Tax will be right at home

I found the income tax Initiative 1098 column by Bert Caldwell, in the Sept. 12 Sunday Business section, interesting.

From the moral perspective, Caldwell seems to imply that the income tax will apply mostly to our neighbors west of the Cascades and that we, on the east side of the mountains, will somehow benefit from their plunder. A carrot to vote for it is offered in I-1098 in the form of a 20 percent reduction in state property taxes, among other things.

Caldwell refers to our coastal neighbors as “Our King County benefactors” and that they will bestow on us $11 billion in new revenues in the next five years. He calls this as close to a “free ride” as you can get. There is no such thing. More taxes cause increased spending and borrowing by politicians. Soon, more and more citizens will be paying the top rate and the property tax will be back where it was. Look at the history of the federal income tax.

When you ask for whom the income tax burden falls, and Caldwell implies it will fall west of the Cascades, do not be fooled. It will fall on thee.

Fred Lohr

Spangle