I sent out a newsletter a few days ago asking that question and inviting responses. The results were amazing, not only because the votes for shutdown outnumbered the votes for tax increases by at least 10 to 1, but also because of the nature of the responses.
Many who wrote in spoke of personal sacrifices they thought a shut down might cost them. Nevertheless, they were willing to pay the price for better and more efficient government. Many who work for the state even wrote in and said, "I will be laid off, but I am willing to pay that price if it means making Michigan better in the long run." Others wrote to say that their business or family simply could not survive under another layer of taxation.
On the other hand, almost to a person, those who suggested I vote for a tax increase, did so out of purely selfish reasons. Virtually every respondent was a state employee who did not want to be laid of for a few days. I even had a state judge, who probably makes over $100,000 per year, tell me that! This jurist told me to just go ahead and raise taxes..."I can't go without a paycheck..."
It is a sad commentary that more than a few civil servants would rather see millions of tax payers take another hit just so they don't have to take a few days off without pay.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
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10 comments:
As a teacher and school board member, I can assure you that I would rather have a shutdown of government than higher taxes. We also need major reforms. Keep up the good fight!
Frank Hamet
hamet@mich.com
Jack,
So what's the bottom line? Is there going to be a vote? Hopefully you and your republican comrades can hold out for the good of this state. Small businesses cannot afford anymore. More of us will leave...fewer employees...fewer poeple staying in the state. HELP
And your last paragraph may be the key to the whole problem - why tax cuts are so vehemently derided by Grandholm and her cronies.
Time for a recall, I think.
Judges in this state make $150,000 a year. If he can't go without a paycheck I guess he should be looking at trimming his budget.
His income is literally 10 times that of my husband and myself on a fixed income. If we had ever consistently made, while working twice what we get right now on Social security and his Canadian Pension we would have been able to put money aside for retirement and we raised a family of 6 children.
I feel sorry for this putz he has no idea how to live. Perhaps he should have paid some bills ahead and put some food in the freezer. That is called planning ahead for possibilities.
As a family who is supported by a Michigan State Paycheck, we are adament - SHUT THE STATE DOWN if it means NO TAXES!
We will be fine, and will make due - can the politicans say the same?
Yes, time for a recall of the entire michigan legislature and excutive branch. It is their job to come up with a balanced budget and they have not. If we did our job that way we would be fired.
I just spoke with a prospective small business entrepreneur. He has already shelled out 30K to get permits and the necessary variances to use an existing, empty building. Now, he's having issues getting a loan, because he's in Michigan. "Any place else, no problem" - he was told. Now, Lansing is planning on raising his taxes. How much more unfriendly to business can we get? Tow the line Jack, we just can't do this.
I am also a state employee who would rather lose a few days pay than see the income tax go up. Because her husband is disabled, my daughter is among the "working poor". They recently lost medicaid because she got a slight raise. As they struggle to pay their medical bills, the last thing they need is a tax increase so that the gov can continue such lofty pursuits as further enriching Joel Ferguson.
If he's worried about being able to pay bills, Welcome to more than half the state of Michigan Residents.
Stay the course - It's time to stop fleecing the citizens with taxes. Who says the budget has to be as big as it is? Would not a 2 1/2 % decrease in budget expenses cover the overspending? Leadership is needed when hard decisions must be made. Passing tax increases is easy - facing the cold hard facts -MI overspends is obvious. Will the Republicans stand fast for priciple or expediency? Keep us informed - we are watching.
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