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I’m voting for Question 1, to eliminate the state income tax, which shouldn’t surprise anybody. Every time I hear from its opponents that it would be “reckless” or “irresponsible,” I wonder, “Do these people ever stop to look in the mirror?” Reckless and irresponsible is the way they have been spending, demanding spending or enabling spending for decades.
Another reason - the unions spending millions to defeat it have a gigantic conflict of interest - a direct financial interest in maintaining the outrageous, bloated, unaffordable gravy train that is state government.
Not that they really have anything to worry about. There is not a chance in the world that it will be implemented, even if it passes. This is a Legislature that has so little respect for voters that it has ignored their express directives multiple times. And why shouldn’t they? They never get punished for it.
Which brings me to the one area of agreement I have with Question 1 opponents. They say if you don’t like the way your government is run, vote for somebody else at the next election. The response from Question 1 proponents is that it is impossible to unseat incumbents.
I don’t buy it. It’s difficult, but possible. The voting booth is still private. There are still more of us in the private sector than in the public sector. If you don’t vote them out, you’re voting for more of the same. If a raft of them lose their seats next time around, you will get some change you can believe in.