for social workers to help women navigate the system, get into housing, perinatal outreach workers, among a long list of support to low income women. the most vulnerable of our population.
38
Time to stop building roads in Eastern Washington and pull the knife gently across the throat of the Billionaires Tunnel.
There - problem solved.
There - problem solved.
39
I should point out we'd run a budget surplus if we just got rid of all corporate tax exemptions and put them up for a line item Yes/No approval of the people before allowing them to exist again.
That would work too.
Or ... we could tax churches.
That would work too.
Or ... we could tax churches.
40
Remember how the Green Party and independents were shamed and blamed for George Dubbya winning the 2000/2004 election by the Democrats? Remember how they said a vote for an Independent or a Green candidate was the same as voting Republican? Remember how they promised that if only we could get the Republicans out of office things would be different?
I hope you remember all of that when the 2012 election rolls around. I certainly will.
I hope you remember all of that when the 2012 election rolls around. I certainly will.
41
"if you're poor you DESERVE to be fucked by our regressive tax structure."
Work harder to not be poor. My Korean neighbors managed to do it, why can't you? they came to this country with nothing.
Work harder to not be poor. My Korean neighbors managed to do it, why can't you? they came to this country with nothing.
42
Ah yes @29, the old "poverty is a moral failing" canard.
I'll bet you, like Ebeneezer Scrooge would prefer to see the impoverished sent to the Poor Houses, or if they're full up already the rest can simply die and thus reduce the surplus population.
And a Merry Christmas to you too, sir!
I'll bet you, like Ebeneezer Scrooge would prefer to see the impoverished sent to the Poor Houses, or if they're full up already the rest can simply die and thus reduce the surplus population.
And a Merry Christmas to you too, sir!
43
"Remember how the Green Party and independents were shamed and blamed"
Go ahead, vote Green...the more irrelevant you are the better.
Obama 2012!
Go ahead, vote Green...the more irrelevant you are the better.
Obama 2012!
46
"poverty is a moral failing"
How smart do you have to be to fail to understand that you shouldn't start squirting out kids in your teens when you're unmarried and haven't saved any money or established your career?
How smart do you have to be to fail to understand that you shouldn't start squirting out kids in your teens when you're unmarried and haven't saved any money or established your career?
47
It kills me that whenever there's a budget shortfall the first thing we hear is that essential services will have to be cut. Nope, no other option. When there were budget problems at the state-run zoo in MA, the *first* thing they announced was that they'd have "no choice" but to euthanize zoo animals.
Nevermind restructuring pay-scales, health and pension benefits for existing and retired employees, etc so that it costs less to deliver services to the public.
The key take away is that enabling a File Clerk IV in Olympia to retire at 55 with a pension equal to 80% of his salary and free healthcare till death is the state government's core mission and highest calling. Actually using tax revenues as efficiently as possible so that you can afford to deliver critical services to the most vulnerable people in the state - not so much.
At the state level, public sector unions recycle tax-money into campaign contributions that put Democrats in office who reward them by granting them still larger claims on tax revenue that translate into more pay, benefits, and privileges. That's their real mission - nevermind the business about looking out for the little guy that they used to get a free pass from progressives - and they do it well.
Pretty simple folks - there's only so much private wealth that the state can extract before the public balks and either refuses tax hikes or moves away. The more that goes to public sector unions, the less there is to look after the poor, the elderly, etc.
Nevermind restructuring pay-scales, health and pension benefits for existing and retired employees, etc so that it costs less to deliver services to the public.
The key take away is that enabling a File Clerk IV in Olympia to retire at 55 with a pension equal to 80% of his salary and free healthcare till death is the state government's core mission and highest calling. Actually using tax revenues as efficiently as possible so that you can afford to deliver critical services to the most vulnerable people in the state - not so much.
At the state level, public sector unions recycle tax-money into campaign contributions that put Democrats in office who reward them by granting them still larger claims on tax revenue that translate into more pay, benefits, and privileges. That's their real mission - nevermind the business about looking out for the little guy that they used to get a free pass from progressives - and they do it well.
Pretty simple folks - there's only so much private wealth that the state can extract before the public balks and either refuses tax hikes or moves away. The more that goes to public sector unions, the less there is to look after the poor, the elderly, etc.
