Group fights against "the tax Pledge"

[Russell Kanning]

Someone sent me a press release but it had too many double and triple negatives ....

some group (say "taxpayers against gov waste") is formed in nh and calls for a tax pledge

then another group (we need to save nh and the children) is against the tax pledge

then another group is formed (we need to save nh from the tax-n-spenders) is fighting the anti-taxpledgers

All simple arguments against an income tax or any tax are appreciated as letters to the Keene Free Press.

[d_goddard]

Dear readers of the Keene Free Press,

If you believe that an income tax will be "fairer" and/or smaller than the existing property tax, please contact me immediately. I still have some stocks left over from the Internet bubble and I believe you are uniquely qualified to buy them.

[Russell Kanning]

do you want to leave contact info?

[Rosie the Riveter]

Ha...LOL.... Thanks for the laugh guys

triple negatives and internet stocks....

[KurtDaBear]

It would appear that a preponderance of those forming the anti-pledge group are religious groups/leaders.  Church property is one of the major sources of untapped tax revenues in the U.S. today. 

It would appear that a counter-effort to end tax-examption for churches would be especially appropriate in this circumstance.  If the property of every denomination is taxed on a fair and equal basis, nothing could be construed "favoring an establishment of religion."  Actually, allowing them to go untaxed favors the religious establishment over the rest of us.

[KurtDaBear]

I would like to move somewhere more temperate, though. NH is nice, but I was thinking maybe NC or somewhere/anywhere further south of here!

You might want to take a look at S.C.  They have a RINO-Libertarian Gov. whose own party, as well as the Dems, have tried to get rid of, but he just keeps getting re-elected.  He hates taxes and loves saving.

[KBCraig]

It would appear that a preponderance of those forming the anti-pledge group are religious groups/leaders.

The Councils of Churches are well known for supporting Marxist movements around the world and condemning capitalism. Many member churches fall into the "liberal theology" category, stressing "social justice" over the Bible.

Church property is one of the major sources of untapped tax revenues in the U.S. today. 

It would appear that a counter-effort to end tax-examption for churches would be especially appropriate in this circumstance.

That's logical, but I don't know how it would fly in NH. Could be a big backfire just waiting to explode.

Kevin

[FrankChodorov]

That's logical, but I don't know how it would fly in NH. Could be a big backfire just waiting to explode.

all exclusive use of land creates a value from obligation (economic rent) that compels those you exclude to labor becuase the supply is fixed, population continue to grow and inorder to exist you must occupy 3D space somewhere.

change the terms of debate from property taxes are unfair to all exclusive use of land UNFAIRLY taxes the wages of those you exclude so churches should not be given allodial title and thus be exempt.

[maineiac]

That's logical, but I don't know how it would fly in NH. Could be a big backfire just waiting to explode.

all exclusive use of land creates a value from obligation (economic rent) that compels those you exclude to labor becuase the supply is fixed, population continue to grow and inorder to exist you must occupy 3D space somewhere.

change the terms of debate from property taxes are unfair to all exclusive use of land UNFAIRLY taxes the wages of those you exclude so churches should not be given allodial title and thus be exempt.

<huge expletive here> How does he do it?

I wonder if Frank's hundreds of smites are purely a result of people reading his posts and feeling like someone just hit them on the head with a rock.

[error]

It seems you can't smite someone you've ignored.

But you can smite someone who quotes someone you've ignored!

[KBCraig]

The UL has a pretty good take on it.

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=The+people%27s+pledge%3a+NH+has+chosen+small+government&articleId=1e32cab9-0966-4b69-979b-8704da948c34

The people's pledge: NH has chosen small government

The good folks behind the Granite State Fair Tax Coalition must not think very highly of New Hampshire people.

Based on their public statements, coalition members have to believe one of two things: 1. The people are being duped by politicians into accepting a "morally bankrupt" pledge not to raise taxes. 2. The people themselves are morally bankrupt by insisting that politicians take the pledge.

"Morally bankrupt" was the term used by Rev. William E. Exner, vice president of the coalition, to describe New Hampshire's famous anti-tax pledge, that great bogeyman of big-government aficionados. The coalition last week launched a campaign to wipe the pledge from New Hampshire's political landscape.

"The 'Pledge' perpetuates a burdensome property tax," states a coalition resolution.

That's funny. We always thought it was the people who perpetuated the burdensome property tax because it was a lot better than an even more burdensome sales or income tax.

The clueless romantics who envision New Hampshire's people trapped in the grip of a beast called The Pledge completely ignore the actual political history of New Hampshire while fantasizing of a future in which the people are released from their misery by higher taxes.

Even a cursory glance at state political history reveals that the people themselves have been given decades' worth of opportunity to vote against The Pledge and for a so-called "fair" tax system. And time after time they have chosen, of their own free will, candidates who pledged to keep the allegedly "morally bankrupt" property tax.

What the people of New Hampshire understand, and the big-government advocates don't, is that a property tax, for all of its flaws, keeps the people's overall tax burden low. New Hampshire residents pay less in state and local taxes than the people of any other state save Alaska, where oil revenues help fund government services.

The real moral bankruptcy is not a restrained and frugal government, but a government that needlessly confiscates wealth and redistributes it to state-favored interest groups.

[Rosie the Riveter]

This groups founder will be on NHPR's, The Exchange in the morning -- Call-in number: 1-800-892-6477

http://www.nhpr.org/taxonomy/term/15001
The Pledge

By Laura Knoy on Wednesday, December 13, 2006.
A group calling itself the Granite State Fair Tax Coalition has targeted New Hampshire's longstanding political pledge against broadbased taxes, arguing that The Pledge puts the tax burden on property owners and prevents a discussion that puts all tax options on the table, including a sales and income tax. Proponents of The Pledge say that it keeps New Hampshire's taxes low and makes it a business-friendly state. We'll look at the origins of The Pledge, the arguments for and against it and why it's in the spotlight once again. Laura's guests are David Lamarre-Vincent, President of the Granite State Fair Tax Coalition and Executive Director of the New Hampshire Council of Churches and Tom Thomson, member of The NH Advantage Coalition and son of the late Governor Mel Thomson, whose 1972 campaign was the defining moment of The Pledge.

[Dave Ridley]

Good catch castle!   I took it the next step...got thru to the Exchange this morning after 30 minutes on hold and said something like this:

"God bless the Pledge, God save the pledge....and I wanted to address some of the *fiction* that this income tax monger is spewing in his massachusetts imitation scheme. 

just drive across the border in vermont or mass and look at the ghost towns your favored policies have created.  if you want an income tax you do not have to fight for it over the next five years, just move to mass! "

I was a little on the shrill side but hey at least they kno they were in a fight...

[Rocketman]

Good work, Dave.  If they're going to argue that freedom is morally bankrupt, and that communism is somehow godly, we have to engage those misconceptions in direct (mortal) combat.  A touch of shrillness is probably justified, since these moralistic jerks are trying to ruin our beautiful state.   

[FrankChodorov]

Good work, Dave.  If they're going to argue that freedom is morally bankrupt, and that communism is somehow godly, we have to engage those misconceptions in direct (mortal) combat.  A touch of shrillness is probably justified, since these moralistic jerks are trying to ruin our beautiful state.   

I believe the spokesperson was very upfront on the show about the fact that they just wanted to open the debate up and that the pledge closes debate...

he said he would like to have Dave sponsor a forum in Keene and he would come to discuss the issue...