Schwarzenegger's Tax Hike Over The Top

Schwarzenegger's Tax Hike Over The Top

Tax analysts have released information that if Gov. Schwarzenegger's tax raises go into effect, they will have achieved their goal and the average Californian will pay 109% of their income in taxes, both apparent and hidden such as federal income tax, state income tax, state sales tax, federal fuel tax, state fuel tax, social security tax, disability tax, unemployment tax, medicare tax, inheritance tax, transient occupancy tax, car tax, excise tax, property tax, personal property tax, the California Voluntary Tax Program (known as the California Lottery before the passage of the Truth In Naming Proposition) and all the rest of them. The total does not include government fees, which they can raise to exorbitant amounts because they are not taxes, house insurance, car insurance, health insurance, long term care insurance, worker’s compensation insurance and things considered consumer discretionary items such as mortgage payment, electricity, gas, phone, water, trash, internet, TV service and food. The State Attorney’s Office just released the official definition of taxes and fees- “When it’s something you don’t want to pay, it’s a tax; when it’s something you really need, it’s a fee.” The state’s new tax goal is 120% of each taxpayer’s income. The tax analysts refused to name an alternate state to move to because so many people leaving California and rushing to that area simultaneously would cause massive disruptions and problems. The only good thing about the situation is that we don’t have Governor Herod in office, who would make us buy the gas to go to the city of our birth to pay the taxes.

©2008 Eric Stamets