48
@36:
Tax structures that are progressive in intent aren't always progressive in effect if they can't generate the revenues necessary to fund the social programs that the most vulnerable depend upon.
In California and New York, the fact that the top 1% of taxpayers generate ~50% of the income tax revenue might sound like a progressives dream at first glance. Unfortunately - a revenue base this narrow is both difficult to sustain (rich people can move or pay lawyers to help them evade taxes), and extremely volatile (crash during recessions). So volatile that the people who need help the most suffer the most when their prospects for helping themselves are their worst (during recessions).
There are some progressives who can do math that have figured out that broadening the tax base, while seemingly more regressive in intent, is actually more progressive in effect since it generates a larger, more stable stream of revenues with which to fund social services.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB12472654…
Tax structures that are progressive in intent aren't always progressive in effect if they can't generate the revenues necessary to fund the social programs that the most vulnerable depend upon.
In California and New York, the fact that the top 1% of taxpayers generate ~50% of the income tax revenue might sound like a progressives dream at first glance. Unfortunately - a revenue base this narrow is both difficult to sustain (rich people can move or pay lawyers to help them evade taxes), and extremely volatile (crash during recessions). So volatile that the people who need help the most suffer the most when their prospects for helping themselves are their worst (during recessions).
There are some progressives who can do math that have figured out that broadening the tax base, while seemingly more regressive in intent, is actually more progressive in effect since it generates a larger, more stable stream of revenues with which to fund social services.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB12472654…
49
@41- You still haven't explained to me how everyone can be middle class. Who will be doing the service jobs? Or are we just going to start paying hard working service people middle-class wages? And this will work out because?
You rant about people having babies young, but that is a small part of the creation of poverty.
You rant about people having babies young, but that is a small part of the creation of poverty.
50
Who said everyone can be middle class? Not me. Pol Pot tried to make everyone equal but luckily most nations now reject socialism.
Actually single mothers are the leading cause of poverty in the US which is why I support creating FedAbort, free, on demand abortions for the poor, offering free rims and Playstations for repeat customers.
Actually single mothers are the leading cause of poverty in the US which is why I support creating FedAbort, free, on demand abortions for the poor, offering free rims and Playstations for repeat customers.
51
Who said everyone can be middle class? Not me. Pol Pot tried to make everyone equal but luckily most nations now reject socialism.
Actually single mothers are the leading cause of poverty in the US which is why I support creating FedAbort, free, on demand abortions for the poor, offering free rims and Playstations for repeat customers.
Actually single mothers are the leading cause of poverty in the US which is why I support creating FedAbort, free, on demand abortions for the poor, offering free rims and Playstations for repeat customers.
52
"Who will be doing the service jobs"
Somalis have managed to take over jobs at Seatac.... How come? They came here with nothing but all managed to find work. Ditto for Koreans who came to this country in the 60s-80s. Don't see many Koreans down at the welfare office with kids running around terrorizing their neighbors.
Somalis have managed to take over jobs at Seatac.... How come? They came here with nothing but all managed to find work. Ditto for Koreans who came to this country in the 60s-80s. Don't see many Koreans down at the welfare office with kids running around terrorizing their neighbors.
54
"You haven't spent much time around actual poor people, have you Davy?"
Actually I have, and in over 40 countries, for the past 25 years......probably more than you. Of course, I can discriminate between hard working poor who want to get ahead and have ambitions, and the dysfunctional masses who bred themselves into poverty.
Nice try.
Actually I have, and in over 40 countries, for the past 25 years......probably more than you. Of course, I can discriminate between hard working poor who want to get ahead and have ambitions, and the dysfunctional masses who bred themselves into poverty.
Nice try.
55
@8 - That's it! It's a sartorial crisis. If we all just get properly-fitting belts, the problem will be solved.
57
Uh, I don't have kids and I didn't come from an impoverished or dysfunctional background. Actually, my parents, who came from nothing and worked their asses off to become upper middle class are also struggling to get by due to the recession. Try again.
58
Did I tell you about the fabulous poontang I scored during my world travels? I remember this one young fresh quim in the Ivory Coast... oh, words can't describe it. But I really know what I'm talking about when it comes to the poor and why I know more about everything than you. Fucking credulous liberals.
