Letters to the editor April 20 issue
Published on Tue, Apr 19, 2011Read More Letters to the Editor
Hopeful that newspapers can survive
Dear Editor,
Since we all live in an era of smartphones and wi-fi connections, at any Starbucks, it is nice to see small papers like the Lake Stevens Journal being published.
I am only 29 years old but there is something special about reading the physical copy of the newspaper every morning.
People will miss that if it is no longer available, but I have faith that there are plenty of individuals like myself out there who remain optimistic that newspapers will survive.
Jeff Swanson
Lake Stevens
Adding sales tax to certain services not a good idea
Dear Editor,
Don Brunell’s editorial about a Democrat proposal to add sales tax to more ‘services’, such as cosmetic surgery and dentistry, misses mention that these sorts of taxes are little more than a flat income tax on these services, paid directly by customers as a ‘sales tax’.
Yes folks, our state already essentially has a state income sales tax for a variety of other ‘services’—such as hair and construction.
At least these sorts of income sales taxes are up front about who pays taxes —taxes are paid by customers, not by the target of the tax.
It works the same way with progressive income taxes on the wealthy—progressive taxes are paid by customers and inflate the cost of those services and products (make them more expensive).
In the case of taxing dental care, beware. It’s likely any sales tax on dental care would not be covered by your insurance, if you have insurance. Either way, your care would get more expensive as taxes are passed along to consumers, just when your budget is already strained to the limit.
At what point do these persistent Democrat attempts to impose income sales taxes on selective industries and services cross the line to become a stealth state income tax?
Fred Chittenden, DDS
Lake Stevens
Washington State budget cuts don’t show improvement
Dear Editor,
Three state budget proposals have been released with the House Republicans submitting their first ever budget proposal. Of the three, the House Republicans reduce spending the most and the House Democrats spend the most.
The Senate budget is in the middle on spending, but puts the most in the State’s Rainy Day Fund. I find the House Democrats (official House budget since the Democrats are in power) still increases spending.
The Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee says the Operating Account is significant cuts, but he doesn’t mention the Transportation and Capitol budgets that increase spending by $4 billion.
The legislature has done an end-round of the voter’s initiative re-instituting the 3/4 majority for tax increases by passing major fee increases. Public School education is also increased.
Once again, the legislature has avoided any real change in budgeting and prioritizing government spending. Our state legislature needs to understand that the private sector creates wealth and that government consumes wealth.
Todd Welch
Lake Stevens
Washington voters need to make elected officials accountable
Dear Editor,
I am furious, and everyone in this State should be as well.
Three years ago we had a race for the State Governor’s Office between Dino Rossi and Christine Gregoire.
Mr. Rossi said that the State was headed for a $5 billion deficit, Governor Gregoire said we were fine and have a surplus. Now we find we have a $5 billion deficit.
We demanded that the leaders of the state cut spending and we voted to refuse the tax increases they wanted to impose on us.
Now we find that the legislature is doubling the cost of renewing a driver’s license, and doubling the cost of using our State Parks and significantly increasing over 100 other State fees. Not because the costs have increased significantly but so they can generate funds since they can’t raise taxes.
Enough is enough!
Washington voters, we must hold our elected officials accountable for what they say and do. It is past time we demand they stop out-of-control spending and hold them accountable.
We keep voting them back into office and now they have become arrogant and self-important.
It is time for real change in this Washington. Educate yourself on the spending issues in this State, look up voting records and refuse to vote for those holding office that continue to spend and tax.
Do not listen to their rhetoric, they have already proven themselves untrustworthy. Check their record and refuse to support those you disagree with.
Once upon a time, what a person said meant something.
Kerry Goodwin
Lake Stevens
Dear Editor,
Since we all live in an era of smartphones and wi-fi connections, at any Starbucks, it is nice to see small papers like the Lake Stevens Journal being published.
I am only 29 years old but there is something special about reading the physical copy of the newspaper every morning.
People will miss that if it is no longer available, but I have faith that there are plenty of individuals like myself out there who remain optimistic that newspapers will survive.
Jeff Swanson
Lake Stevens
Adding sales tax to certain services not a good idea
Dear Editor,
Don Brunell’s editorial about a Democrat proposal to add sales tax to more ‘services’, such as cosmetic surgery and dentistry, misses mention that these sorts of taxes are little more than a flat income tax on these services, paid directly by customers as a ‘sales tax’.
Yes folks, our state already essentially has a state income sales tax for a variety of other ‘services’—such as hair and construction.
At least these sorts of income sales taxes are up front about who pays taxes —taxes are paid by customers, not by the target of the tax.
It works the same way with progressive income taxes on the wealthy—progressive taxes are paid by customers and inflate the cost of those services and products (make them more expensive).
In the case of taxing dental care, beware. It’s likely any sales tax on dental care would not be covered by your insurance, if you have insurance. Either way, your care would get more expensive as taxes are passed along to consumers, just when your budget is already strained to the limit.
At what point do these persistent Democrat attempts to impose income sales taxes on selective industries and services cross the line to become a stealth state income tax?
Fred Chittenden, DDS
Lake Stevens
Washington State budget cuts don’t show improvement
Dear Editor,
Three state budget proposals have been released with the House Republicans submitting their first ever budget proposal. Of the three, the House Republicans reduce spending the most and the House Democrats spend the most.
The Senate budget is in the middle on spending, but puts the most in the State’s Rainy Day Fund. I find the House Democrats (official House budget since the Democrats are in power) still increases spending.
The Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee says the Operating Account is significant cuts, but he doesn’t mention the Transportation and Capitol budgets that increase spending by $4 billion.
The legislature has done an end-round of the voter’s initiative re-instituting the 3/4 majority for tax increases by passing major fee increases. Public School education is also increased.
Once again, the legislature has avoided any real change in budgeting and prioritizing government spending. Our state legislature needs to understand that the private sector creates wealth and that government consumes wealth.
Todd Welch
Lake Stevens
Washington voters need to make elected officials accountable
Dear Editor,
I am furious, and everyone in this State should be as well.
Three years ago we had a race for the State Governor’s Office between Dino Rossi and Christine Gregoire.
Mr. Rossi said that the State was headed for a $5 billion deficit, Governor Gregoire said we were fine and have a surplus. Now we find we have a $5 billion deficit.
We demanded that the leaders of the state cut spending and we voted to refuse the tax increases they wanted to impose on us.
Now we find that the legislature is doubling the cost of renewing a driver’s license, and doubling the cost of using our State Parks and significantly increasing over 100 other State fees. Not because the costs have increased significantly but so they can generate funds since they can’t raise taxes.
Enough is enough!
Washington voters, we must hold our elected officials accountable for what they say and do. It is past time we demand they stop out-of-control spending and hold them accountable.
We keep voting them back into office and now they have become arrogant and self-important.
It is time for real change in this Washington. Educate yourself on the spending issues in this State, look up voting records and refuse to vote for those holding office that continue to spend and tax.
Do not listen to their rhetoric, they have already proven themselves untrustworthy. Check their record and refuse to support those you disagree with.
Once upon a time, what a person said meant something.
Kerry Goodwin
Lake Stevens
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