Letters and Comments for August 10, 2009

Letters and Comments for August 10, 2009

Why settle for second place?

To the Editor:

We’re all aware of the embarrassment that is California: facing a $26-billion deficit, issuing IOUs, promising everything but paying for little. Now their “solution” includes borrowing billions from solvent cities and counties around their own state.

The Wall Street Journal has just reported that Oregon is fast following in California’s fiscally inept (or is it criminally neglectful?) footsteps. Our state has the second highest unemployment in the nation; only Michigan boasts a higher figure. Of course, we already have one of the highest tax rates in the nation. So what is the solution to Oregon’s ballooning fiscal shortfall (an obvious result of fewer jobs)?

Well, both Oregon’s Legislature and our governor have elected to drastically increase our taxes, on individuals and on small businesses. This is a solution? Does anyone, in his or her most demented pipe dreams, cling to the fantasy that this will improve our state’s economic health?

Oregon will soon have the second highest income tax rate in the nation, following only that inflicted on residents of New York City. So kudos for consistency! Second highest unemployment and, now, second highest taxes in the land!

Our lawmakers had to choose between reducing the growth of spending or raising our tax burden. In the Wall Street Journal’s words, “No contest.” So Oregon government spending will climb by about $2 billion, or almost 4 percent, and that on top of a 21 percent increase in the 2007-08 biennium budget.

But why settle for second place? After all, if raising taxes to second highest in the nation is good economic medicine in a recession, why not go for first? Let’s all write to the governor and thank him for what he’s done for/to us thus far, but let’s also ask him to consider the “final solution”: perfect 100 percent taxes.

Lyle Schwarz, Ph.D

Union