60
Not running -- maybe against Frank, since the state leg is a part-time gig. But otherwise... not running.
62
So Davy, you point is we shouldn't provide services (beyond abortion) to poor people because the only poor people in this country deserve to be poor because a bunch of poor people manage to crawl into the lower-middle class? That's bullshit. Firstly, LUCK is the biggest determiner of financial outcome. How much money your parents have (first and biggest determiner), your health, the health of your loved ones. Providing basic services is about leveling the field so luck has less to do with it.
You know what makes people stop breeding? Education. Works better than just offering abortion. So probably you'd be better served by spending your tax dollars (or you know, all that charity spending you do.) on education for low income people.
You know what makes people stop breeding? Education. Works better than just offering abortion. So probably you'd be better served by spending your tax dollars (or you know, all that charity spending you do.) on education for low income people.
63
"you know what makes people stop breeding? Education"
Show me one ghetto bunny or trailer park tart who doesn't know the side effects of squatting on too many cocks.
Show me one ghetto bunny or trailer park tart who doesn't know the side effects of squatting on too many cocks.
64
For those of you who don't want the better than average safety net in Washington State to colapse (perhaps not to be rebuilt if there's a Republican majority in the future) -- contact your state senators.
Tell them you want to be taxed.
I know, it's hard.
But Washington State can't continue to raise buisness taxes on smaller/mid-sized businesses, that would make fewer jobs. This state is tough on those sized businesses to begin with. Property taxes are already pretty darn high. Sales tax or income taxes are what is needed.
Can we raised "sin taxes" even more without feeding a black market?
I'm all for taxing "unhealthy foods/drinks" (Dr. Adam Drewnowski at the UW has a pretty good formula for estimating what these would be) and using some of the money to subsidize healthier foods for lower-income people. Soda is a completely unnecessary food -- we tend to have pretty good tasting water in our state -- If I want a diet coke, I deserve to pay an extra quarter in taxes.
Maybe this budget crisis will make such a tax palatable. Two birds, one stone.
Yes, I'm pro "fat acceptance." I'm also in favor of better health for everyone. If apples start to look more attractive because Oreos are out of my budget, I'll eat better. I just don't think these kinds of changes are going to get most people to lose enough weight to go from obese to thin. But they may make people healthier, be they fat or thin.
Tell them you want to be taxed.
I know, it's hard.
But Washington State can't continue to raise buisness taxes on smaller/mid-sized businesses, that would make fewer jobs. This state is tough on those sized businesses to begin with. Property taxes are already pretty darn high. Sales tax or income taxes are what is needed.
Can we raised "sin taxes" even more without feeding a black market?
I'm all for taxing "unhealthy foods/drinks" (Dr. Adam Drewnowski at the UW has a pretty good formula for estimating what these would be) and using some of the money to subsidize healthier foods for lower-income people. Soda is a completely unnecessary food -- we tend to have pretty good tasting water in our state -- If I want a diet coke, I deserve to pay an extra quarter in taxes.
Maybe this budget crisis will make such a tax palatable. Two birds, one stone.
Yes, I'm pro "fat acceptance." I'm also in favor of better health for everyone. If apples start to look more attractive because Oreos are out of my budget, I'll eat better. I just don't think these kinds of changes are going to get most people to lose enough weight to go from obese to thin. But they may make people healthier, be they fat or thin.
65
Oh, and in terms of obesity, its pretty darn impossible to reduce obesity rates on a population level. What you can do (Colorado is the only example) is to "hold the line" -- so people don't gain more weight. Fat people might be a bit smaller, thinner folks mostly stay so. Culture is one part of the equation. Weather that makes being outdoors possible nearly year round doesn't hurt. But instead of focusing on getting people to lose weight, figuring out those things that help people NOT GAIN WEIGHT is a better (more realistic, more humane) way to go.
A better health system would help. Cutting access to preventive care and health insurance to the working poor (Basic Health, already cut -- the waiting list is now longer than the number enrolled) makes it worse.
A better health system would help. Cutting access to preventive care and health insurance to the working poor (Basic Health, already cut -- the waiting list is now longer than the number enrolled) makes it worse.
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The Saturday Morning News by Unpaid Intern
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NYC Man Ticketed for Not Riding in the Bike Lane by Jonathan Golob
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