"Shaky economy may weigh heavily in income tax vote" by Eric Moskowitz, Globe Staff | October 8, 2008
The last time the income tax question was on the ballot, in 2002, it received little attention but stunned political observers by collecting 45 percent of the vote. At the time, a gallon of gas cost less than $1.50, home prices were soaring, and the economy, if imperfect, was not the dominant issue. That's a far cry from 2008.
Yeah, I will be voting FOR IT THIS TIME!!!!
Michael J. Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, which this week issued a 28-page report, "The Enormous Consequences of Question 1," predicting that the loss of $12.5 billion in income taxes would be catastrophic to state services and local aid:
"I am concerned that this becomes a vote of emotion. [The state's bond rating would plunge to junk status, and businesses drawn by quality of life and stability would look elsewhere]. I think if anybody looks at the facts, it would lose widely, but I'm assuming it's going to be a close vote."
WTF?!!! Why is this PRO-TAX, PRO-BUSINESS BULLSHITTER in the Globe DAMN NEAR EVERYDAY?
Nothing like having a PROFESSIONAL, AGENDA-PUSHING LOBBYIST on retainer, 'eh, Globe? The guy have an office in your building or what?
Of course, "flushing . . . millions of dollars away supporting a highly profitable industry" when it comes to $300 million in taxpayer dollars for Hollywood is o.k., even as the price of a school lunch rises; paying $13 million for a computer software system that could have cost less than $3 million is all right because the winner was a close friend of the House speaker, even as my poorer-than-dirt district "has been struggling to close a $2 million budget gap."; the lottery shellling out "millions of dollars" for sports tickets for "lottery officials, their family members, and friends" is fine, even as schools are closing; making interest payments to banks to the tune of "a staggering $22 billion" for the Big Pit, as we call it around here, is required, even as bridges are neglected across the state; and again, paying off banks like UBS, who can "demand repayment of an additional $2 million a month beginning in January" while also receiving a "$179 million payment," while the state pension fund loses $1 billion dollars -- which still didn't stop the executive director from carving himself a nice "$64,000 bonus on top of his $322,000 annual salary."
Oh, and did I not mention the $1 BILLION dollar giveaway to the pharmaceutical corporations, even though "it's never been easy to turn a profit in biotech?" Flush that money away, too, taxpayer. Of course, the war looters were next in line for a handout. And should the state be appropriating money for a "multimillion-dollar reconstruction" of golf courses?
Nor is it RECKLESS to BORROW the STATE INTO OBLIVION so they can PAY INTEREST to BANKS while SITTING ON $2 BILLION DOLLARS!
Yeah, but we will be voting on EMOTION -- you know, like CONGRESSMAN who are BUFFALOED into voting for ILLEGAL WARS based on LIES!!!!!!
In late September, two polls indicated that to be the case. A Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll of 400 residents, taken Sept. 22 to 25, indicated that 40 percent supported the question, with 49 percent opposed. A Sept. 22 and 23 poll of 679 likely voters, conducted by Survey USA for WBZ-TV, indicated that 31 percent would definitely support it, 34 percent would definitely oppose, and 35 percent were undecided or leaning. But that September snapshot now seems like ages ago - the Dow Jones industrial average hovered at about 11,000, and the Bush administration was just introducing the bailout plan, which was ultimately revised and passed last week.
You think I am believing ANY MSM, AGENDA-PUSHING "POLL?"
Interviews with more than a dozen voters Monday during the lunchtime rush in Downtown Crossing revealed a mix of opinions.
And then the Globe goes on to quote ONE SUPPORTER and FOUR OPPONENTS!!!!
That is why I am SO SICK of their AGENDA-PUSHING SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!! The day the Jew York Times and Boston Globe disappear from the media and are replaced by blogs will be a GREAT DAY for this country!
I am SO GLAD they are HEMORRHAGE JOBS and LOSING REVENUE!
"Every day it's more expensive," Nadira Seguie, a 50-year-old city housing employee from Roxbury, said, explaining why she will vote for the question. "The food, the gas, medical bills, everything."
And that is the ONLY YES VOTE they could find, huh? Pffft!
John Czajkowski, a heating and air conditioning worker who lives in Quincy, will vote against it, because he thinks abolishing the income tax would cripple a state government that is already envisioning substantial cuts because of lagging tax collections tied to the economy.
"If you get rid of the income tax, it will be even worse," said Czajkowski, who is 42. "Where will you get the money to pay for services?"
