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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
April 14, 2011     Shelton Mason County Journal
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April 14, 2011
 
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With April's tax return filing day around the corner, and the fed- eral budget schism dominating the national news cycle, one angle on these stories has been understated. Meaningful and equitable national tax reform should be a part of the fe el li lc C( E t~ el F d Cl scussion; whether or not that lppens remains to be seen, but w issues touch nearly every wage Lrner in America. The National Tax Code runs ore than 5,000 hideous pages ng, and there is almost universal ,nsensus our present tax system unfair, too complicated, immoral, ld too prone to political manipu- tions. Yet, over the years, true reform -- scrapping the pres- It revenue code and starting over has never seemed to catch on. Back in 1996, Republican Steve ~rbes ran the bulk of his Presi- mtial campaign on the fiat tax ,ncept. His contention was to trash the present tax code with its myriad of deductions and loopholes and install a simple percentage- based tax. Forbes claimed a 10 percent flat rate income tax on all wage earners -- except those at poverty level -- would adequately fund the Federal Government. No deductions. No games. No loopholes. As a reporter in 1992 - the publisher of this newspaper, Rick Kennedy- had first interviewed then Louisiana Congressman Billy Tauzin as he was an outspoken proponent of tax reform. In the af- termath of the Forbes campaign, Tauzin actually sponsored a bill in Congress calling for the abolish- ment of the IRS and the installa- tion of a "National Sales Ta£' in 1997. Under Tauzin's original plan, the income tax would cease. The tax collectors would not be the IRS, but rather retailers, resell- ers, super market chains, and any place else you happen to purchase a "consumption item" from, just as it is now with Washington state's sales tax. In other words, it is not any dif- ferent than what happens now when any of us go to a Wal-Mart or Burger King, only the national sales tax would simply be tacked on to the end of the purchase. "Under this plan, the citizens, not the federal govermnent, get first crack at their paychecks. Through purchasing, taxpayers would have total control over how much money they give to Uncle Sam," Tauzin said at the time. In answering critics who claimed the sales tax was regressive in na- ture, Tauzin said, "The more you purchase (or consume), the more you pay. The higher the purchase price, the higher tax. The guy pur- chasing the Mercedes will always In his take on the Forbes fiat pay more than the guy buying the tax, Tauzin said '~rhe fiat tax is used Chevy." better than the current system, but In Tauzin's original plan, a tax it is still an income tax. The IRS of 15 percent would be imposed would still exist, and you would on the gross receipts from the sale still have to fill out tax returns. Un- of any taxable property or service der this (National Sales Tax) plan, sold with three exemptions: Items American workers will take home purchased for resale, items pur- 100 percent of their pay, and then chased to produce items for resale, they would decide how much they or items exported from the country, want to be taxed by how much they Tauzin called for elimination of consume." all personal and corporate income Fast forward to 2011, where we taxes, estate and gift taxes, and have a record National Debt, and dedicated excise taxes. For home fierce debates in political circles on mortgages, Tausin offered the how to deal with it. While spend- sales tax on the mortgage princi- ing cuts have grabbed most of the pal should be payable in equal in- headlines, it would seem that our stallments over the life of a 30-year nation's revenue structure - tax note just as the principal itself, collections - would eventually fac- Other advantages cited by Tauz- tor into these discussions. in included elimination of indi- If Congress and President vidual tax returns, no income tax Obama will do the right thing, tax withholding, and no loopholes for reform will get a much needed re- the wealthy, boot on the national agenda. liminate diem or local Editor, the Journal In his article, Repro- sentative Finn expressed I . sahsfactlon with the bi- partisanship of some of the b~dgetary issues and men- t~oned getting rid of"waste, fraud and abuse." I called both represen- tative Finn's and Haigh's office to discuss budgetary, shared sacrifice and sug- gested legislators return two percent of their pay. State employees have sac- rificed wage increases and furloughs and retirees have sacrificed cost of living ~creases from state retire- ent and social security. Where are the legislators' sacrifices? Mr. Finn's legislative dide said he only accepts 50 percent of his per diem, implying he is sacrific- ing. That is no sacrifice. r diem is provided for expenses incurred, includ- ing meals, mileage and vernight accommodations, Then away from home. As state employee, I was ot provided per diem. The tate did not pay me mile- ge from my Mason County ,ome to my Olympia job. 