|
Quoted from appended commentary, published in today's Toledo Blade.
Lots of little user fees and sales taxes don't break the bank of the governor's core constituency - which is why he can promote them with impunity. They will hurt the have-nots at the bottom of the socio-economic totem pole who scrimp to survive.
That is a reality some try to deny. Federal lands managers, for example, refuse to accept that recreation user fees are discriminatory and exclusionary, or that such fees impact low-incomes persons far more than they impact the wealthy. Ohio's State Park managers are likely to deny this reality as, of course, was Rep. Ralph Regula (R-OH) who forced his Recreation Access Tax upon an unwilling America.
Perhaps now that the user-fee issue has blown up in size and encompasses so much more than the original fee-demo battle, the American public will show some understanding and compassion as did the author of the appended commentary.
Then again, it's possibly that as President Bush promotes his "ownership society" message, middle-income persons will stampede over one another desperately trying to get beyond the masses of fellow 'non-owners' and break into the ranks of the "haves."
What fools and dreamers such people are if they think that by beating back their fellow travelers they can somehow hope to enjoy the fruits of Bush's ownership society.
Then again ... what fools are those who think that their incomes, however high they may be, quality them to as "haves" in Mr. Bush's neo-Feudalist Society.
Scott
--- begin forwarded ---
February 11, 2005
Things aren't looking too good for the little guy
IT'S a tough time to be poor. Not that being poor is a breeze any time,
but now the government is poised to add insult to injury. A seismic
shift is in the works among those who hold the power. It will
eventually tip the scale of fair play completely to one side. The big
breaks will go to the big constituents. The leftovers will go to those
without political muscle, without a voice.
The old adage says you get what you pay for. Well, you get what you
vote for in government. The compassionate conservative-in-chief
re-elected last November is about to embark on one of the most immoral
crusades in modern history - if you don't count the Iraq war. He's
about to turn back the clock on more than half a century of political
philosophy that preached "one for all," and replace it with "every man
for himself."
In the gilded Bush Age, to have lots of money - inherited or gained
through obscene corporate profits - is to make more money through
government largesse. The prevailing political philosophy says the
wealthy and greedy need protection from government interference - ergo
its regulatory policies - and generous tax breaks for the greater good
of the country.
Doesn't matter that we're still waiting for the trickle-down theory
from the 1980s to make a practical appearance. The Republican wave
rolling in from Washington to the red states says it's a terrific time
to make a killing in America, to get a free pass on millions sheltered
in wealthy estates, or made outright on the back of the cheapest labor
outsourcing can buy. The GOP goal, according to the Gospel of Karl
Rove, is to destroy any vestiges of FDR's influence on social
obligations.
And the word was made true. In budget proposals submitted on the
federal and state level are significant tax cuts for businesses and
wealthy individuals, tax increases of the most regressive kind, and
funding reductions or eliminations in programs that directly benefit
the poor. Let's watch as the scale holding proposed funding to
Medicaid, the federal-state program that provides medical coverage for
the poor, tilts wildly out of balance as aid is sharply reduced on the
federal level.
States, rather than being saddled with even higher Medicaid costs,
respond in kind to Washington's harshness to the neediest. Ohio Gov.
Bob Taft, bless his disappointing depth, recommends ending Medicaid
vision and dental coverage as well as disability medical coverage. Yet
he's all for relaxing various tax burdens on businesses and championing
across-the-board cuts in personal income tax rates to make political
points with the affluent.
Mr. Taft will make up for revenue lost in tax collections with lots of
little user fees (read tax hikes) on perennial favorites like
cigarettes and alcohol to electricity and new parking fees at state
parks - which used to be the one taxpayer-funded commodity open to all
Ohioans.
The temporary, 1-cent increase in the universally recognized regressive
state sales tax, was supposed to expire later this year. Mr. Taft,
reneging on that pledge, aims to retain half of last year's increase,
taking the state sales tax to 5.5 percent.
Lots of little user fees and sales taxes don't break the bank of the
governor's core constituency - which is why he can promote them with
impunity. They will hurt the have-nots at the bottom of the
socio-economic totem pole who scrimp to survive. Unfortunately, their
scarce earnings will evaporate even faster under Mr. Taft's plan to
make up the difference in tax cuts for the rich and powerful.
It will happen because the poor have no clout, no pricey lobbyists
seeking favorable treatment on their behalf. They're an easy target for
politicians with friends in high income brackets. And because the
wealthiest in the country send their progeny to exclusive private
schools, the plight of students struggling to achieve in public schools
is easy to ignore.
Which is why President Bush can get away with targeting the Education
Department for one third of the 150 federal programs earmarked for
elimination or substantial reduction.
Gone is all federal money for vocational education that gives kids an
alternative to college and a chance to learn a high-paying trade.
Gone, too, are adequate state subsidies to make college more affordable
in Ohio while tuition caps to further hamstring state institutions are
proposed.
Exactly what hope to succeed do the middle and under-class have while
taking hits on everything from block grant funds to better education?
Exactly none.
It's a tough time to get a leg up when possession, position, and prosperity won't allow it.
|
- Various 