You mean, "services" like THESE:
"flushing . . . millions of dollars away supporting a highly profitable industry" when it comes to $300 million in taxpayer dollars for Hollywood is o.k., even as the price of a school lunch rises; paying $13 million for a computer software system that could have cost less than $3 million is all right because the winner was a close friend of the House speaker, even as my poorer-than-dirt district "has been struggling to close a $2 million budget gap."; the lottery shellling out "millions of dollars" for sports tickets for "lottery officials, their family members, and friends" is fine, even as schools are closing; making interest payments to banks to the tune of "a staggering $22 billion" for the Big Pit, as we call it around here, is required, even as bridges are neglected across the state; and again, paying off banks like UBS, who can "demand repayment of an additional $2 million a month beginning in January" while also receiving a "$179 million payment," while the state pension fund loses $1 billion dollars -- which still didn't stop the executive director from carving himself a nice "$64,000 bonus on top of his $322,000 annual salary."
Oh, and did I not mention the $1 BILLION dollar giveaway to the pharmaceutical corporations, even though "it's never been easy to turn a profit in biotech?" Flush that money away, too, taxpayer. Of course, the war looters were next in line for a handout. And should the state be appropriating money for a "multimillion-dollar reconstruction" of golf courses?
Nor is it RECKLESS to BORROW the STATE INTO OBLIVION so they can PAY INTEREST to BANKS while SITTING ON $2 BILLION DOLLARS!
Those the services you talking about?
Several opponents said they worried that voters would consider the immediate paycheck gains but not the potential consequences. "I think the only thing they see is 'no taxes,' " said Dennis Hohengasser, a 59-year-old state employee from Taunton.
FUCK YOU and your INSULTS, Boston Globe! Yeah, we so stoo-pid out here we don't know what wees doin'!!!
Of course, we ain't stoo-pid enogh to BUY YOUR FUCKING SHIT-SOAKED LIES and AGENDA-PUSHING DIARRHEA!!!!
That's not unusual in studies bridging economics and psychology, said Edward L. Glaeser, a Harvard professor. "People very often fail to think that other people engage in complex thinking," he said. Glaeser, who also directs the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston, said a flagging economy could make voters feel poorer and want to expand their paychecks by abolishing the income tax. But the more dramatic news of late, about the credit crisis and stock selloff, could outweigh that impulse and make people think that this is a particularly risky time to vote for something drastic and unpredictable, he said.
"There are good reasons to think that the second view is actually the right one," Glaeser said. "If you ever wanted to experiment with something like this, this is a very, very tough time to be sending the state out to the credit market to be making up a cash shortfall" immediately, even if budgets could be balanced long-term.
You shrinks signed off on torture and shit, right? Well, FUCK YOU AGENDA-PUSHING INSULTS!! Add ANOTHER GROUP to the guillotine line!!!!!!
The question, if approved, would cut the state income tax from 5.3 to 2.65 percent on Jan. 1, in the middle of this fiscal year, and abolish it entirely a year later. It would become law, but is not a constitutional amendment. State lawmakers, who have voiced bipartisan opposition to the question, could try to repeal it later or approve other measures to offset it, but would face procedural and political obstacles, especially in the first year.
If they want ANOTHER SHAY'S REBELLION!!!
"leaders like House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi have suggested they would ignore the result even if voters approved the question"
You will be the FIRST ONE we look for, DiMasi, you corrupt piece of shit!!!!!
Income tax supporters, who did not organize in 2002, are campaigning against passage. A union-funded coalition of civic, human services, environmental, labor, faith, and business groups has banded together for statewide canvassing, phone banks, and yet-to-run ads.
Yeah, all the SPECIAL INTERESTS that are BLEEDING THIS STATE DRY as we BORROW OURSELVES INTO OBLIVION while SITTING ON $2 BILLION DOLLARS!!
The Rev. Richard McGowan, a Jesuit priest and Boston College economics professor, said he thinks a majority of voters understand that the benefits promised in Question 1 are illusory, with consequences that will probably include lost services and the expansion of more regressive taxes.
How about we start TAXING CHURCH PROPERTY then, PEDOPHILE PROMOTER?!!!!!!!!!!!
Translation: The ELECTION is FIXED -- even here in "liberal" Massachusetts!
Also see: I Hate My State
The Boston Globe and Taxachusetts
The Boston Globe Doesn't Want Taxpayers Answering Question 1
The Patriots of Massachusetts