'he state did not provide .~e food while at work. I was not provided overnight accommodations after working overtime. p Why are the taxpayers aying per diem to any ~0gislator who lives within miles of Olympia? Per diem is for legislators from ~pokane, Yakima, Belling- am and Vancouver. It is not for legislators from Ta- coma, Centralia, Aberdeen/ Hoquiam, Shelton/Belfair or anyplace in Thurston County. A legislator should not e rated any differently om a state employee in at both have a job to do Olympia. If they live ithin 50 miles of Olympia, ey pay their own mile- age and bring or buy their own lunch. As to overnight accommodations, stop the session after 12 hours and go home. I would not trust any legislation that comes out of a legislature that has been in session for 18 straight hours, as humans cannot think well after de- liberation that long. Our local legislators should return all per diem received during this ses- sion. Ardean A. Anvik Elma We are the largest third world Editor, the Journal As we watch the news of both budget battles where our elected officials play chess with our futures I have some questions. With regards to the federal bud- get, the republican plat- form where the only way to stimulate spending is more tax breaks for the wealthy and cuts to services to the elderly does not address the future. Another twist is cuts to Planned Parenthood and reduction in powers of the EPA. I can't find the Re- publican TV channel that gives us the news that we don't still have a popula- tion explosion and major ecological disasters on a global basis. From the most recent developments the USA and the humans who occupy it, are now in place to assist the corporations in their global chess games. We are no more than worker bees assisting the entitled (G.E., BofA, Chase etc.) in their takeover of the country and then the world. Corporate America now has us humans over a bar- rel with tax advantages and the same rights that you and I have. I may sound like a wacko with conspiracy theories about nothing, except all of it is true. With our state bud- get our officials could not change the tax breaks for the big banks without a two-thirds vote. Who did that for us? Running the country on the backs of those who built it in the first place, the working class now that they finally need medical attention, may be good business, but it is not going to lead to a productive nation. This would appear to be a nationwide trend with all the money in the hands of the richest one percent, -,are invested in tax sheltered federally subsidized busi- be nesses like big oil and large enough conglomerates like GE that do not pay any in- come taxes. How can a investment portfolio lose? GE and Chase now share the indi- vidual rights millions have died to preserve only with, of course, advantages you can't afford. This assures the takeover of America by the better mousetrap. Ants and bees are hon- ored to be part of a larger entity, aswe humans should be when our small businesses and we are ab- sorbed by corporate Ameri- ca that continues a tax-free existence. Welcome to the largest third world country on the planet. Please vote while we still can. David Beers Hoodsport Regarding Editor, the Journal One letter writer to the Journal seems ungrateful and even churlish to sug- gest that voters who just two months ago approved a 71 percent increase in the operations and main- tenance levy for Pioneer School District "truly do not care for children" be- cause a majority rejected the bond issue to tear down the existing intermediate school and build new facil~- ties at a cost of $27 million. As another non-starter, the president of the school board seems arrogant and condescending in suggest- ing that those who voted • against the bond issue did not understand the issue. I suggest that voters knew what the issues were. If the school board had Journal Le er POli dmsSi rmati0n for:theJo t, only saved the money it The many, many home- has wasted on architects, less people came and took consultants, elections and only one thing and then propaganda mailed to vet- thanked the young man do- ers, it would certainly have ing it. He also gave them a enough money to fix a leak- plastic bag filled with the ing roof. little necessities of life we It may be noted that the mostly take for granted, Public Disclosure Commis- shampoo, soap, toothpaste sion is currently consider- and brush and the like. I ing whether the school said, "I can do