Consider Ryan Cohlhepp unconvinced of the need for new taxes. The 36-year-old Westborough resident, who works in biotech in Cambridge, does not expect much improvement to come of the $1.9 billion new tax package the governor proposed this week, nor does he think it would be money well spent.
“To me, it’s not clear yet how much of it’s actually going to be incremental improvement, versus just digging out of the hole that we’ve already been sitting in,” he said.
Comments
These people in favor of these taxes are such moron's! They really believe that these taxes will go to improvement of infrastructure, NO WAY! Why do we pay excise tax? Road improvements, The roads are always in disrepair. These funds will just go into the state budget and none of these proposals will ever see the light of day, and all the politicians will take our money and hire their cronies to be 100,000 dollar a year personal assistants! What a joke! Learn to live on budget and stop wasting money!
The print versoin of the Globe cherry picks the respondents who are in favor of the tax hikes. Reading, the full article it becomes clear that some have a vested interest in seeing that more money is available to the goverment. A couple of others appear to be victims of battered taxpayer syndrome - they have started to sympatize with thier masters.
The state budget is already $33B. How much money will be enough? How many more EBT recipients have to go missing? How many more connected hacks have to get great paying jobs that they aren't qualified for? How many more incompetent administrators need to be appointed to judgeships? How many more perks have to be handed out to illegal aliens?
If I get a handout from the State, I would love the tax increase, hoping I would get more in the future. Those that has to pay taxes like myself certainly hates it. I don't see those that like this volunteering to pay more in their income tax. That provision has been in out tax returns for a number of years. People volunteering to pay more as such a small number that it's not worth lsiting.
I think that there is a little logic here. By increasing the income tax, does the state get more money from those who live outside of MA, but work here? By decreasing the sales tax, MA residents are less likely to go to NH to purchase taxable items. Just curious, does anyone know how many people are working in MA, while living outside of MA?
Headline, Taxpayers greet tax proposals with mixed enthusiasm. (Enthusiasm) strong feeling in favor of something. You are kidding right?
Read between the lines people. He wants to raise the taxes so he can build the train to New Bedford or what I like to call "big dig II". We all Know the south coast rail is just a place to hide more relatives on the state payroll. I lost $40 a week to the feds in increase taxes and now patrick wants to take more. We the Tax payers need to stand together and say "no more wasting money on stupid projects".
One has to marvel at the John Gibbons and Judy Scotnicki of the world. “I’ve been dying to pay more taxes for a good cause.” Gibbons said. “We would give up something to do what we believe in,”. Isn't the obvious question to ask of these people not "So why aren't you ALREADY paying more to fund what you 'believe in'?". It is astonishing that the Globe can find people who can make such patently ludicrous statements. Like Warren Buffett, Bill Clinton and legions of stars and "celebrities" who back endless tax increases somehow it never occurs to them that they are absolutely free to pay more to the government if they "believe" it will spend their money better than themselves. But they don't. In fact, studies show liberals give far less to charity than conservatives. Look at the "generosity" of the Kerrys, Clintons, Bidens and Obamas have been over time. Its a joke. Buffett isn't giving his wealth to the government, its going to his preferred charity. Isn't there a word for people who proclaim they "want" to do one thing but never, freely, do it themselves? Does the word "hypocrites" NOT fit these people to a tee?
Do the words "simple minded" not fit the people who keep repeating that argument about Warren Buffet and other wealthy folks who have said they would be willing to pay more in taxes to fix the looming fiscal crises for this country? If Mr. Buffet were to donate 90% of his wealth to the federal government that would not do a dimes worth of good toward fixing the problem, but would result in a personal sacrivice on his part. Taxes raised on the those with incomes in the top 1 percent of households contributes to fixing the deficit mathmatically, albeit in a small way, but also contributes to a sense of fairness in our tax burden. Taxes on just about everyone are going to need to be raised when the economy gets back on it's feet. The federal tax increases were a first step monetarily, and in preparing folks for what is to come.
JJag noted " It is astonishing that the Globe can find people who can make such patently ludicrous statements." JJag, you don't know how the Globe works. First of all, the Globe AVOIDS interviewing people who own a small business. It KNOWS what they would say. And if If the Globe could not find people like these to interview, the Globe would NEVER PRINT this article!
Mr. Gibbons, get some help, immediately, you might have burst a blood vessel in your brain.
Do we trust our state officials to disburse whatever extra revenue comes from any tax increase honestly and effectively? Cost over runs, bribes, corruption, bloated salaries, contracts and consulting fees are a way of life in this state. Where will the oversight be on all of these projects? We should also be thinking about cutting a lot more in state costs rather than just raising taxes.
Cutting costs is a great idea. What programs that directly benefit you would you be willing to see scaled back?