that." board has been illegally Many who will read using school district funds this are no doubt already' to try to influence the out- doing something like this come of the election, somewhere here in Shelton The voters decided in and you are making a dif- February that it would not ference. This is for those of be cost effective to spend us who don't know what to about $65,000 per student, do or where to start. So I've plus interest on the $24.5 now filled bags with the million borrowed, for the little necessities of life and proposed school building, a gift certificate to go eat a particularly when there is nice meal at a local restau- no evidence that student rant. achievement would im- Wende Erickson prove. The voters may well make the same choice in April, not from ignorance The rezone or penurious disregard for children, but because they expect more accountable spending by our school board, should be John Diehl Harstine Island denied Helping Editor, theJournal I take issue with your those in, editorial of April 7, sup- porting residential zoning of lands adjacent to Sand- erson Field. The reason for zoning in the first place is Editor, the Journal to prevent encroachment of incompatible uses. Resi- Never let what you can't dential use is well proven do stop you from doing to be at the top of the list what you dan do. and will almost certainly Looking at life that way lead to arguments as the I decided helping those use of the airport expands without homes or hearths in the future. Given the didn't have to be as daunt- overburdened state of our ingly overwhelming as is highway system along with first seems. I saw a man in the archaic nature of our Los Angles, Calif. who took rail lines, all of which now new and nearly new cloth- run to capacity for freight, ing to a certain place each regional airports in the week and hung it on the chain link fence, country are going to be- Id come our connection to the outside world. You cite the location of Shelton High School as support for rezoning. Had you been here back when the decision was made to place schools where they are you would know there was opposition, primarily for safety reasons. The port lacked the leverage then that zoning provides and schools were built anyway. Because schools are open only during daytime, noise from low flying aircraft is seldom a bother. Residen- tial uses, however, peak in the mornings, evenings and on weekends when residents want peace and quiet. Because schools are on the approach end of the runway the volume of engine noise is at its low- est. The residential area in question is on the take off end where noise will be the most annoying. Last, the existing zoning of industrial is a better use for the good of our commu- nity. The Port of Shelton of- fers land and buildings for industrial use but only on a lease-only basis. The lease option is good for an under- capitalized startup compa- ny. Better-established en- trepreneurs, however, view owning as a better invest- ment. The availability of a privately owned industrial park, offering the option to buy, would greatly enhance our ability to attract a wider range of job provid- ing business The city of Shelton isn't in existence to fill the pockets of an out of town developer with gold; it has also the responsibility to do what is best for the citizen. The rezone request should be denied. Norman Eveleth Shelton Shelton-Mason County She~ton-Mason County Journal is a member of Rick Kennedy, publisher Advertising: Composing room: SPS 492-800 Washington Newspaper Publishers' Association. Dave Pierik, advertising manager William Adams, graphics Newsroom: Harvey Morris, ad representative Gaylene Wiseman, paginator POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shelton-Mason SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Jesse MuUen, editor Mat Taylor, ad representative Koleen Wood, classifieds/legals County Journal, Re. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584. $37 per year for Mason County addresses, Kevan Moore, news editor Front office: Becky Corr, typing I~ublished weekly by Shelton-Meson County Journal, Inc. $51 per year in state of Washington but outside Dean Siemon, sports Donna Kinnaird, bookkeeper Pressroom: Aria Shephard, North Mason, Margot Brand, circulation ~t 227 West Cota Street, Shelton, Washington Mason County, $61 per year out of state, environment, reporter Natalie Kelly Riordan, productionmanager ~ailing address: Re. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584 ..... " ~ Cdcket Carter, mallroom supervisor Travis Miller press operator Telephone (360)426-4412 • www.masoncounty.com Owried erld published by Johnson, reporter Periodicals postage paid at Shelton, Washington Shelton-Mason County Journal, Inc Page A-4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal -Thursday, April 14, 2011 t